From left to right, Ester Tobias Taren and Field Promoter at the Penduka Crafts Centre, Lavina Hangula at the Katutura Central Expo that was held last week Friday. Penduka exhibited crafts made by the women at the craft centre. (Photographed by Melba Chipepo)
As part of an initiative to help and take care of TB patients the women at the Penduka Craft Centre started the Penduka TB programme. The programme which has been running since 2002 is co-funded by the Global Fund. Penduka started in 1992 with 4 employees, and now has a total of 110 employees. The women of Penduka support women that are in poverty, sick, disabled or with low education levels. The women are taught crafting skills so they can later sell the products that they make to tourists and overseas clients. Some of the crafts are sold at the Namibia House in Elverum, Norway. The money is then sent back to the ladies of Penduka. The goal of the Penduka initiative is to empower disadvantaged women through craftsmanship and tourism.
