Job creation through arts and craft
75 people have found employment through the Matsila Community Development Trust's arts and crafts project
LIMPOPO – 75 previously unemployed people in Matsila village near Elim now have jobs thanks to an initiative created by the Matsila Community Development Trust (MCDT).
In an attempt to reduce the high unemployment rate in rural areas, the MCDT launched a program through its culture and heritage wing to provide people with arts and craft jobs.
Project director, Chief Livhuwani “Nkhiphitheni” Matsila said they are focused on visual arts, performing arts, and film and production.
According to the chief, the main objective of getting people involved in visual arts is to rejuvenate the creative industry in the local community through woodcarving.
“Craft artists create handmade objects, such as pottery, glassware, textiles, and other objects. Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators, create original works of art for their aesthetic value, rather than for a functional one. The products are marketed locally and nationally. Craft artists collect wood and clay soil around the Matsila area for their creations,” he said.
“We also make documentaries, at the moment, we are documenting the origin of the Matsila Traditional Authority and its leadership.
We would like to thank the national lottery for providing machines and ceramics for a start-up, the support from the Small Business Development and also the Department of Rural Development. The South African Forestry Company (Safcol) promised to build a structure with a workshop, storage and a place where we can display the crafts,” Matsila explained.
One of the sculptors, Richard Raphugela, popularly known as Bonndo, said the project is going well.
He said their products are exhibited at various events. “I used to regard arts and crafts as the job of the elders, but this project has changed my view. I’m paying my children’s school fees with the money I get from this job,” Raphugela said.
