POLOKWANE – The SEDA Limpopo Jewelry Incubator (SLJI) is a government initiative involved in jewellery designing and training programmes.
It aims to empower people from disadvantaged communities in the province.
The NGO was launched in 2009 by the Limpopo Provincial Government in collaboration with European Union funding and is located in Ladine. The centre focuses on generating sustainable jewellery designing and manufacturing.
It trains youths who have their own businesses, transfer of jewellery skills and practical mentoring and coaching.
Tess Ngobeni, Manager of the NGO, spoke to BONUS.
“Some of our students went to Italy on a three-year programme to be trained further in jewellery making. Others are running their own successful businesses in and around Polokwane and others are employed in bigger jewellery businesses,” she explained.
Some of SLJI’s designs won first place at the 2015/16 Thuthuka Jewellery Awards held in Johannesburg.
Moses Mabotja is one of the trainees at the centre and he said the NGO has changed his life for the better.
“I was born and raised in the dusty streets of Mmotong Kgohloane, near Seshego in Polokwane. I have always been artistic, I build wire cars and cardboard houses and used to draw. I joined the programme in 2015 because I wanted to develop my skills.
“I put effort into every piece of jewellery I make,” he said.
Moses secured a third position during the Thuthuka awards in the Best Emerging Designer category.
“My dream was to get a tertiary qualification, but my family could not afford it, that’s when I decided to join the jewellery learnership with the aim of eventually owning my own business. I’m a hard worker and I also love handmade jewellery,” said Linda Sebola, another trainee at the centre.
According to Tess, Linda is one of the top 10 learners at the centre who were able to design pieces for Christmas.
