Female carpenter Fharisani builds her way to the top

LIMPOPO – While young women of her age keep themselves busy with other things, the 34-year-old Fharisani Hope Mabushe of Tshifudi village outside Thohoyandou has a dream of becoming the top carpenter in her area.

Mabushe, a mother of two who studied electrical engineering at Thasululo FET College, is making a name for herself in a male-dominated industry.

The self-taught carpenter learned the skills from her brother, whom she describes as an excellent carpenter, during the lockdown in 2020.

Mabushe, who supports her family with her business, hopes to expand her business in future and employ more people. She opened up about her passion for woodwork and notes that while she was initially interested in building cupboards and similar products, she is set on making her Village Wood Creations business a surefire success.

“I fell in love with carpentry and I have the most amazing support from my family and friends. Being a carpenter teaches me to be creative and neat in providing modern designs where there were none, and creating pieces that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. My goal is simple, and that is to help customers live more comfortably in their homes with quality carpentry that is both stylish and functional.”

Working in a field which mostly employs men, is something that motivates her, she told CV.

“It actually attracts more support and sends a message to young women that they can also excel in a male-dominated industry. Like any other workplace, we come across our challenges, but I have to work around those challenges. I frequently have to be more creative and more resourceful in order to find cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality,” she said.

She told CV that her vision as a carpenter is to build a world where people can fall in love with their homes again, as their homes are better organised and aesthetically beautiful thanks to carpentry.

She advises women looking to work as carpenters to believe in themselves and give their work their all. “As much as it’s a male-dominated industry, if they’ve got an interest or passion for the sector, you should do it. It’s fun once you get used to it. Nothing stops them from being carpenters; if men can do it, so can women. Let’s make the world our oyster. The carpentry business has a widespread market and inclusive demand throughout the year. There is a substantial category of people who never compromise on spending money to fit their properties with high-quality artistic wood pieces and attention to detail.”