Our entrepreneurs are former trainees who have completed training at Basadi and demonstrated great skill, potential, and a willingness to improve. Unfortunately, due to Basadi's financial constraints, we are unable to offer them permanent employment. It is our dream to employ them permanently in the future. In the meantime, they serve as a vital backup to our artisans, assisting part-time with large orders. We also encourage them to use our facilities to generate their own income by creating items to sell or taking on work for their own clients. Our Basadi artisans are always available to provide guidance and knowledge should they need it.
"I am 33 years old and I live in Fobeni Village. I have two children, both boys. The first one is 16 years old and the last born is 5 years old. I was part of a group of women that trained at Basadi in 2023. I work in the Basadi sewing room everyday, but I am not employed there. I am currently working for myself and sewing for my own client."
Kholofelo has her own space at Basadi, where she works diligently every day, even though she is not bound by a contract. She consistently shows up on time and puts in the same hours as the rest of the ladies. While she has a private client she sews for, like all entrepreneurs who have trained at Basadi, she is welcome to use our facilities to generate income for herself. We are also here to support her with knowledge, guidance, and encouragement whenever she needs it, ensuring that she has the resources to succeed and grow her business.
"I live in Fobeni Village. I have two children, the first born is 13 years old and the last born is 7 years old. I learned how to sew from Basadi in 2023 and how to make beautiful things. I pray that I can work at Basadi full-time."
Linia is always just a call away when Basadi has a deadline and need extra hands to come help sew. She is reliable, very precise and takes great pride in her work. She is a quiet, but valuable part of our team.
At 50 years of age, she has three boys; Pleasure, 30 years of age, Belief, 26 years of age and Hlulani, 10 years old. Hlulani is a student at the Lighthouse Academy, through sponsorship. Josephine is quiet and shy. Josephine is the first to show up for work every day and a hard worker. She’s not one to use many words, but when asked how Basadi changed her life, she just laughs. Josephine did not laugh when she started working with us. Her laugh now transforms and brightens the room.
Every woman has a story to tell, it is up to them to share it with someone they trust.
