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Buselaphi
Buselaphi Gwala is 50 years old, and has been beading since she was 16. She recalls being a girl when she learned how to bead, initially making clothes. She would sell these in the streets. Buselaphi's family includes her son, who is about 25 years old (Buselaphi only knows that he was born on the 14th day of the month). Also, her brother is 58.
Buselaphi has been making Little Travellers for two years, and she can make four in a day. Hers are very distinct, as they are made in traditional Zulu beading patterns. According to Buselaphi, Little Travellers mean "empowerment". She has made new designs, and Paula - the coordinator of the craft project at the Hillcrest
Aids Centre Trust - likes them. Buselaphi says that this has given her confidence and enabled her to expand her creative side with new designs.
Beading has made a positive impact in her life. It has made her the sole breadwinner of her household, and has enabled her to pay for electricity, and to purchase a stove, fridge and television. On average, Buselaphi earns R400 a week from making Little Travellers.
For fun, Buselaphi likes to stay home, do housework, and once in a while, visit a friend.
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Ester Sibisi
Ester Sibisi is a 58 year old mother of four, who also cares for her grandchildren, providing them with food and clothing. Ester first came to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust to get information and tips on growing crops and flowers. At the time Ester had no income but knew how to bead. She wanted to join the Woza Moya beading project and before long she was making Little Travellers. Ester is always trying to grow as a beader and enjoys sharing knowledge and receiving lessons from other crafters. Ester is a very spiritual person and she draws strength from her beading and knows that her work is making a positive difference! Seeing a Little Traveller brings a smile to her face, "I know I can accomplish anything in my house by making them", she explains.
As a long-standing beader with Woza Moya we have travelled with Ester from the time she earned enough money to get electricity connected to her house. On the day her lights came on we were hugged and squeezed so tightly. With the R400 a week in Little Traveller sales, Ester has been able to build a house for her children. Ester is also very excited about her new fridge, which she was able to purchase by making monthly installments of R250. Ester loves the creative freedom Little Travellers gives her and she designed the supporter dolls that come complete with their own South African flag. This year Ester plans to make supporter dolls for all the countries that will be coming to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Little Travellers have had a huge impact on Ester's life and when she is not beading she enjoys planting vegetables and going to church.
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Gogo Francisca
Francisca Mbele is a 73 year old granny who makes Little Traveller dolls. Of ten children she raised to adulthood, all but one have passed away, and she now cares for her five grandchildren, ranging from 6 to 20 yrs in age.
Francisca (who is affectionately known as "Gogo", a Zulu word for "Granny") has been beading for six years, having learned at the Hillcrest Aids Centre. She initially came to the centre when one of her granddaughters fell very ill. She explains, "Paula [the director of Woza Moya income-generation project] taught me how to bead. So I'm happy. I didn't do beading before, but now I'm clever. Jill (of Woza Moya) gave me glasses and now I can do it fast." In fact, Gogo says that if someone brings her tea to her, she can make up to 20 Little Travellers in one day.
Gogo is very happy to be part of the beading project at the Hillcrest Aids Centre. She describes her poverty before she started beading: "Before, I hadn't got even shoes. Nothing before. I was too frightened to go outside. I was afraid people were going to laugh. I had nothing. Nothing to eat, no clothes." By making Little Travellers, Gogo now earns approximately R300-400 (~$60 Cdn) per week, and she uses it to buy food and blankets. When asked what the Little Travellers mean to her, Gogo responds, "They mean that God helps me. God helps me to do these dollies. He looks after me."
In addition to participating in the income-generation projects, Gogo receives a weekly food parcel from the AIDS Centre. Her gratitude in spite of all her hardships is inspiring. "I'm happy! I'm too happy!" she exclaims joyfully.
By purchasing Little Travellers, you are supporting people like Francisca and her family. In addition, all further proceeds help the Hillcrest Aids Centre to provide "unconditional love to all those affected by HIV/AIDS in a practical way".
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Joyce Mthethwa
Joyce Mthethwa is 53 years old. Her family includes her husband, two sons, two grandsons, two granddaughters, and her cousin. Joyce has been beading for three years, which is also how long she has been making Little Travellers. Each doll takes her less than one hour to make. For Joyce, making Little Travellers is a joy, and because of it, she has a lot more money in the bank at the end of the month.
Joyce says that beading has changed her life. She is the primary income earner in her home, and this has greatly improved her life. She can now pay for food and can even take things on credit because she knows she will get money from the Little Travellers!
Depending on the order, Joyce makes about R300 per week. The Little Travellers have had a very positive effect on her family, and everyone at home is much less stressed because they know that money will be coming in at the end of the week because of the Little Travellers. To Joyce, church is fun! She is also a traditional healer, which she really enjoys. If she's not at church or healing people, Joyce spends her time making more Little Travellers! Joyce is known for her Sangoma and Rastafari Travellers.
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Ntombi Dlamini
Ntombi is a vivacious 39 year old who lives with her sister and their daughters and granddaughters. Ntombi had never been formally employed before she came to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in 1999, where she learned to bead and care for others in the community.
Ntombi now works as a home-based carer with the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust and tends to six patients suffering from AIDS in the community. Ntombi says that the job is emotionally draining, as she often finds her clients' situations heart breaking. Ntombi is also involved in the Woza Moya beading project and is grateful for the Little Travellers, which earn her between R80 and R300 per week. Ntombi explains, "my entire house has come from the Little Travellers, my fridge, my sofa, the plaster on my walls, EVERYTHING!" It is no wonder that Ntombi admires the Little Travellers so much - and she grins from ear to ear when told about how these beautiful Little Travellers that she helped develop have brought joy to people around the world.
Ntombi has been making Little Travellers "since the beginning". In fact, she created the first Little Traveller with long hair! Ntombi says that when she sees a Little Traveller, she sees a person. She goes on to explain that this is why she makes them beautiful - because she is creating a human being!
"Creativity- that is what it is all about in this project", Ntombi explains and she has created many different types of Little Travellers. She makes bigger ones dressed in traditional South African clothing because she loves traditional wear. She loves making AIDS awareness Little Travellers with AIDS ribbons stitched on their tummies. Paula Thomson dreamed up the idea of bride and groom Little Travellers and Ntombi worked her magic to design them. The Little Travellers that Ntombi makes are so beautiful and detailed that it takes her about an hour to make each one. After making Little Travellers, she says, "I often lay them on my sofa and admire them for a while. I look at them and wish they could talk, breath, and walk. That is how much I love them. Beading makes such a big difference in my life, I love it, I make life out of it".
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Thandiwe Chamane
Thirty seven year old Thandiwe Chamane, from Embo, is an inspirational beader. She is able to bead her Little Travellers in just thirty minutes. These Travellers have become an integral part of not only her life, but also of those that stay with her. Her husband and neighbours assist her in making dolls in an effort to keep up with the orders for her special Little Travellers.
Thandiwe cares for four children, ages one to seventeen. These two boys and two girls are her sister-in-laws children. The children came under her care when her sister-in-law died of AIDS.
Thandiwe first travelled to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust for testing three years ago. Here she joined the Woza Moya beading project. Thandiwe says that the Centre has helped her, and in turn she has been able to help others and love people. For three years now, her craft of beading has helped her provide for her family. The income she generates, about R1000 a week, has also helped her build a two room house. Thandiwe also enjoys baking, but it is the Little Travellers that bring her much happiness. Thandiwe has pioneered several specialty Travellers; Mother and Baby, Amabutho and the Makoti Travellers. She is woken up late at night with new ideas for beadwork patterns and she has to make them. She prefers to make the Mother/baby Travellers because she says the Centre is like a mother looking after her children, the beaders. They always bring joy to her while she is making them.
Thandiwe is a strong woman who has accepted the disease in her life and is not going to let it kill her. Through the Centre she discovered her talent of beading and this helps lift her spirit to live each day. When Thandiwe had her second baby she was on ARV's, but she took care of herself and followed all the correct procedures and fortunately her baby, at ten months old, is thriving!
To help with stress, Thandiwe believes it is important to check in with nurses, and to talk to people in a support group. In a support group the women are able to talk about anything, to think, to share ideas, and to listen to one another. She says you must always tell yourself "I can do this." Thandiwe knows you can live life with HIV/AIDS. She knows this because she is living a positive life. She has built a house with furniture, she is investing money for her children, and she is spiritually and mentally free and at peace.
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