WINDHOEK, April 4 (Xinhua) -- In the Goreangab township northwest of Namibia's capital, Windhoek, Victoria Ndilimeke applied wax and dye to the fabric at a workshop, creating colorful patterns. This batik work is part of a sought-after art collection produced by over 20 women at Penduka Trust, which is a women-empowering initiative to utilize art as a catalyst to help locals secure a better life.
"I may have lost count of how many crafts I have produced, but I never forgot how art here transformed my life for the better," Ndilimeke said on Thursday.
Ndilimeke is one of the beneficiaries of Penduka Trust, which was founded in 1992 by Namibian Martha Muulyau and Christien Roos from the Netherlands. The programs focus on women with limited education and young mothers, providing training in various skills such as storytelling, embroidery, pottery, batik, agriculture, jewelry making and recycling.
Bernadette Jagger, deputy minister of gender equality, poverty eradication and child welfare, said that empowerment projects remain crucial in addressing gender disparities and enhancing women's capabilities in Namibia.
Muulyau said that the initiative continues to address gender disparities by offering training opportunities for underprivileged and disabled women.
According to Roos, the initiative, which started with six women in Windhoek, has reached over 1,000 women in other parts of Namibia, where poverty is prevalent.
"The model involves transferring handcraft skills using natural resources available in the communities to create income-generating social ventures," she said.
In resource-scarce areas, women are introduced to embroidery, producing unique and marketable artistic products. Some women are also hired as employees at the facility in Windhoek. The initiative facilitates networking and partnership opportunities. The handicrafts and items are sold locally, and many embroideries are exported to Asia and Europe.
The women employed at Penduka Trust have lauded the initiative for propelling them towards prosperity. Ndilimeke, for example, credits the initiative for allowing her to support her household and educate her children.
"Although it was my first time holding a brush 20 years back, painting and other handicrafts have become my lifeline," she said.
She is not alone in her success. Hambeleleni Mupolo, in her late 30s, initially struggled with her sewing business but found new opportunities to enhance her skills after joining Penduka Trust in 2018.
Through the program, she has improved her tailoring skills and developed marketing and communication skills through the program, effectively improving her livelihood.
"I have found solace, growth and stability in the diverse opportunities and increased income here. It is like sunshine that brightens the day," Mupolo said.
