Meet the Women
Profiles
A short bio on each of the women involved with Umoja Wamama Crafters Cooperative
Speciose Mukamucuzi
I was born in Rwanda, in 1956. In secondary school in Rwanda, I learned sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking. After school, I worked with poor young married women who only had a basic education, teaching them hygiene, nutrition, and how to mend clothing. Later, through cooperation with the Belgian government, a donated of sewing machines was made to the project, and I taught women how to use the sewing machines.
I was a widow and mother of one-month-old baby daughter at the time of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. I fled my home country in 2007, and came to South Africa.
When I was here, I worked in a clothing factory until I was in a car accident in 2015. I had an operation on my shoulder, and stopped working in the factory. In 2016, a friend told me about UWCC, where I could make and sell my crafts. I found it a great opportunity, and joined. Now I have learned new skills, such as frame making using recyclable material, tapestry, beading, applique, patchwork and quilting and now smocking. Being in UWCC helps me forget about my problems. When I am not in training at UWCC, I teach sewing skills to South Africans and other men and women from all over Africa for SASA, started by Somalis living in Cape Town. My daughter graduates in 2018.
Fatuma Ngoyi
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1972. In 1996, I fled war in my country with my children to join my husband who was in Cape Town. He passed away in 2004. I am now a widow and take care of my five children.
I trained in sewing in my country. But when I arrived in South Africa, I could not find a job. I worked as a car guard for some time. I met Ms. Elizabeth Dantasand was part of her sewing project making duvets for export untill XXXX when the project stopped. I joined UWCC in 2015; I am a founding member. Since joining, I have learned advanced patchwork, quilting, applique, and beading. Currently we are learning to smock. I like UWCC because I meet other women, we share stories, and we work to empower each other. This helps me to release stress. At the moment, I am working at an old age home, and earn very little so sale of my handwork assists me to provide for my family.
Sindiswa Ningiza
I am a South African struggle veteran, born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape in 1962. I was thirteen when my sister and I came to live in Cape Town to join my mother who was a domestic worker. When I was a child, I had polio that left me disabled. I am single, with one son who is married. I have lived in Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, since 1998. I live with my elderly mother who is suffering from Alzheimer condition.
I learned most of my crafts from UWCC such as hand sewing, patchwork, quilting, beading and crocheting, but I learned to make massage mats from my grandmother. Working with refugee women has broadened my understanding of the suffering endured by refugees that I was unaware of before I became a member of UWCC.
Shirley Gunn
I am a South African struggle veteran, born in Cape Town in 1955. I am a mother of two and live in Crawford. Since childhood, the needle has been my form of creativity. My inspiration is drawn from my mother, who sewed our clothes and was proficint in many different crafts, and my grandmother, a meticulous quilter. My main crafts are sewing clothing and bags, embroidery, patchwork, quilting, knitting, beading, mosaic, paper mache, and hand-painted cards, some of which I have learned through UWCC.
I am a founding member of UWCC, having worked with refugees and South Africans through the Human Rights Media Centre for 18 years. It is refreshing taking one’s focus off everyday hard work and getting involved with handwork with other women. I find the creative aspect of handwork therapeutic.
Epiphanie Mukasano
I am 57, married, and mother of four grown-up children. My family fled Rwanda in 1994 and we arrived in South Africa in 1998. Our lives as refugees have been very difficult. With persistent effort, I received permanent residence in 2014.
I learned some crafts from my older sisters and from my peers when I was growing up in Rwanda, such as beading, knitting, crochet and embroidery. I joined UWCC in 2016. Since then, I have learned how to make mosaic pots, patchwork and quilting, and now i am learning how to smock. I enjoy handwork because my hands and heart feel good when producing beautiful craft. It is also because we inspire one another. When my craft sells, it’s an extra income for me and my family, but also for UWCC members.
Theresa Uwimana
I was born in Rwanda in 1947. After primary school, I studied at Ecole Technique Féminine, learning sewing and cooking. Thereafter, I taught home economics. I have been crocheting, sewing and knitting from that time.
In 1994, my family fled Rwanda. I joined my husband in South Africa in 2009. In 2015, when I was looking for space to do my sewing, I met Shirley, who invited me to join UWCC. I am a founding member of UWCC, having attended the initial strategic workshop in Fish Hoek with other interested women. Since joining UWCC, I have learned new craft skills, such as, mosaic, quilting, patchwork, appliqué, tapestry and smocking. The money I earn from my crafts helps to put food on our table.
Lena Madolo
I turned 71 years in 2018. I am originally from the Eastern Cape, now I live in Khayelitsha. I did not have the chance to go to school because my family was poor. My mother taught me how to hand sew. I make clothes and bags from colorful cotton and shweshwe using my hands, not a machine. UWCC is my new family.
Ferosa Cader
I am a South African struggle veteran from Bonteheuwel born in 1970. When I was still at school, my dad brought home craft books he got at work. These books inspired me to do embroidery; I am a self-taught embroiderer. I have been with UWCC from the beginning, and I have been learning from members and UWCC training. In 2018, I became a grandma when my eighteen-year-old daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The baby keeps me busy now, and as a result, finding time for UWCC has become more difficult.
Theresa Mukankusi
I fled Rwanda and arrived in South Africa in 2003. I learned to sew when in primary school in Rwanda and I continued sewing training in South Africa. A French woman gathered refugees from different countries to teach us sewing skills. After this I went to ARESTA to learn further sewing skills for six months. I rely on my sewing as a source of income, as the life of a refugee is very difficult.
I joined UWCC in 2016. Through Umoja, I sell my craft which helps to support my family. I am happy to be a part of UWCC, spending time with South African women, and women from all over the continent, learning skills from one another, and how to deal with daily life challenges. I have learned new skills as an UWCC member, such as, mosaic, tapestry, beading, quilting, applique and patchwork. We also learned how to make UWCC frames from recycled materials.
Olive Dusabimana
I was born in Rwanda, in 1976. I am married, and a mother of two children. I have been living in South Africa as a refugee since 2009.
When I was a child, I learned crafts such as knitting, crocheting and embroidery. In South Africa, I learned to use a sewing machine; I can make bags, big and small. I joined UWCC in June 2018. Since then, I have learned patchwork, and I am learning quilting. My husband is studying. Therefore, I need some income to support my family. I hope UWCC will help me sell my crafts.
Esperance Nibakure
I was born in Rwanda, in 1970. I am a widow, living with two children. I have spent fifteen years in Cape Town as a refugee. In Rwanda, I learned some crafts like crocheting and machine sewing.
I joined UWCC at the beginning of 2018. It is good to be with other women because this breaks isolation. For me, it feels like a new family. If I am sick, members can visit me. Moreover, you wake up motivated to do good craft. I have learned new crafts in UWCC, such as quilting and sewing children’s balls. I hope I will learn more.
Alpho Kalubi
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in 1962. I am a widow, and a mother of four. I live with one of my two daughters; the other children stay with my sister in DRC. It is hard to live separately with my children, but I cannot afford to have them all here as I have to pay rent and school fees, and also buy food. I learned sewing at secondary school in my home country.
I arrived in South Africa in 2008. I joined UWCC in December 2017 through my friend Fatuma. I find the cooperative important, especially as I am a refugee and have difficulties finding a job here. Meeting other women makes me happy. In UWCC, I have learned quilting and patchwork, and I will learn more. I am grateful to UWCC