Most people step away from a pile of litter or look disconcerted at a packet that has been caught in barbed wire, but for Thabisa Belwana these waste materials are the ingredients of her craft.
Belwana has created a new line of eco-deco design using recycled materials. The business was initiated by Bronwen Salton, a second year Masters of Fine Art student at Rhodes.
Most people step away from a pile of litter or look disconcerted at a packet that has been caught in barbed wire, but for Thabisa Belwana these waste materials are the ingredients of her craft.
Belwana has created a new line of eco-deco design using recycled materials. The business was initiated by Bronwen Salton, a second year Masters of Fine Art student at Rhodes.
The project, Masibambane, which means “let’s go together”, includes a group of four other ladies who live in Xolani.
The group meets every Monday to crochet not yarn, but plarn (plastic as thread) .
“Everyone in the group is proud of this project,” says Belwana.
The group has created thickly crocheted plastic cellphone covers, place mats and bags. Otherwise they iron plastic together to create book covers. Other expirements are picture frames made from cardboard, egg boxes and paint.
During the Festival they successfully sold their crafts at the Sustainability commons. “We have built up this line that we now know works,” says Salton.
Salton uses waste material in her own artwork and has always helped community development in Grahamstown. “As young South Africans we’re having to cross divides and connect with people more than ever,” she says.
Belwana is thankful to Salton for the project. “She sees other people having a brighter future,” she says.
Belwana is 23 years old and did not finish her matric, but she recently went on a one-week Entrepreneurship and Business Management course co-ordinated by Rhodes Business School.
The course was sponsored by Makana Municipality who select 20 people at a time who already have small businesses.
Belwana has high hopes for Masibambane. “My dream is to build this and for it to grow all over South Africa,” she says.
Belwana feels a responsibility to teach art “In the future I want to employ single parents and young people,” she says.
The project does not have a selling venue as yet, to support Masibambane eco deco call Bronwen Salton at 082 675 6181 or Thabisa Belwana at 079 970 3310.
