Colourful Carpets Enrich a Community and Restore Dignity to Women’s Lives

The proud and delighted faces of ladies weaving colourful carpets by recycling plastic bags underlines World Vision South Africa’s commitment to community training and restoring dignity to women’s lives.

Motlatso, age 24, (pictured on the right in the blue denim skirt) was a sponsored child under the Support office for World Vision. She was born with a mild mental disorder which resulted in poor performance at school. ‘Even though I was taught at my pace and level of understanding, there was no real improvement.’

After her teachers noticed her poor concentration and continued struggle to learn, they referred her to a Centre for the Disabled in her community.

World Vision South Africa became aware of the needs of the centre where Motlatso and others attended and they became involved. In 2015 the centre was provided with a 2500 litre Jojo water tank to ensure clean water. Through our Area Programme we also organised training for the ladies at the centre on how to knit floor mats and weave flowers by recycling plastic bags. (Abitha and Martha, caregivers at the centre, standing next to the Jojo water tank provided by World Vision.)

Abitha, age 54, a leader at the centre, said the following; ‘World Vision South Africa assisted us in applying for Social Development Funding. In our centre, there are 6 of us who are taking care of the disabled on a daily basis, and we now get a social development stipend.’

The team of disabled ladies at the centre produce beautiful and colourful floor mats which they sell in their local community. The males at the centre have been trained in drawing and handcrafts.

‘I enjoy being at the centre because at school I did not feel comfortable or cared for the way I do today. I now feel loved and accepted like any other person within my community, which is what I was longing for,’ said Motlatso.