Kopanang is a group of 50 women on site, 16 off-site at a sister-project in Mpumalanga, engaged in generating income through creating embroideries, quilted products, beaded jewellry and screen-printed products. This gives women living in the townships of Tsakane and Geluksdal an opportunity to provide income for their families, a place of support in coping with HIV/AIDS, and a way to share stories, faith and culture to build self-esteem and joy in their lives. Handmade tapestries created with the best fabric, embroidery thread and beads, quilting with an African flavour, are made lovingly by each artist. Each embroidered product has the name of the artist who created the piece. By creating personal artwork for sale, and having a community that brings love and hope into their lives, the women are discovering their own inherent value, as well as being transformed through healing and wholeness.

Kopanang is a Sotho word, meaning gathering together, building bridges. While gathering together, the women of Kopanang feel that their work is about relationships. It is about wonder, creativity and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of grinding poverty, the impact of HIV/AIDS, and the remaining legacy of apartheid. Apartheid left many of the disenfranchised people of South Africa living a life lacking human value or basic human rights and this caused despair, low self-esteem, voicelessness, depression, lethargy, unemployment and diminishment among the people.

Some of our objectives in creating this dream are to develop leadership skills in members to provide a self-owned sustainable future for their families, and to build relationships between two historically separated communities (African and the so-called "colored") by sharing and supporting life stories as well as developing creative skills which empower and dignify members lives. Some of these objectives are:

·Employment for "grannies" and mothers in need of work which does not exploit the young in their care, but benefits them instead.

·The membership as a source of women sharing support in the reality of living with the impact of HIV/AIDS.

·Skills training directly linked to potential market outlets that not only provides a desperately needed source of income, but simultaneously creates an experience of achievement.

·The sharing of our cultural stories in the training program which develops mutual respect and understanding of varied cultures.

·Developing capacity in leadership and management for members, who have already begun the cycle of sharing skills learnt with the next two groups joining in.


The embroidery group produces exquisite hand-embroidered cushion covers/pillows, potholders, wall hangings, aprons, waistcoats, Church altar cloths, lecturn banners and stoles, table runners, household linen,

The beaders produce decorative key rings, pins, beaded pens, bags, Christmas decorations and fine beaded jewellry.

The quilters create a range of patchwork & embroidered tote bags, felt angels, Quillows (pillows that unfold to become TV blankets) and handbags.

The printmakers are currently learning the skill of screen-printing. These skills will then provide a further design range for embroidery work and limited card printing.

Please see our products page to view these items for sale.