GIVING AND RECEIVING

For the past 5 years the Milimani Educational Trust has spread a little Christmas cheer and personalised gifts for each child in the 3 crèches they support in Sovane, Maphambeni and KwaDla-Kuse. These crèches are in a remote region of northern Zululand.

This year there are over 180 children, plus 12 teachers to consider. So they decided to go the up-cycling route and approached 

Uzwelo Bags in Durban to make draw string bags to fill with goodies for Christmas. Thanks to kind donations from a few folk they were able to purchase and brand these useful bags.

The Uzwelo story is so inspiring and although Milimani is receiving on one hand, they are also giving. I love it when that happens!!

Uzwelo Bags use waste fabric from their partner company, Expand a Sign. This fabric would otherwise find its way into landfills but in true Cinderella style they are turned into functional, stylish and affordable bags of all shapes and sizes.  

Each bag is literally unique as no two bags are the same. 

To top it all they are proudly and truly South African.

Tanya Bailey with Lois Kuhle from Milimani

Tanya Bailey, founder and owner, has trained people to make the 

bags as an entrepreneurial opportunity, and some of the 

profits go into supporting environmental projects.

Uzwelo has a resident team and outsources to community projects when necessary. They have trained ladies from iBhungezi/Philangethemba Trust (Molweni-Valley of 100 hills),  LIV Village, and iThembalethu (Cato Manor). Each lady is producing bags and earning a living that puts food on the table for their families, funds education and provides dignity and empowerment for their communities in the long-term.

They have partnered with an NPO “The Bateleurs”. Uzwelo is proud to be associated with all that they do and donates a portion of the sales to their cause.

Milimani is gathering goodies to fill the bags for the kids. 

But, shhhhh, don’t tell them…. It’s a surprise.