Namibia: Oyetu Craft Project Targets Tourist Market

When a Japanese fashion designer teams up with the Oyetu Community Development Project in Namibia, great things happen to inspire those ladies living in the outreach areas to work on their creative skills. Ayumi Suzuki came in as a JAICA (Japanese International Cooperative Agency) volunteer on a six month contract, to do product development in the various regions. Using her background as a fashion designer to throw around some amazing ideas, she has been a great mentor for women in the villages, who will be able to eke a living out of producing a host of appealing items. Suzuki was out and about with Samuel Sheyanena, Oyetu co-ordinator, displaying a range of delightful colourful stuffed animal toys, which had been made by a group of outreach community women in Khorixas.

African print material on a collection ranging from elephants, giraffes, zebra and guinea fowl in hues of pink, yellow and vibrant patchwork, was lively enough to put a smile on the face of any child, or grab the attention of a globetrotting tourist on holiday. With their target customer aimed at the international market, these attractive stuffed animals are small and light enough to pack into any suitcase, and would make a perfect curio gift or memorabilia from the Namibian craft scene. Suzuki explains that the animal figurines are cut from a pattern she draws up, and are pieced together on sewing machines provided by the project. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, has offered workshop training space in Khorixas, for the dozen or so women who have committed to the two year course.

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