Uplifting the Women of South Africa

A great day for craft in Ekherleni

2007-10-23T17:41:00.000+02:00

Rugby World Cup 2007

2007-10-22T16:48:00.000+02:00

Understanding the universe

2007-10-10T12:31:00.000+02:00

Lessons of my own life has taught and showed me, that no matter where you get to in life, you are constantly searching.

Searching for answers, meanings
Searching for love, kindness, friendship
Searching for success, wealth
Searching for happiness, health

I have been practising the mind power techquines for well on 3 months, sometimes everyday, and others as and when, but the one thing that I have learnt so far is that I have to keep my mind focused on the real things that I am searching for.

As discussed in these learnings, we easily forget what we have achieved or where we have come from in our paths to find the things we are searching for.

Within my own life and that of Tangerine's so far, where we were a year ago we never would have imagined the journey, but if I look back a year ago and remember my thinking then of course we are where we are now.

Now as I see Tangerine and myself progress to another level, I am aware of the thinking that has got me to this point.

So no matter what you are searching for ensure that you are a 100% sure of what it is, because what you think you become.

Changes again

2007-10-09T12:34:00.000+02:00

Lets try again

The rain is still going, its been non stop since Friday, a beautiful site, the land is clean and fresh, the grass is green, the plants and trees are alive.

That is the same about Tangerine, coming from a humble begining a year ago, Tangerine is now entering its second phase of business growth.

As I look at the amazing opportunities availing themselves to us, the growth is I suppose a mirror reflection of my own growth.

When Tangerine started I needed to be uplifted, now that I am feeling the confidence in side of myself, I see confidence from the market.

With local government now coming on board, and leaders asking us to pass on learnings this is an amazing recognition of where we have come from and even more where we are going.

Taking a stand about our individual rights

2007-10-01T19:35:00.000+02:00

Lately I have been practising mind power techniques, willing to look at how I can make my life better.

I am now starting to see the return of this thinking and now know that anything I you set your mind to can be achieved.

Now that I understand this thinking I am now ready to start pushing my mind thinking.

It is this kind of thinking that I believe can set the pace for a new opportunities.

Children from an early age should be taught this as part of a school subject

Craft Samples

2007-10-01T13:59:00.000+02:00

Feeling a bit guilty for not doing my blog every night like I have been doing - but just to give some feedback where we are.

We have now got our feet into three of the major retailers in South Africa, the problem though with this is that it takes so long because every time we need to produce samples.

To try and overcome the cost factor involved in this I have been in discussion with the Ekwuleni Muncipality East Rand Johannesburg, in principal they have agreed to set up training programmes which offer a return or measurement.

This means that 4 times a year we can work with retailers to produce products based on their brief and allow up to 300 women at one time work opportunities.

The concept is that this will mushroom.

Well obviously I'll keep you informed

How do we educate the women of the rural communities of South Africa

2007-09-26T19:42:00.000+02:00

Gosh it seems like forever since I made contact, with the public holiday on Monday, yesterday just never gave me two minutes.

What I would like to touch on, is the dire situation of the women in the rural areas of South Africa. With so much development and forward growth in getting the message out about HIV/Aids, why then are our women dying and being infected with this disease.

Last night watching a South African programme on SABC 3 "Special Assignment" it became very obvious how bad the real situation is with these women.

Dying like flies, these women still don't seem to understand that they need to be part of the system, they need birth certificates for their children, ID Books and all other papers that prove that they are in fact alive.

What I don't understand, surely these people have to be registered somewhere, these children that are being born need to be registered.

So how do we make it easier to educate these people, one thought is (which is mine) is that Home Affairs offices need to be set up in the rural areas, education programmes at the school need to be put in place, more root development.

Im not sure of the answer to this solution, but what is sure they are not being educated, they are not getting the necessary assistance, and they are definately not getting to be part of the growth and the development of South Africa.

A real glimpse into the lives of the rural South Africans

2007-09-20T13:11:00.000+02:00

Sixteen documents required

Rejane Woodroffe

19 September 2007 11:59

Rural poverty is being exacerbated by bureaucratic inefficiency. (Photograph: Tracy Lee Stark)
Although I work as an economist and portfolio manager in the finance sector, I live in a remote rural area where my husband has, together with the local community, built a backpackers’ lodge.

This is in the most remote village in the poorest district in South Africa (according to Statistics SA). The village has no running water, no toilets, no road, no clinic, no functioning school and no electricity or government services of any kind.

Most of the community members are illiterate and speak little or no English. Because we have made this our home and are considered part of the community, we are often asked to help sort out problems, one of the most common being to help retired mineworkers or their widows access their pension funds.

The problem is a good example of the disparity between our first and second economies. The best way for me to describe the extent of the difficulties of the poorest in our society in accessing their pension funds, is to use an actual example.

In 2004 a respected member of our community passed away. He had worked for many years at Anglo Platinum’s Amandelbult mine in Rustenberg. The tragedy of his death was magnified by his family’s inability to access any of the money from the provident fund that he diligently put aside to care for them and to which they were entitled.

His wife, Nothembile (not her real name), a good friend of ours, lives in a mud hut. She’s had to remove her children from school because she can’t pay school fees, she doesn’t have enough money for food and she suffers from chronic epilepsy.

Why has she not received the money owed to her by the provident fund? The answer to this lies in the disempowering reality of abject poverty and illiteracy.

After her husband’s death, Nothembile took what papers she had (various payslips and so on) and went to the labour department in Mthatha. There she was given a cheque late last year, which she couldn’t read. She tried to deposit the cheque and was told by the teller that it had “expired”.

The teller kept the cheque. We have not been able to find out where this cheque was from: possibly the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or some funeral benefit. She doesn’t know the value of the cheque. The UIF says it has no record of any cheque being paid.

She was advised on how to go about applying for the money. Three certified photocopies of the following documents were required:

The deceased’s ID, which she had, so no problem;

The death certificate -- this involved regular visits to home affairs in Mthatha and Elliotdale (a journey that takes five hours each way and costs R100);

Her ID, which she had;

Her marriage certificate. Traditional marriages are not registered and she has to get affidavits from various traditional leaders (four hours’ walk away) -- a tedious process;

Birth certificates for her eight children. All of them were born in her hut and have no birth certificates. With the authorities keen to avoid social grant fraud, it is a difficult process to get birth certificates;

Proof of school attendance. This was relatively easy to get, but the kids have since had to drop out;

A letter confirming physical and postal address. This again requires a long walk to the chief;

A bank account. With the new Fica rules it is difficult to open a bank account if you live where there are no roads and thus no addresses. This requires numerous trips to Mthatha and the chief. She did this, but it turned out to be a savings account instead of an ACB type bank account -- even us city-types don’t understand what that’s about. Now she needs to get an ACB account statement -- not a savings account statement; and finally

An added complication is that the deceased had two wives, which is not uncommon in traditional areas. The second wife also needs to supply documents before either can access the provident fund.

This process is difficult for someone with no money, but it is almost impossible for someone who’s illiterate. Nothembile wandered around Mthatha for days trying to get copies made and then not understanding that every copy had to be certified.

The police are often busy and refuse to certify on demand: she requires as many as 60 documents certified. Even when she has all the documents, she doesn’t know who to phone and she doesn’t have money to make phone calls. She doesn’t know what “registered mail” is and she will believe pretty much anything anyone in authority tells her.

If someone from Anglo Platinum said, “Sorry, you’ve taken too long to apply for the provident fund,” she would sadly accept it. It would be the easiest thing in the world to defraud her -- which might be what happened when her cheque was rejected at the bank last year.

Even when Nothembile gets these papers, she can’t read them and won’t know when she has all of them; she’ll probably end up sending the originals too, which will no doubt get lost in the post; she’ll have to phone for the postal address, but she doesn’t know the phone number and can’t write and has no money to phone anyway.

She’ll almost certainly send only some of the documents and not others, and then no one will be able to contact her to tell her that there are documents outstanding.

She and many other people in the same position do not understand that they have a right to this money. Nothembile has given up trying to access the money now.

The solution to her problem is simple: it has to be legislated that all pension and provident funds must get all the required documents from employees while they are still healthy. This should be included as a term in the employee’s employment contract and the fund’s adherence to this rule should be monitored by the Financial Services Board.

Additionally, Anglo Platinum and other companies that benefit from the migrant labour system need to be proactive when their employees die. Surely someone must have noticed that this money has been sitting unclaimed for three years?

This is just a glimpse of the gulf between South Africa’s sophisticated first economy and the underdeveloped second economy. If we want to build a bridge between these two, as government has proposed, we need to recognise the extent of this problem and find creative and practical solutions.

Réjane Woodroffe is an economist and head of international portfolio management at Metropolitan Asset Managers and director of the Bulungula Incubator

Women Abuse

2007-09-19T19:40:00.000+02:00

When will this ever stop, having experienced this twice in my life, why is it that men believe that they own you.

Today one of the women in the projects admitted to me her home situation, she lives with an abusive husband, she can't get him out the house, she doesn't have the money to leave, he drinks, hits her, takes it out on the children, and refuses to contribute to the household - and on top of it, he earns a decent living.

She now has to sit in court for a whole day, get no where because of the queues, takes time of work, gets into trouble because she is not there to deliver - and the cycle goes on.

So to all the policies and processes in place, it still doesn't work towards getting the support women like her need.

I pray that through the relationships I have I can find some way out for her and her family

Inspirational Women

2007-09-18T16:17:00.000+02:00

I am so glad to be back online, for the last few days I have not been able to connect.

Today I would like to dedicate this blog to all the inspirational women and men in South Africa who are making a difference.

Every day I come across a story that just proves that there is just so much good going on in our country, and I am now determined to only share our good news stories.

Its time for the world to real take notice and see that we are not just about hand outs, its about proving that all the attention and belief in South Africa is now paying of.

Look at ourselves, Tangerine we are close on assisting directly and indirectly over a 1000 people predominately women - but now we are opening the doors and our hearts to working with the youth of our country.

Keeping them of the streets and helping them find opportunities.

South Africa "Our time has come"

Good week for Tangerine

2007-09-13T20:38:00.000+02:00

So the weekend is back upon us, I hope your week as been a successful one. I'm back into the swing of finding business again. After the show and getting sick, it has taken me a while to get back to being fully motivated.

But after this week definately back up there - requests for pricing for orders are starting to increase again and some new opportunities opening themselves up.

Also a new project maybe in Limpopo, waiting to see what comes out of it, and within my own camp in Etwatwa some surprises with the womens groups.

Kenny the young man who I have taken under my wing is starting to shine and I am so happy that he'll being earning some money from the end of the month - I though need to spend some quality time with him.

With a great weekend in front of us, so much to be grateful for - have a good one!!

South Africa Crafting Celebration

2007-09-12T20:31:00.000+02:00

Today we had the members of the Timken foundation visit the Impumelelo Project at the John Wesley Centre out at Etwatwa.

Timken have agreed to fund the building of the new art and craft manufacturing centre, shop and admin offices out at the centre.

It was really great meeting everybody and it is days like today that make it all worth it.

Every day I see the people out at the centre take a bigger positive role in the growth of their own lifes.

Craft and art development play a major fundamental role in the long term growth opportunities for our country.

Pushing crafters into the corporate market

2007-09-11T18:49:00.000+02:00

Well I couldn't get into the blog last night for some unknown reason.

Tangerine has now been going over a year, and were pretty much up there with getting into the retail space.

Now we have our eyes on the corporate market, and like every thing it takes time to break in.

Our marketing message is so different, I am now thinking of adding a whole new section onto the web site that shows businesses the kind of products and what we can do for companies.

The whole playing field changes, and companies make decisions so differently, my concern is do we push the development part or do we push more the product.

I suppose time will tell

Crafting in South Africa

2007-09-06T21:23:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow I present more samples to potential new buyers, partners and possible long term initiatives.

Each time we produce these samples, it allows me to think of new product opportunities, already I now have an idea for a new bag which I believe I also have the right buyer for.

The opportunity for South African crafters is to produce products that are worldly but also show the true South African flair.

On the ceramic side, I present on Tuesday a way forward to set up a commercial venture I am awaiting to get their approval on the product type and to get my good old friend Lloyd up to Johannesburg to work on producing master and working moulds.

I am also going to get him to produce artist drawings on 3 tier product range that I have in mind leading up to the 2010 world cup socceer that is happening in South Africa.

See you tomorrow - sorry about the spelling and grammer, but my blog is constantly opening in an error mode and it doesn't allow me the opportunity to check my spelling so please don't judge. - thanks goodnight

Respectful Attitude

2007-09-05T21:07:00.000+02:00

I need to get of my frustration, so please bear with me.

If there is one thing that gets up my nose is the manner in which a person believes they have the right to treat another person, especially when that manner is disrepectful.

Today one of my collagues send me this stern email all in capitals, this is not the first time it has happened. Like I always do I kept quite just to keep the peace, why should I keep quite, its is there issue and I can refuse to be treated in this manner.

In the same breath by keeping the peace is not really keeping the peace because it means you have to accept what that person has done or is doing to you, so our you at peace - not at all in reality you now carry the burdon of what was put on you.

So I have decided that politely from now on I will be as confrontational as possible to ensure that I know longer carry somebody elses issues.

Ok got it of my chest, but the lesson is only you can make the decision on what you allow yourself to take on, remember you always have to be number one otherwise how can you give to anybody else.

With that - love yourself - goodnight

Tough day - South Africa Craft Industry

2007-09-04T21:49:00.000+02:00

Well today was one of those days, where just so much needed to be done, and just not enough time in the day.

We are busy moving into a bigger room on top of it, don't get me wrong I love the pressure.

I have to get three sample to a buyer by Friday, this is exciting could be the possibility of a new partnership forming.

And on top of it which is really exciting the beginings of our new design agency is starting to emerge.

I'm now starting to creep my way into the corporate maket place with the first batch of the campaign getting out and the response though slow is starting to emerge.

I am meeting with one of the bigger Advertising agencys in South Africa and I am putting to them that they must use us as a direct supplier for as many projects as possible.

Also I have secured a meeting to discuss the region and the possibility of working to develop a branded product range for Gauteng.

Lots and lots, looking forward to the money coming now.

See you all tomorrow.

Going to start working on the keywords, pushing to get as much traffic to the www.tangerinemarketing.com site.

Committed to Promoting Crafters in South Africa

2007-09-03T21:39:00.000+02:00

Good evening from a warm Johannesburg, South Africa. Winter is finally starting to leave us for the warmer weather of Spring.

It always amazes me, like clockwork, the seasons change, no level of grasping will ever take this amazing happening from blowing me away season after season.

Another thing that constantly amazes me is the level of workmanship that is produced in South Africa. Why is it that the Indonisans have such a great name for their craftmanship. Why do we battle to create our place in the global world.

I am working now on a few projects that will hopefully play a role in creating a market place for a commercial level of craft both locally here in South Africa and internationally.

So with only a few lines tonight, where ever you are - back tomorrow

Craft manufacturers

2007-08-30T22:12:00.000+02:00

Met this morning with a potential new crafting group, like all the groups that I have been in contact with, they find themselves in the same situation of not creating a sustainable market place.

After pondering about this and why is it that craft projects don't do any pre work before setting up led me to one answer - these projects are always well nearly always started our of a passion to make the lives of those less fortunate better.

What seems to be forgotton is that at the end of day, they are manufacturers and they need to earn a living, so once the romantic illusion is put into a box especially when not enough comes in, the reality sets in that it needs to make money to survive.

This is also why when these projects are set up no thought goes into what the market is after and what the project can deliver on the needs of the market.

More and more Tangerine is playing a role of assessing the needs and finding manufacturers and giving them specific briefs on what to make.

Slowly and surely a fully fledge marketing agency is being formed that is starting to offer a full service offering from designing their logos to creating products for them to produce.

Tangerine's campaign

2007-08-29T20:32:00.000+02:00

Finally our email campaign is going out, 3 months later than I proposed but I suppose better late than never.

Well this will be the first of many, I think by creating a database of potential clients allows us to start building a name for ourselves, and building a reputation about the company we are.

My next action to complete for the web is the newsletter which will be finished Friday and will go live I would say about a week later latest.

After that is to update the products take off the products that have been sold and replace with new photos.

I suppose eventually having a web site becomes a full time job, I need to find out how we can update it ourselves.

Well I'm waffling, good night I'm having a early one tonight

Tangerine's Journery

2007-08-28T22:35:00.000+02:00

I've just come back from dinner with a very old friend of mine that I havn't seen for a very long time.

It was so good and felt so good giving her the journey of Tangerine, and it made me think that maybe it was a good time to reflect on why I set up Tangerine with Gordon.

I suppose it makes sense to go right back, after I walked out on Jacques with R13.00 in my pocket, I was at the lowest of lowest, personally I never though I had the strength to make it through the next hour never mind the next day. But I had to think of my daughter and knowing how unsettled this must have made her, internally made it all worse.

But as they say the show must go on, one hour became one day, became one month, became two years and here we are now.

I will never forget the pain of walking away, I will never forget the pain of realising how much hurt he put onto my daughter, I will never forget the internal humilation of getting to the lowest possible place within yourself.

I don't use these memories to drive me, I think that would drive me crazy, I use these memories as lesson, lessons never to be learnt again. Lessons that have opened up my world to looking for only positive initatives and changes that I can bring upon myself and other.

Yes Tangerine's journey has been an intense one, but the journey has been a positive one, each day I meet or bump into people who just reiterate this.

Tangerine Marketing

2007-08-27T20:20:00.000+02:00

A world of opportunities are sitting for our picking, the hard work of putting this business together is now finally starting to pay of.

I have finally got my head around being open to making the money needed to fulfill on all the goals and dreams that I have personally and for the business. Thank goodness for my friend and business partner - Gordon, he is such an inspiration most times - he is constantly pusing me to grow as an individual.

I see everytime I overcome a situation, he opens up more to me and shares and trusts me more with his thinking about business.

So its time now to look at each one from a financial viability and strategic opportunity to Tangerine for now and future business opportunities.

John Wesley Centre

2007-08-23T21:22:00.000+02:00

Today it felt so good to spend time with the women at the John Wesley Centre in Etwatwa, the last few weeks just put so much pressure on all of us to deliver, that I believe we all lost a bit of why we are doing what were doing. Yes, we know the more money we make the better the lives of many - but what going out to the centre just brought home, was the level of love and commitment to fellow people just really lifted my spirits.

Hopefully this is the last time in my life I try so hard to please everybody, its time that I finally got it into this head of mine that its not all about me and how I think, but its about having fun, and enjoying what were about and spreading this load amongst us all.

I truly thank God for brining these beautiful women into my life, who through all that life has thrown at them just see the brightness of the dawn of every and each new day. THANK YOU

Developments in Tangerine

2007-08-22T21:42:00.001+02:00

This week, basically because I have really been sick as made me homeward bound, and due to the fact I haven't had much energy its has made me become very internally focused. Obviously this has made me take a long hard look at where we are and where we need to go.

At the same time, remaining clear in my thoughts of what we have achieved to date, and I think I need to just mention our achievements to date.

Firstly we entered a market that we knew nothing about, we have already reached the capacity of the small South African retail market, gosh I had no idea how small this market really is.

Secondly, our name is pretty much known locally and I know not everybody likes us, but we have secured a position quickly.

Now though comes the time to enter new markets, like virgin territory, it just takes a big shove to jump and get going, well that's where I am now, the universe is shoving me whether I like it or not and I am jumping.

Lastly we have really figured out how most operators operate and to be quite honestly its the one's you expect the most have let us down, but I suppose that is how life is in general.

So now I am feeling strong and ready to go roaring out again in the next chapter, I go out with an insight that I did not have before. As Merle said you will only receive wealth when you are ready to handle it, each chapter is a new learning working towards being ready for that achievement.

Africa's time is here

2007-08-21T21:39:00.000+02:00

Today I had traces of the me I know not this sick person who is driving me crazy, today I realised how the doors that started Tangerine are now closing and I see new doors opening.

What the show has taught me or showed to me is that I am confident enough to now start creating a Tangerine range of products, that is developed and produced under the Tangerine brand.

A range of products that promotes the African tribal nation not just in South Africa but accros the total southern africa, especially leading up to the 2010 socceer world cup that is being held in South Africa.

Last week South Africa launch Africa's time is here, I think all South Africans should rise and take advantage of this great opportunity

Making a difference

2007-08-19T10:54:00.001+02:00

I have started doing the visulazation tools that John Kehoe preaches, and it has made me realise that life is not about how much money you make, it is about what you do with the money you make.

Everyone of us has a choice in our lives about how we live, do we live for ourselves only and our own worth, or do we live to make a difference no matter how small.

Tonight I watched a TV programme on our local SABC 3, in which we spoke about bone marrow and I like many who I am sure believed to donate your marrow was a very painful experience, only to find out that there is nothing to it.

I wonder how many people will rise to the occassion, and of those that do rise I wonder what kind of people they are.

I am going to rise to the occassion, I have learnt that life is the most precious thing to have, to do deeds for others is the most rewarding aspect of life.

I live my life the way I want other people to see me, a very powerful thing to do and that is the words of Ghandi.

I vow to use the money I make to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how big or small.