The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is to fund 25 crafters from the province who are completing the national certificate in craft operational management for the next year.

The funds, managed by Create SA, the national skills development vehicle for the country’s creative industries, will be used exclusively to help fund activities which are seen as central to the learning experience but have not been allowed for in the initial learnership grant.

“The importance of this initiative should not be underestimated. It comes at a time when the craft industry is seen as a major catalyst for job creation and is benefiting from the increased importance of tourism. Just as with tourism, we are showcasing one part of a very rich heritage. Hence our involvement in initiative in which we can help translate skill into jobs and revenue,” says Eastern Cape Development Craft Development Agency head Melanie Mahona.

She says that the crafters, chosen from over 120 candidates from the East London, Umtata and Butterworth areas, are the second group to complete the NQ5 certificate, and take the total number of crafters on this learnership programme in the province to 50.

The first group are from Port Elizabeth. Both join more than 6 000 crafters who are participating in various creative learnership streams nationwide.

The crafters, chosen on four criteria – possessing a matriculation certification, the ability to speak English, entrepreneurial skills and passing an interview with the area’s implementing authority – will complete their training at the King Sabata Dalindyebo, Further Education and Training Institution, Umthata over the next 10 months.

“Learners cover a wide range of topics such as business communication, business administration, design research, craft production, craft enterprise development, employee management and development, business development, human resource management, business and marketing strategies, art and culture education, and overseas export. These modules are presented by local specialists,” adds Doreen Februarie from Nosipho Consultancy who coordinates the local programme

The course also has a HIV/Aids component because “it is very much an issue which crafters will face and this course aims to equip crafters with the basic human resource management skills.”

The course is divided equally into the academic and practical or as Februarie calls it “workplace experience”.

Learners spend up to two weeks each month with employers, applying their theoretical knowledge. This knowledge is boosted by other activities such as trips to Johannesburg where they will visit exhibitions and street markets.

Later in year, they will exhibit at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

“We believe this qualification will give crafters a valuable skill – to manage their own business. It will also provide a foundation for crafters who wish to pursue their studies,” says Create SA’s regional coordinator Michael Barry.

“Our province will also benefit from the NQF2 craft production learnership which addresses the quality of craft production. Consumers of the crafts, whether they are a tourist or chain store buyer, want quality and hence the need for this qualification that targets skills,” explains Barry.

In developing the course, Create SA also considered other country models from New Zealand, Australia and Scotland.

“While we have drawn on some elements in these programmes, our crafters have a unique set of needs and we will continue to adapt the course so that these needs are met,” ends Barry.

Some of the crafters who will benefit from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation's funding are (back row) Matshawandile Mukume, Mzimkhulu Juleka, Zukiswa Matanya and Phumla Hlbaba. In front is crafter Yiyokazi Sikiti with ECDC's Belinda Vabaza, Nosipho Consultancy's Doreen Februarie, Create SA's Michael Barry, ECCDA's Melanie Mahona together with Sports, Arts and Culture's Sizwe Bhali.