To establish a crafts training school in the South of Johannesburg's Region 9. As African Divas expands so does the opportunity for job creation and we need to be looking ahead. There is huge unemployment in this region and a centre of this type is desperately needed. Our long term focus is to establish small groups of craftsmen that can use African Divas as a vehicle to market their products / businesses. The lack of funding is a major stumbling block.

To work internally at upgrading the skills of our core personnel. As we expand we need more management skills amongst our existing staff .

To expand our products and pursue exports more aggressively in 2009/2010. Deborah has designed a range of children's clothing that is ready to go. We would like to train a community to produce this range. This would be the start of our “Little Divas/Divos” clothing line. We have worked on a marketing strategy that we believe would work.

To continue to knock on the DTI's door for funding or help with exposure at international shows. We attended a show in Portugal in 2008 and made great contacts for export to Europe.

We believe African Divas the brand has great international appeal and have registered / trademarked African Divas both locally and internationally. We have had discussions with interested parties about African Divas shops internationally, at present the Europeans are under pressure because of the “financial crises”. This is our long-term focus, build our brand, promote our country and our communities. The stronger the brand the bigger chances of success for all.

African Divas Ceramics cc

To establish a ceramics training school. We are currently looking at buildings in the area to expand our business. Our ceramics business has been a credible success with international buyers already making enquiries about our products.

We are supplying an international marketing company with products for the American market and are sampling other companies all over Europe. We are limited in our capacity and need to plan for future expansion. A ceramics training school will benefit the community as a whole and give much needed skills to the unemployed in the area. If we had more skilled people in this field we could expand our product range.

The Shelter

The “Shelters” is the start of this vision. We are currently talking to a church in the area called The Tower, with Pastor Kenneth Carew whose ministry is with the street prostitutes. He has a number of homes attached to the church and we want to get involved with the ”shelter” for women and children that they are setting up. African Divas could help with the training of these woman and buying of products produced by the centre. This would offer these women a meaningful alternative to their current profession.

Pastor Kenneth has a large amount of land in this region and we are planning to grow small plants on this property, creating more job opportunities. We will then make our own pots with a theme and pot these small plants and sell them. We have a great idea for the marketing of these plants.

The shelter would also include a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre and general counselling. This would be funded out of the “Planting and Potting” programme.

<< back to about African Divas