Photo link
Want to see our latest creations? 
click here
WORK OF OUR HANDS MINISTRY
Related Photo Galleries: | Work of Our Hands - People | Work of Our Hands - Products |
NEED FOR OUR MINISTRY
Until 1990 (independence), employment opportunities for blacks were restricted to menial, unskilled labor. Today the seeds planted by apartheid have grown into a legacy of poverty, and worse, a poverty mentality. Above all else, there is a sense of hopelessness that life will ever improve.
For this reason, the concepts of entrepreneurism and self-employment are relatively foreign to the native population. Their lack of employable skills keeps them stuck within a highly dependent mindset. They feel their fate is predetermined, and there is little they can do to improve their lot in life. Work of our Hands seeks to change that mindset by developing the artistic and handcraft skills (primarily of women) and demonstrating how these skills can be used to make a better way of life for their families.
This need exists throughout the country. Unemployed families are everywhere. The need is so overwhelming; one could easily be discouraged from even beginning. Yet large projects always begin with small endeavors and people committed to making a difference.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Work of our Hands is to provide hope and dignity for the unemployed through the creation of cottage industries, which produce handcraft products for local and international markets.
We envision a holistic ministry that teaches handcraft, basic life skills, and business skills, as well as addresses the educational and spiritual needs of participants. Skills alone will not overcome the apartheid legacy. The greater challenge is to impart new life skills, and a new way of thinking.
Our further mission is for each project to become self supporting. That is, not dependent on W.O.O.H. to continue. Our goal is to develop interdependent entrepreneurs. Small businesses that can cooperate to buy supplies and market their products, but that operate as separate business entities.
Many here say our goals are too large, indeed un-doable! I, Val, hear constantly about how ”it’s been tried before, it can’t work; a project never out lives it’s founder” etc. I hear about how lazy the native population is, how unmotivated, and how crafts won’t sell in Namibia. We have already proven crafts do sell in Namibia, although granted the market is small. As to the lazy and unmotivated part, since we do not pay individuals to be trained, those without any self motivation are naturally weeded out of the program. Each individual either has their own business, as with the bead ladies, or they share supplies, as in Five Rand, and are paid when the items they have made are sold. At this point they receive all the money for the item except for the cost of the supplies they have used.
So, are our goals too large? Is the job indeed un-doable? Only time will tell. All I, Val, know, is that I believe in it enough to give myself, and my prayers fully to it! With God all things are possible, and I believe He has uniquely gifted me, and sent me to Namibia for such a time as this.
How You Can Make a Difference - Fair Trade
Question: Can I actually make a difference in world poverty?
FACT: The United Nations defines poverty as those living on less than $2.00 U.S. a day. Nearly 2/3 of the world population lives below this level.
Answer: YES, by purchasing “fair trade” products, just one purchase can make a tremendous difference in one life.
Educated consumers can demand retailers offer products for which a fair wage is paid to the artisans. Often this choice will have little or no impact on the product’s final price, since labor costs are a small percentage of the expense of bringing a product to market. One way to keep “fair trade” products competitively priced is to reduce the number of middlemen between artisan and consumer. For example, the internet is one method for reducing this needless expense and overhead so that artisans can compete with larger, well-funded corporations.
Fair Trade, or alternative trade, refers to the exchange of goods based on principles of economic and social justice. The key objectives of Fair Trade are to empower low-income artisans and farmers around the world to better their conditions, and to promote understanding between them and people of developed regions. Alternative traders who are members of the Fair Trade Federation pledge to:
Pay a fair wage in the local context.
Provide equal opportunities for all people.
Engage in environmentally sustainable practices.
Build long-term trade relationships.
Provide healthy and safe working conditions.
Provide financial and technical assistance to workers whenever possible.
While a “fair” price is often difficult to determine, Fair Trade advocates generally agree that the producers should earn enough not only to cover material and labor costs, but also to improve the standards of living for the producer’s family, cooperative and community. (from The Conscious Consumer ©2002, Rosemarie Benz Ericson)
Artisans in third world countries spend their money to meet the most basic life-sustaining needs of food and shelter. Once these needs are met, money is most often spent on children’s school fees, books and uniforms for public school, which in most third world countries is not free.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade, or alternative trade, refers to the exchange of goods based on principles of economic and social justice. The key objectives of Fair Trade are to empower low-income artisans and farmers around the world to better their conditions, and to promote understanding between them and people of developed regions. Alternative traders who are members of the Fair Trade Federation pledge to:
- Pay a fair wage in the local context.
- Provide equal opportunities for all people.
- Engage in environmentally sustainable practices.
- Build long-term trade relationships.
- Provide healthy and safe working conditions.
- Provide financial and technical assistance to workers whenever possible.
While a “fair” price is often difficult to determine, Fair Trade advocates generally agree that the producers should earn enough not only to cover material and labor costs, but also to improve the standards of living for the producer’s family, cooperative and community. (from The Conscious Consumer ©2002, Rosemarie Benz Ericson)
Artisans in third world countries spend their money to meet the most basic life-sustaining needs of food and shelter. Once these needs are met, money is most often spent on children’s school fees, books and uniforms for public school, which in most third world countries is not free.
BACKGROUND OF FOUNDER
Valarie Garber is the founder of Work of our Hands.
In December 2002, "I moved reluctantly to Windhoek, Namibia with my husband"
says Valarie. "What is a sculptor and craft designer to do in Africa of all
places?” Well, design crafts and sculpt of course! After a few months I got over
grieving my losses, and began to look around. What I saw was a country of many
cultures and races, a country of immense potential. But, also a country severely
divided between the “have’s “and “have not’s.” Among the have not’s, there is
extreme poverty, lack of education or work skills, and a sense of
hopelessness.
I have always been VERY excited about learning any art or craft skill that is new to me. I have also always felt that perhaps I was just being unfocused. Why couldn't I just stick to one medium of artistic expression, like the successful artists I know and admire? A few special people in my life have always encouraged me to be true to me, but still, I felt a bit embarrassed at my attraction, to forever learning new skills and exploring new materials.
Suddenly, however, in Africa, a puzzle piece fell into place, Maybe, there is a reason for my eccentricity, and for all the seemingly unrelated skills I have acquired over my lifetime. I can teach all kinds of art and craft skills to unskilled Africans. I can give the gift of hope, the joy of creating, and hopefully, help to provide an income. WORK OF OUR HANDS is born.
VALARIE GARBER – BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
• Degree in Interior Design and
operated her own design business for 12 years
• Sculptor since 1992, selling
at Timothy’s Gallery in Winter Park, FL
• Published craft designer and
teacher
• Member of Society of Craft Designers (USA) until moving to
Africa
• Licensed a line of figurines to Russ Berrie inc. for the gift market
in 1994
• State of Florida AIDS training certificate
• Assistant
director, SNOW BABIES INC.
(a non profit ministry for emotional and
spiritual healing 1992 thru December 2002
with 1,500 hours of group
counseling experience)
• Mental health Counseling training 100 hours
VALARIE GARBER - ART/ CRAFT SKILLS
• Quilting
• Crochet
•
Embroidery
• Fabric painting
• Resist dying
• Block printing
•
Sewing
• Beading
• Papier-mâché
• Sculpture
• Mold making &
casting
• Doll making and pattern design
PRODUCTS
Work of Our Hands is a not-for-profit organization. (see Mission Statement) Our goal is not to make money but to empower people to help themselves.
Uniqueness
In a world of mass production, chain stores and cloned widgets, it is a treat to find items both unique and finely crafted where the human heart and soul are evident.
Creating New Traditions
Our Artisans specialize in the contemporary interpretation of traditional African design elements. A nation only since 1990, Namibian’s are discovering their artistic identity through new and numerous creative outlets.
Enhancing Lives
With over 40% of the adult population unemployed, the selling of handcrafted items is virtually the only source of income available to these marginalized indigenous people. Their small businesses provide much more than an income. They provide hope and a sense of empowerment concerning their future.
NAMIBIA BACKGROUND
Namibia is an emerging, nation in southwestern Africa. It achieved its independence from South Africa in 1990. It has an overall unemployment rate of 40% caused by both a lack of skilled labor and job opportunities. Its landmass is approximately twice the size of California, with a population of less than 2 million people. Almost 50% of the people live in the north central region of the country. Although the official language is English, many northern inhabitants only speak tribal dialects.
Since there are not enough jobs in the agricultural north, many families migrate south looking for work. Since many are unskilled, and illiterate, they end up in informal settlements (squatters’ camps) still unemployed. While the government is doing it’s best to help, the problem is just too massive. Some Namibian churches are beginning to realize that they have a key role to play in meeting the growing social concerns of Namibia. And yet the needs are overwhelming.
While overall Namibian unemployment is about 40%, in these informal settlements, unemployment is closer to 80%. Not many ministries or social assistance organizations are mobilized to help these people. What they are most deprived of is the hope that their lives will ever improve.
