Beads of hope fund Umbilo health care centre
After the recent KZN floods, Senzokhule Wellness Centre needs to raise funds more than ever.
FOR years, members of NPO, Senzokuhle Wellness Centre have served their community, offering medical assistance free of charge.
To fund this work, members of the center create beaded jewelry, traditional attire, artwork, bags and beaded footwear. Now, after the center flooded in the recent KZN floods, project director, Kanyi Sibiya, says they need to raise funds more than ever.
“With funding, we can fix our building where there are cracks,”said Sibiya.
Aside from maintenance needs, Sibiya hopes to raise funds for the centre operations
“We don’t receive funds. We need funds to pay staff salaries as we have been working on a voluntary basis since 2010. We are working hard- we also go out and help people,” she said.
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The volunteers have their hands full with a busy weekly schedule. Twice a week, on a Monday and Wednesday, they receive fifth year homeopathy students who visit the clinic to offer their expertise.
On Thursday, the wellness centre staff visit their patients at home and in-between, they fill their time with intricate craft and bead projects -with some items taking months to complete.
During Home visits, Sibiya and her team put their craft skills to use, teaching their patients to create their own beaded items or crafts.
“If they just sit without anything to do, they feel lonely, but if there is something to do, it keeps them busy,” said Sibiya.
She said patients feel a sense of achievement when they see their completed art works and crafts.
Hire a heritage ensemble
While the wellness centre sells a range of items, they also hire out traditional isiZulu attire, including beaded belt, necklace, skits and vest, priced according to size.
ALSO READ: Support local: Glenwood bead artists share 8 gift ideas for R200 or less
Eco-conscious art
Among the arts and crafts Sibiya and her team create are handbags and jewelry boxes upcycled from plastic packets and cooldrink bottles.
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