Umtha, South Africa
Bringing light and hope to unemployed women in South Africa’s Cape Town region is what Cheryl and Dave Milligan are passionate about. That is why their organisation is called Umtha ‘ray of light’ in the local Xhosa language.
Umtha’s roots are modest. One rainy afternoon in 1991, Dave, himself unemployed, wandered into a craft shop. Picking up a few beads, he made a necklace for his wife Cheryl. Dave found new inspiration in this creativity and started making more beaded jewellery to sell in tourist areas. Before long, Cheryl joined him in the new venture and then they employed two Xhosa women to work with them. ‘As we started to see the potential for the business, God really gave us a heart for the poor and challenged us to make a contribution towards the restitution of a post-apartheid South Africa,’ says Dave.
Today Umtha employs 40 people. Cheryl explains, ‘It’s more than just production it’s about teamwork, fair trade and providing sustainable incomes, while creating jewellery of world-class quality.’
“Tapping into South Africa’s potential, Umtha is creating innovative jewellery, rooted in a contemporary fusion of design. Our quality beaded jewellery is individually handcrafted by township and refugee women.”
These women enjoy the safety of a consistent job and therefore, a consistent wage. Some of these women are the sole breadwinner for the family and are HIV/Aids positive.
They are able to not only have a food , clothing but can pay for school fees and medical needs, while putting a little away for the future. Umtha employees are also subsidised for their healthcare, including spectacles, treatment for HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.
These ladies are the average poor person without education or skill, who now are vital, with initiative, dignity and hope.
Umtha's vision is to release the potential in the hearts and minds of South Africans, helping them to overcome poverty and deprivation.
Umtha are members of COFTA (the African arm of WFTO, the World Fair Trade Organisation) and have since undertaken the arduous task of applying for fair trade accreditation with WFTO.
TABISA’S STORY
(in her own words)
I am Tabisa France, 26 years old and started working at Umtha in 1999. I was at school at that time for half the day and at work the other half. I work with people older than me. I was very happy to work with them and I still am happy.
As years went by I found out I was getting sick in 2004. It was TB (tuberculosis). But in 2005 I got sick again when I thought the TB had gone. I took a blood test. I was told that I am HIV positive. I told my mother (who also works at Umtha), and she told Dave and Cheryl [Umtha coordinators]. I have accepted it, although it was difficult. My mother and her family, and also Dave and Cheryl are on my side.
I am taking anti-retroviral [HIV medication] and eating healthy food. I visit the clinic near my home every morning and get an injection, before coming to work.
There is one thing that I know - there is a future ahead of me, and I’m working today. I ask God to give me many more years to live. When I was sick everyone was shocked when they saw me. There is no sickness going to rule my life. It’s only God, that is my life.
