Quality crafts done the Santa Mission way  

-Small Business Focus

DPI, Friday, 15 September, 5018

In Santa Mission, Region Three over 30 women have created a centre to engage in crafting items with local products from their community.

Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke to artisan, Elizabeth Williams who is a member of the Kamuni Women’s Development Association. This group of enterprising women is known for their eye-catching handcrafted items.

Operating in the arts and crafts industry for over thirty years, 52-year-old Elizabeth Williams specializes in making hand fans, jewellery boxes, bags, fruit bowls and tibisiri skirts with material from the eta palm tree. She said many tourists are drawn to the products. “We have the craft centre where we put out our stuff; which is in the area where Gerry Gouveia has his tourist spot. Whenever the tourists pass through they have to stop in Santa Mission and they would purchase craft or whatever they want.”

The mother of five explained that many women in the Santa Mission area, especially those who are part of the craft centre rely heavily on their trade to sustain their livelihoods. As such many of them operate on a daily basis crafting various items.

With a growing membership, Williams calls on the younger generation in Santa Mission to be proactive and enrol in various skills training programmes that will ensure they are marketable or can manage their own ventures.

“What motivates me is the fact of getting my own money. I do not have to depend on my husband and I always like my own money. I would say to the young people to stick to quality work because that is what Santa Mission’s name is for “Quality Standard Work.”

She encourages all Guyanese to buy local and support native artisans and producers. People can make special orders on 611-2652. Williams said she foresees the business escalating as new techniques are being utilized daily.

By: Crystal Stoll.

Image: Jameel Mohamed.

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