Handwoven baskets

 Sheka Africa has worked closely with the Rubanda Women Empowerment Forum in Rubanda, Kabale District. As well as many local women in the surrounding community, this group consists of the mothers and grandmothers of the children attending FGNP. The group was established to provide an opportunity to come together, share stories and build on skills to provide income for their families. From this the basket project was born. The ladies have a fine skill for weaving baskets, but the market in Uganda means they cannot sell and make a meaningful profit. Once a week, the women in the district that surrounds Future Generation Nursery and Primary School, come together to meet. They share stories as they weave their beautiful baskets. These baskets, made from natural resources, are a way for the women to earn an income and feed their families. Finding a market locally for these crafts is difficult, so each time we travel to Uganda, we bring back a selection of baskets to sell in Australia, sending the money directly back to the women in Uganda.Sheka Africa has teamed with various individuals and business to sell the baskets within stores in Australia. This has led to members of the group being able to support their families and to the establishment of a co-op where the group manage micro loans from the profits for those within the group.