adminReckson Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter
Evelyn Mujuru, a local batik artist, seeks to empower orphaned and unemployed youths with printing skills so that they can make a living. The widowed artist began working with the less-privileged back in 1998 when she ventured into her batik business.
“At some point I worked with and trained more than 30 individuals, with some now working on their own after a successful apprenticeship,” she said.
When some women lose their husbands they tend to struggle to survive, but Mujuru defied this phenomenon.
Not only is she a breadwinner for her family but also an employer.
“After the passing on of my husband in 1996, I had a family to look after and having been inducted in the arts sector I decided to make it big and began concentrating on batik which I enjoyed most.
“It then dawned on me that I could also help other individuals such as orphans as they too had lost breadwinners and needed help,” she explained.
Mujuru was nominated – with assistance from Zambuko Trust – to represent Zimbabwe in the 2000 Opportunity International Global Conference which was held in Oxford, England where she met former South African First Lady Zanele Dlamini.
Knowfredge Mudadisi, one of the youths working with Mujuru, expressed his gratitude for assistance.
“Some of us already have families to look after and the opportunity created means we are now able to look after our families properly and it is a step out of poverty,” he said.
Another youth, Ronny Manyan’anye, said he was now into business rather than loitering in the streets.
“I used to loiter around, involved in a lot of mischief but now I’m settled and have something that brings food on the table,” he said.
Mujuru and her group specialise in animal prints which they usually export to countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.
Online Reporter