Woodwork Shop

The Baphumelele Woodwork Shop provides vocational training to Khayelitsha residents.

The Woodwork Shop, built with the generous support of various rotary clubs in Germany and South Africa, produces top-notch beach and deck chairs and accepts commissioned work when possible. The Woodwork Shop currently employs two trained operators on a full-time basis.

There is much hope and optimism for the success of the Woodwork Shop as a small business opportunity. It is a grassroots way of responding to the unemployment tragedy in Khayelitsha and empowering community members with jobs and optimism for a better life.

Efforts are underway to increase the visibility of Baphumelele’s Woodwork Shop products via local flea markets, craft shops, and marketing to area guesthouses, B&Bs and resorts. Online sales are available from this website (see Buy Products). 
 

Meet Mandile

Mandile, known around here as “Madoda”, has been working at Baphumelele since 2003. He started out as a caretaker at the Educare Centre, and moved over to the Woodwork Shop after it was built in 2004.

“I love to work here. I can easily take public transport to work everyday. I have learned skills in the Woodwork Shop that I will be able to take with me anywhere. I believe that this will be a successful business one day, which would be nice because I’m happy to work here the rest of my life.