By William Mbangula
ONIIPA
The European Union Poverty Reduction Programme has granted N$3 million to one of the grassroots and gender-based projects at Oniipa.
The Ohandje Art Cooperative Centre is the proud recipient of the funds. The financial assistance is part of the EU and the project initiators’ efforts to help sustain and preserve cultural heritage and create employment for poor rural women. Ohandje Cooperative Technical Adviser Mary Johansson told New Era that the sponsorship would enable the project to start relocation and construction of its own offices at Ondangwa.
Currently, Ohandje Centre is located at the Elcin Church premises at Oniipa.
The project has also received assistance from other sponsors such as SIDA, Africa Group of Sweden, the Namibia Nature Foundation, the Namibia Brewery and Cleaner Production, a component in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
According to Johansson, the project is expected to be self-supporting by the year 2009.
The 650-member project specialises in sewing, pottery and basket-making.
A brainchild of Papa Ndasuunje Shikongeni of the John Mwafangejo Art Centre, the project was first mooted in 2003.
As a start-up initiative, the John Mwafangejo Art Centre in Windhoek has been organising pot-making and basket-weaving workshops at Nakambale Museum at Olukonda in the Oshikoto Region.
The Embassy of Finland and others sponsored such workshops. Following the introduction of the workshops, many potential participants came forward to share and improve their technical and design skills in making clothes, pots and baskets.
In 2004, about 20 potters and basket weavers from Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto came together to form Ohandje Artists Cooperative with the assistance of the Africa Group of Sweden. The main objective of the project is to promote traditional Namibian artwork and market its members’ products both locally and internationally.
Currently Namutoni Fort at Etosha is one of the main marketing points of Ohandje but very soon another one will be opened in Katutura, said Johansson.
The marketing point to be opened in Katutura is a joint initiative between Ohandje and Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR).
The project has also initiated long-term environmental programmes of re-planting makalani palms, recycling bottles and other activities.
She explained that Ohandje could be the first project in Namibia to embark on recycling glass. The future glass works will not only produce everyday glassware but will also focus on producing unique Namibian glassware designed through cooperation with national artists and designers. This will enable Namibia to have exclusive glass products to offer nationally and internationally.
Nine recycling points are scheduled to be established, one each at Omuntele, Onathinge, Endola, Ohangwena, Elim, Ogongo and Ongwediva with the main marketing centre at Ondangwa.
Apart from environmental activities, Johansson said the project is also involved in HIV/AIDS campaigns because the pandemic has become one of the main challenges facing members of the project.
Johannson explained that the stigmatisation of people living with the disease needs to be addressed, hence the HIV/AIDS section of Ohandje operates under the call: Fight HIV/AIDS not those with it.
It is fully integrated in all operational activities of the project and understood within the framework of its operational methods. In her view, the potential impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic could be disastrous on Ohandje members if nothing is done.
The project risks losing key persons on Board, staff and membership levels as well as resource people who are serving as trainers.
Operating under the theme, ‘A link to the past, a bridge to the future’, Ohandje has been supported by many people including Prime Minister Nahas Angula who recently described it as a step in the right direction.
In the view of the Premier, the introduction of metal and plastic containers, implements and utensils by Europeans in northern Namibia devalued traditional implements.
At the same time, the traditional skills of making such goods were equally devalued. In such a process, said the Premier, the people lost their traditional knowledge and skills because such activities were associated with backwardness and unchristian practices by settlers. He commended the revival of pot-making and basket-making.