Greater Waterberg Landscape Artisans Receive Training in Craft Development
(Otjiwarongo, Namibia) 28 March 2014 – Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) hosted a group of 20 Namibian artisans from the Greater Waterberg Landscape at their education and research centre outside Otjiwarongo. The gathering targeted artisans from five different conservancies around the Waterberg Plateau Park, including Ozonahi, African Wild Dog, Otjituuo, Okamatapati (known as Hereroland) and the Waterberg Conservancy, which making up the Greater Waterberg Landscape. Training was conducted by, the Peace Jewellery Collection, specialising in producing semi-precious stone jewellery and leatherwork.
For three days, the artists from various conservancies learned how to make, package, label, and market their crafts. The group consisted of both men and women who are currently involved in producing artisan crafts. The founder of the Peace Collection, Ricky /Xhaxab, stated “I was impressed by how quickly the group learned and worked well together. It is hoped that they will form a cooperative within their artisan community and market their crafts collectively.” The group have agreed on their name to be the Greater Waterberg Landscape Artisans.
The training was to help teach them about product development which can supply their community with an alternate income stream. Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund said “trainings such as these are integral to the work of CCF as thriving communities are vital for thriving ecosystems and ultimately the survival of the cheetah.”
For three days, the artists from various conservancies learned how to make, package, label, and market their crafts. The group consisted of both men and women who are currently involved in producing artisan crafts. The founder of the Peace Collection, Ricky /Xhaxab, stated “I was impressed by how quickly the group learned and worked well together. It is hoped that they will form a cooperative within their artisan community and market their crafts collectively.” The group have agreed on their name to be the Greater Waterberg Landscape Artisans.
The training was to help teach them about product development which can supply their community with an alternate income stream. Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund said “trainings such as these are integral to the work of CCF as thriving communities are vital for thriving ecosystems and ultimately the survival of the cheetah.”
The Greater Waterberg Landscape was formed in 2007 with the objective of growing biodiversity conservation and eliminating poverty by uplifting socio-economic development. In 2011, the Greater Waterberg Landscape became one of five landscapes in Namibia working in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment (MET) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a programme called NAMPLACE (Namibia Protected Landscape Conservation Areas Initiative). Four of the conservancies within the GWL are in the eastern communal area known as Hereroland consisting of nearly 22,500 people, with a high density of cattle verse a low density of wildlife. The GWL has a vision to restore a wildlife base and develop alternate sources of income through an integrated conservancy programme. CCF, a research centre within the GWC is actively working to help build capacity within the communities by building skills through workshops such as high quality crafts, tourism, integrated farmer training, wildlife management, and bush harvesting eventually leading to wildlife reintroductions in the area.
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