Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD)
The problem
The project built on years of work between SAFOD and Loughborough University. Their goal was to understand what craftspeople with disabilities need to grow their businesses. In 2017, three craftspeople with disabilities from Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa joined an exchange visit to the UK. A needs assessment followed which found that craftspeople faced common barriers across the region. They struggled to find buyers willing to pay a fair price for their work. Producing goods was often harder than it needed to be, due to a lack of tools and training. Many also had few chances to build new skills or share ideas with other makers.
The solution
What my team I did
Needs assessment study
A study gathered evidence on the needs and challenges facing craftspeople with disabilities. It shaped training plans and future funding proposals.
Craftsperson profiles and digital presence
Profiles were created for all 13 craftspeople with disabilities on craftsabilities.net. Each profile shows their background, skills, and products.
Itirele e-commerce website
Itirele is an online shop built to sell work by craftspeople with disabilities to buyers worldwide. The name means “make it yourself” in Setswana.
Multi-purpose hall construction
A hall was built in Mochudi as a hub for craftspeople with disabilities. It was designed to be accessible and inclusive.
Itirele e-Commerce
Itirele e-commerce platform markets and sells the artefacts made by craftspeople with disabilities to global buyers.
Multi-purpose Hall
Multi-purpose hall in Mochudi is an accessible hall that gives local craftspeople a place to train and showcase their work.
