Overview
SAFOD implemented a five-month arts and crafts project under its disability economic empowerment and entrepreneurship programme, funded and supported by Loughborough University in the UK. The project targeted 13 craftspeople with disabilities in the Kgatleng District of Botswana, working through the Kgatleng Disabled People's Association (KDPA).
The project aimed to enhance existing networks, training, and support for craftspeople with disabilities — helping them develop inclusive, sustainable enterprises through a dedicated centre for culture, heritage, innovation, and enterprise.
Background
In 2017, SAFOD and Loughborough University collaborated on a knowledge exchange programme to gain deeper insights into the needs of persons with disabilities in arts and crafts enterprise. Three persons with disabilities from Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa were selected to participate in an exchange visit to the UK. This laid the groundwork for a series of arts and crafts projects that followed.
In 2022, a pilot project was implemented focusing on enhancing existing networks and supporting craftspeople with disabilities to develop inclusive, sustainable enterprises. A needs assessment study was conducted, and the construction of a multi-purpose workshop in Mochudi, Kgatleng District was completed — a significant milestone for the programme.
What the project does
The project combines digital tools, enterprise support, physical infrastructure, and knowledge exchange. Click each area to learn more.
Content was collected and individual profiles developed for each of the 13 craftspeople on the SAFOD Crafts Abilities website (craftsabilities.net). Each profile showcases the craftsperson's background, skills, and products, giving them a visible presence in the digital marketplace and connecting their work to wider audiences.
An e-commerce website — Itirele — was developed to market and sell the craftspeople's artefacts to international markets. Itirele means "make it yourself" in Setswana, the national language of Botswana. The platform brings handcrafted artefacts made by persons with disabilities from across Southern Africa to global buyers, showcasing their creative and cultural heritage beyond their disability. Products range from traditional pottery and woven furniture to handmade clothing and leather goods.
SAFOD commissioned a study targeting the 13 craftspeople to gather evidence on their needs, aspirations, challenges, and opportunities. The study informed the design of support activities and helped identify the most pressing gaps in training, access to markets, and enterprise development. Findings were used to shape ongoing programme planning and future funding proposals.
A regional webinar was hosted on economic empowerment for persons with disabilities, bringing together participants from across Southern Africa to share best practices, challenges, and opportunities in disability enterprise development. The event provided a platform for knowledge exchange between craftspeople, OPDs, and development partners, and helped position disability-led enterprise as a credible focus area for regional advocacy.
A multi-purpose hall was constructed in Mochudi, Kgatleng District to serve as a physical hub for arts and crafts activities for local craftspeople with disabilities. The hall was specifically designed to be inclusive and accessible. It is envisioned as a space where local artists and craftspeople with disabilities can hone their skills, showcase their work, exchange knowledge, and access global markets through digital platforms. This infrastructure forms part of a broader initiative to create a financially sustainable focal point for training and enterprise development in the district.
Key results
Looking ahead
The infrastructure and digital platforms built through the project provide a lasting foundation for enterprise development by craftspeople with disabilities in Kgatleng District. The Itirele e-commerce site and the craftsabilities.net profiles continue to connect local artisans with regional and international buyers.
SAFOD continues to seek funding to expand the programme to additional craftspeople and to further develop the Mochudi hub as a training, knowledge exchange, and enterprise centre for the broader disability community in the district.
