The Ubunye Co-Operative

24/09/2016

29/06/2015

Ubunye Co-operative elected a new Board on 19 May. Welcome to the Board. Congratulations. We look forward to connecting with you. Pictured here are Front Row: Thandanani Dlamini (Treasurer); Nobuhle Mthiyane (Secretary). Back row: Thabani Dlamini (Vice Chairperson); Sibusiso Mthiyane (Chairperson); Antonia Dlamini and Beauty Dlamini (General Board Members).

22/06/2015

So special when colleagues continue to fly the flag for community development in South Africa - thx Jutka Devenyi

23/05/2014

On 23 May 2014, The info4africa team and Umcebo Design joined us to install the magnificent butterfly artwork that the Umcebo team created. Learners from Mashandanana and Zinqobele High Schools joined in the fun!

20/05/2014

The Aluminium Butterfly, lovingly created by Umcebo Design is almost finished! This piece of handcrafted beauty will adorn the wall of our premises soon!

Aluminium Butterfly nears completion :) Today, despite having a bad back (makes me sound very senior), worked on the Ubunye Butterfly. I will be a riveting Ninja at the end of this experience. As we add detail, it is taking shape and getting stronger. Don't want to make the mistake of rushing it :)

09/05/2014

Our wonderful friends over at Umcebo Design are creating an aluminum mural for our premises.


Take a look at the images they snapped during the creative process.

Working on aluminium butterfly for mural at Ubunye. We are working with Debbie Heustice from Info4africa on a community mural. The mural will be on the premises occupied by the Ubunye Co-Op in Mzimela (Northern KZN-South Africa). The idea is that the youth of the area will work on an eye catching mural and roadside sign for Ubunye. The youth will then undergo training in Social Media, and will cover the making of this mural, which features a butterfly found in the area. This will allow them to brand themselves better and to also share their personal stories and the stories of the area with possible tourist visitors. Through tourism the area will receive much needed income and the true potential of the youth and this amazing area will be released. Thanks to Mark Liptrot for the aluminium sheets. We want the butterfly to be Ethnic Art Deco. Tomorrow we are getting a rivet gun (thanks Barka for the loan), and we hope to make the butterfly look trendy and edgy and avoid a space kermit look, which is a trap that is easy to fall into. We will post updates tomorrow.

18/03/2014

Last week, Umcebo Design team members were joined by info4africa's Debbie Heustice, Consul-General Taylor Ruggles and Joslyn Walker (Community Grants Coordinator - U.S. Consulate General) on a visit to our Co-Operative. Thanks for visiting and spending time with us!

Amazing day at Mzimela with Ubunye Co-Op. Had an amazing day out at Mzimela with Debbie Heustice (Info4africa), Consul-General Taylor Ruggles and Josyln Walker (Community Grants Coordinator |
U.S. Consulate General) and the Team from Ubunye Co-Op. Had a Site Visit, then visited the Traditional Court and finally Patricia and her Team prepared traditional food for us. The ultimate Zululand Experience is happening in Mzimela. Happy to be part of it.

17/02/2014

Sbusiso on the Inkhosi's tractor outside our Co-Operative's offices at Mzimela

17/02/2014

Visiting the Umcebo Design studio and working with the team is always a dream come true for us! We're completing a soft sculpture of a plant, studded with beaded flowers and insects. Thanks to our friends at Umcebo for the pictures :)

Visit by Union of Jewish Women and a Workshop with Ubunye Co-Op (12.2.2014). Our dear friend and supporter Evelyn and the Team from the Union of Jewish Women visited us at The Studio. Patricia and her Team from the Ubunye Co-Op were with us for a day long workshop, where they are completing a soft sculpture of a plant, studded with beaded flowers and insects. The Union kindly brought Ubunye blankets for Winter. We are spending a lot of the day out in the garden, as we are at probably the worst part of Summer and The Studio is like a furnace. This plant is set to be a gift to the US Consulate Durban, for their support of Ubunye. Life is good, just very hot and humid at the moment :)

24/01/2014

We joined our friends over at Umcebo Design for a booster workshop this week. We're looking forward to seeing them again in the coming week! Take a look at the pictures, captured by Robin Opperman.

Booster Workshop with Ubunye Crafters. We spent 22.1.2014 with Patricia and her Team from Ubunye. We are completing their soft sculpture plants and working on smaller sellable pieces that reference the larger installations, and which can be sold as part of their tourism, craft and income generation drives. We will be seeing them next week Tuesday and Wednesday and I will share updates.

20/01/2014

We are so blessed to work closely with Umcebo Design and are looking forward to our upcoming workshops with the team. We truly enjoyed showing them around Mzimela. All photos by Robin Opperman.

Site Visit to Ubunye Co-Op (Mzimela- KZN- South Africa). Today we visited the Ubunye Co-Operative, based in Mzimela on the North Coast of KZN- South Africa. We have engaged with the Co-Op on Craft Programs through Info4africa and the US Consulate (Durban). It was my first visit to the area, I am ashamed to say, and it was so inspiring to see how beautiful the area is. We are hoping to incorporate all the colours, textures and inspirations into three workshops we will hold with the group, over the next two weeks. Wanted to share the pics we took today. Also got to meet the Inkhosi, who welcomed us, and who is really dynamic and wanting to boost the area and its people. A nice Friday, that has left me inspired for the weekend, and our work with Patricia and her Team from Ubunye, next week. Thanks to Debbie and John for taking us out to Mzimela.

15/10/2013

A little look at what we've been up to at the Umcebo Design studio. Pics by Umcebo Design.

Busy Monday. Worked at the Studio. Michelle Hodgkins working on the couch she is restoring. Ubunye Co-Op (Patricia and her Team) came and worked on their futuristic plants and animals, which are looking great. Ujala went and printed the Umcebo Fabric, and I worked on a new beaded chandelier, as part of our new ranges for 2014. Later in the afternoon, went to Diakonia and met up with Estelle Sinkins, for an interview, for the Witness. Oh yes, also drank strong cappuccino, so I am now ready to rule the world :)