US fund builds $30,000 business centre for Zanzibar orphans

BY BEATRICE PHILEMON

25th September 2013

Alfonso Lenhardt

Ambassador's Fund for HIV/Aids Relief has extended a grant of USD30, 000 to Fahari group in Stone Town, Zanzibar to facilitate the construction of a business training centre.

This would create a conducive environment for HIV/Aids victims and orphans to produce jewellery, bags and accessories.

This was revealed at the weekend by the NGO’s Accountant, Fahari Shamsa Salahadin, after receiving the USD30,000 cheque from US Ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt in Dar es salaam.

The construction of the centre will begin next month and will be located at Shangani.
She said she was grateful to the American people for enabling them to start operating their business in a conducive environment and at the same time help them to alleviate poverty in their communities and speed up economic development.

“We have already obtained a piece of land where we will build a training centre for people living with HIV/Aids and orphaned youths in Zanzibar to make their products,” she said.

In a bid to help members produce high quality products, she noted, currently their Managing Director is in the UK where he is purchasing modern equipment for the centre.

According to her, all their products are handmade using local materials with expert workmanship - taking inspiration from their cultural melting-pot of African, Arabian and Indian influences born out of years of trading across the Indian Ocean.

She noted that many orphaned youths and HIV/Aids victims have decided to embark on this project after realising that they don’t have enough funds to meet their basic needs and also because there is a big market for such products in Zanzibar.

Prior to introducing the project, a total of 50 members were trained on how to use various local materials to design different products.

Meanwhile, she called on the government of Zanzibar to build schools wherein women would learn and improve designing skills as well as get better knowledge on how to run their businesses.
Some of the products made by Fahari group include earrings, canvas courier bags and leather baskets.
Fahari is a Social Enterprise (NGO) that was established in 2011 to make jewelleries, bags and accessories by using local materials from Zanzibar.

The project was established in 2011 and right now it has 15 members. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN