Shanga, Arusha / All images © Niels van Gijn
Discovering gems of creative talent
Meet the makers
Shanga Gift & Workshop in Arusha Shanga largely employs people with a range of disabilities. Since its inception in 2007, this team of disabled people has grown to more than 50. They create artefacts by weaving, glass-blowing, beading, paper-making and metalwork using recycled materials wherever possible. The Shanga project provides its staff with a beautiful and safe place to
A
work, while profits are reinvested
sees thousands of safari-goers,
How it came about
explorers and mountain climbers
Shanga was founded in 2007 when
visit its streets every year. Yet only
local resident Saskia Rechsteiner
a few ever hear of Arusha’s hidden
made a handful of fabric necklaces
gem, Shanga.
for a Christmas fair. Combining local
rusha is often described
in developing new products and
as the safari capital of
employing more disabled people.
Tanzania. This small town
Based at the Elewana Arusha
fabric with beads and her sons’
Coffee Lodge, Shanga sells quality
marbles, she created a necklace that
handmade jewellery, glassware and
sold out within hours. The days after
home ware. So how does that differ
the fair were busy as orders for neck-
from every other store in town? Well,
laces came in from safari companies,
Shanga is special. All its products
gift shops and people who wanted to
are made using recycled materials
export them.
by craftsmen and women who are disabled in some way. Next to the shop is the Shanga
Saskia saw an opportunity to generate extra income for a local deaf lady she knew and together they
workshop, where visitors can see
began producing the necklaces to
glass-blowing, weaving, sewing,
sell from Saskia’s backyard. Demand
tinga tinga painting, bead-making
for the jewellery grew and soon the
and metalwork in progress. The
first Shanga workshop was estab-
workshop offers a fascinating insight
lished. The Shanga range of products
into how these products are made
expanded, using recycled and sustain-
and is a great day out for the whole
able materials where possible, and
family. Shanga is open every day and
the project was opened for people to
lays on free tours and activities for
come and meet the inspiring disabled
visitors.
staff and buy products on site.
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Paa Tanzania
Daniel is from a family of nine children and one of three siblings who were born deaf. After finishing at a special school for the deaf, he returned home to work as a builder. He joined the Shanga team in 2009 and quickly became one of its star glass and metal workers.
At the age of three, Aminipa lost both her hands when she fell into a fire pit. She faced discrimination in her childhood, but as an adult she has overcome the challenges of physical disabilities and now runs a busy household of four children. Aminipa has a talent for tailoring and beading.