PHAKAMISA is pronounced pa-ga-mee-sa.
A Zulu word meaning 'to uplift.'

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

PHAKAMISA uplifts people through skills training; builds confidence, self belief and enables economic empowerment.

GIVING A HAND UP

A HAND UP

Our Caregiver workshops and Educare courses not only provide Caregivers and students with training and skills but they offer self belief and esteem, building confidence in people who often have no previous qualifications.

PHAKAMISA offers this hand up to enable people to become economically empowered and this directs the focus of our training.

MICRO LOANS

For many people living in poor communities it is incredibly difficult to produce goods for sale if a lack of income means you have neither the facilities nor the money to invest in materials.

PHAKAMISA is able to provide micro-loans to people so that they can purchase capital items and start their own little businesses, becoming independent.

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Give a hand UP.


WORKSHOPS

SEWING

Alexia teaches small groups of women particular sewing skills, for example, window coverings (curtains, valences, blinds and tie backs).

Once the skill is learnt, the women offer their services and skills to the communities. They receive and fill the orders on their own.

COOKING

Small groups of women are taught income generating cooking skills, like birthday cakes, or catering.

They in turn offer their expertise to their own communities and fill the orders from the own homes, or use our PHAKAMISA kitchen facilities.

BEADWORK

PHAKAMISA receives beadwork orders both from the UK and for the tourist market in S.A.

Women who are trained in beadwork are given work as and when we receive orders.

Traditional beadwork items are also made then hired out within the communities for ceremonial occasions, thus giving the beaders an income.

TESTIMONIES

Legina is a Phakamisa caregiver who became skilled in sewing. At – years of age this entrepreneur produced a simple business plan to secure a PHAKAMISA micro loan and because of it now is economically empowered. Legina says ‘ Thank you Phakamisa, I am proud of what you have helped me achieve’.


This is Nelsie who also has also benefitted from a micro loan, to finance her clothing and soft furnishings business.

SINDI’S STORY.

‘My name is Sindi. I am years old. I bought a stove with the loan I got from Phakamisa. I bake and sell cakes and muffins at the clinic to 160 customers a day. I make a profit of about 80 rand a day that helps pay myself and covers the Educare fees for my baby boy. Thank you very much for allowing me to have the loan, you have fulfilled my dreams. May God bless you’.