Matron Mwembe. Photo by Genevieve Russell

Zimbabwean basket artist Matron Mwembe from the Ntengwe for Community Development cooperative is one of our featured artists for our current appeal, and we wanted to check in with her progress since her attendance at the 2011 Market.

We asked Juliana Muskwe, Program Manager of Ntengwe for Community Development, for an update and the news is all good.

Matron Mwembe is now back in formal school, and still committed to her community service.  ‘She still organizes and attends meetings with her cooperative as well as conducts peer education at her school and in the community,’ says Juliana.

Juliana goes on to outline the benefits Matron felt from attending the Market: ‘Besides gaining from the basket sales, Matron said that the Market has really changed her life and mindset.  She has gained from the exposure, she got very good ideas and advice from other artists. Her participation in the trainings has increased her knowledge and skills.’

The earnings from the sale of her gorgeous baskets has enabled Matron to pay for her schools fees and those of her siblings.

Juliana reports that Matron and other group members have also used it to buy food for their families.  ‘Children who had dropped out of school have now gone back to school and school enrollment has increased,’ Juliana adds.

Juliana concludes, ‘Matron is aiming for success . . . Her wish is to finish school and become a community development worker.  She said even if she does not study social or development work, she still wants to continue supporting young girls and women in her community so that they can also be empowered.’

We’re delighted Matron’s doing well and that attending the Market has been such a positive experience for her.  Click here to see a video featuring Matron and the work of the Busungu Mbubupa basket weaving group.

To help artists like Matron participate in the Folk Art Market and create change in her community, we invite you to give a gift in honor of a loved one with a donation to the Folk Art Market in their name. Simply make your gift today and we will send a beautiful personalized e-card (featuring a great photo of Matron by Genevieve Russell) to your loved one.