Hallmark Who?

Exciting news! We’ve developed a new range of Heartfelt Cards as an income generating project called: The Masiye Phambili Project through Headway (Alexander, Johannesburg). Headway provides a place of “belonging” for survivors of brain injury, where attendees can take part in meaningful activities and socialise with one another. This provides them with a focus and something to look forward to and will also allow the family of the injured people time off for rest.

How Heartfelt got involved with Headway, was through an attendee who actually came from Makapanstad. She had suffered a brain injury through a car accident and the only information the therapist could find about Makapanstad was on our website. So we got a call to ask if there was anyway we could help– and that’s how the Heartfelt Card Project came to be. The attendees all came through to Makapanstad to meet Martha and the ladies and we held a workshop for them to learn a few felting skills.
So each card is beautifully hand-made and a lot of time, energy and love is poured into making it. That’s why we chose the first range to represent Love, Joy & Hope – all the things we believe should be in the lives of these very special people. I've put a little video together from my last visit so you can see just how special everyone is and the day they spent with Martha out at Heartfelt.

So if you’re looking for a special birthday card, anniversary card or simply a card to tell someone that you love them – then why not order from our Heartfelt Card Range. They’ll even get delivered straight to your door and best of all; you’ll be helping to change someone’s life - which makes it a very thoughtful card indeed!

Sold individually or in packs of four – it's easy to order.

Maya Angelou & the wisdom in her words!:

'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision..'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one..'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back...'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

... Just wanted to share that with you and hope that you'll live today with all your heart!

Robo-Love

Fantastic news. We’ve been selected to take part in the Transnet Craft Access Programme 2010-2013 (four years in total). Which means we’ll be exhibiting and selling at the Grahamstown festival each year (yippee), starting on 20th June 2010 (and that's less than a month away… gulp). We’re sending lovely Mpho, who will be going to Grahamstown from the 17th June – 5th July (all transport and accommodation paid for by Transnet – we just have to pay for her food).

Over the 15 days she’ll be learning about networking, mentorship and media management skills - not to mention customers service (which she can’t wait for as she is a real chatta-box). She is so excited she can hardly sleep at night according to Martha (she lives with Martha during the week) and her two brother's at the weekend. It’s the first trip she’ll be taking away from Makapanstad, so you can just imagine how excited she is! This all happened through the NWCDI (North West Craft and Design Institute) who have been incredibly supportive of the project. We can’t thank them enough. And while Mpho is jumping around unable to keep still, the rest of the ladies are busily getting enough stock together, to sell at the Festival.

Which reminds me – have you seen their cute little Robot-Schmobot’s yet? They come as little Brooches and Fridge Magnets. So make sure you get your hands on them here or get down to the Grahamstown Festival before they sell out!

Talk Talk

Running a community development project sure ain’t for sissies. Well, that's what I think anyway. Last week was an extremely challenging week for both Martha and myself. We were once again faced with the challenges of HIV and the stigma attached to being positive. One of our very special ladies hasn’t turned up for work in over two weeks, which is extremely worrying. None of the ladies know that she is HIV Positive. And because our lovely lady never let Martha know that she wasn't coming to work (even by text message) Martha has been feeling a little upset – which I can totally understand (Martha has a very open door policy).

It does however seem to highlight what I feel to be one of the biggest challenges facing rural communities and projects like Heartfelt. Communication. There seems to be a total lack of it. I get the feeling that everyone would rather ignore certain problems, than deal with them. Like our lovely lady simply leaving, without even mentioning it. Kind of like pretending that the problem is not there so eventually it will go away. I just feel that this is really unhealthy, especially in a community where supporting one another is so very important.

And it’s as much about talking as it is about listening. That's what I try to teach the ladies. How to trust, share and listen. Though at times it does seem to fall on deaf ears. They need to shake off the stigmas and the assumptions and truly understand what the other is going through. I guess because they all face such hardships, it’s hard for them to be empathetic. Or they’d rather not have others ask them, so they don’t ask each other? It’s challenging which ever way you look at it. Not to mention being from a differenct culture. I stupidly burst into tears a few weeks ago and felt extremly silly. Compared to these incredible women, what did I actually have to cry about? Well. . .  quite a lot actually.