Claudia arrives to Swaziland
My first week in Swaziland I got to to Malandela’s complex, in Malkerns, Swaziland, last monday, and this first week has been very busy and interesting as I try to get to organize my specific projects and the people I am going to be working with here for the following months. I am really excited about my first 2 projects, marketing related, as I have to design a marketing and fundraising strategy for Bomake, that is Gone Rural’s non profit organization whose aim is to improve life conditions for the women that create the wonderful craftworks that we sell at GR and their communities (the social impact is very vast, as we work with more than 730 women), and also work on the marketing strategy for integrating Gone Rural and Bomake to the whole marketing strategy for Malandela’s, the complex where GR and Bomake are located, where the idea of helping these communities was born, and where you can also find a B&B, restaurant, an eclectic events venue called House on Fire, and many other facilities that make this place a unique spot that you cannot miss when you come to Southern Africa.
Check out www.bushfire.com, the website of the next huge music festival organized by House on Fire to get an idea.
My firm believe is that by improving the marketing and communication strategy of both Malandela’s and Bomake, we will increase the critical mass visiting the complex, we will also increase the awareness about GR and Bomake, all this will lead to an increase in the sales of the crafts made by the women, who will in return increase the profits and the possibility to improve the social conditions of the communities, and at the end, create a strategic spot for sustainable development in Swaziland.
There is lots of work to do, but I count on the support of all the wonderful people who work for the complex, and their love for what they are doing in creating businesses who will help communities to improve their life conditions and create a sustainable source of development for the country. The Thorne family, together with Julie (who takes care of sales at GR) Doron (who takes care of new products development) and Yael (Bomake’s manager) have made me feel as part of the Malandela’s family inmediately, and I am really looking forward to start developing my projects with them.
About Swaziland, so far my impression is that it does not resemble to anything I have seen or read about in Africa, it is a proud country, with welcoming and friendly people that smile with all their teeth, beautiful landscapes, where you don’t feel the hasle that sometimes you feel in central africa because you are a foreigner. Winter is so mild, that you can go around in your t-shirt almost everytime.
You can check pictures of my first week at http://picasaweb.google.com/claudiacastel/SwazilandFirstWeek?authkey=fDDSO2S1y_U to get an idea.
This wonderful experience is just starting…next reports will keep you posted!
Thanks Swaziland for such a nice and warmth welcome!