Women in the Gone Rural office
Every day, we come to Malendela’s farm, to the Gone Rural office to work on our respective projects (the MBAs from the U.S.). The office is two stories and we are on the second floor. There is a huge window on one side that looks out onto the Ezulwini mountains. The sun sets each day at around 5:45 and is incredible. In addition to Claudia (MBAs Without Borders from Columbia who studied in Barcelona and was a professor of Marketing in Italy), and Yael (director of the non-profit arm of Gone Rural, boMake from Israel), and Rosie (procurement assistant and cousin of Gone Rural managing director Philipa from the UK), there is a team of Swazi women— i.e. the design team.
They are a beautiful group of women that have been hired by Gone Rural to execute new designs and then, if the designs catch on, they train the women in the rural communities (in the mountains). Gogo (all older women are called that, so that is what we call her) sings almost everyday. It is so beautiful and soft, if you are too focused on your work, you can barely hear her. Sometimes, the other women catch on and sing in harmony, or contagion depending on what song it is. They laugh and talk all day long. It is so beautiful (even though the volume is high!) and I wonder what they are talking about. Every once in a while an English word or someone’s name will slip out and I catch them!
What a great way to spend a day. Monica and Clamiway speak the best English and therefore, I have gotten to know them the best. Monica takes care of 12 kids. She has been weaving this gorgeous tray that I have been coveting since my first day. Unfortunately, it’s off limits until the design makes it through the tradeshow.
Working alongside these women every day melds what we are working for and what we are working on in such a subtle way. I have learned so much about the Swaziland king, their families, Swazi food and siSwati (they laugh and correct me everyday b/c my SiSwati is not very good). The MBAs all bring them treats — candy, chocolate, oranges — which they love!
Some of the women that work at Gone Rural are featured in this You Tube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBudIO0q0aw