Ifa Lethu – Clarens

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First Steps into Craft
In Clarens, Free State, ART AID introduced a new wave of creatives to the world of design — turning raw potential into tangible skill .
In many small towns, creative talent exists but remains untapped. Without access to training, exposure, or tools, individuals with potential often never get the chance to explore it.
1
New entrants trained
1st
Design programme in the region
1+
Product prototypes developed
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Participant showcase held in Clarens town hall
ART AID launched a foundational creative skills development programme for first-time participants. Blending hands-on making with design thinking and group mentorship, the initiative helped bridge curiosity and career.
Participants gained confidence, foundational skills, and direction for creative futures. Several have continued in the sector, now equipped with the basics to build upon.
A woman stands indoors, gesturing with her hand on the shoulder of a person seated and draped in a yellow cloth. Several men watch attentively. The setting is a room with brick walls and blue-framed windows. One man wears a yellow cap and bright pink
A close-up view of a partially woven wicker basket with long, thin reeds sticking up. In the background, a person’s face and hands are visible, focused on weaving the basket. The setting appears to be outdoors with blurred green grass and structures behind.
A person in grey trousers uses their hands to arrange brown and striped ceramic tile shards on a grey table, preparing for a mosaic project. Red pliers and a whole tile piece are nearby, along with a container filled with more broken tiles.
A person leans over a pink patterned fabric, working on a black and white cloth with flower and heart prints. They hold a pin cushion and a pencil, with a red measuring tape draped around their neck, focused on their sewing project.
A person wearing a white jacket and a colourful cap is sitting and carefully sewing a white cloth with a brown animal and tree print. Their head is tilted down and hands are focused on stitching, highlighting attention to detail and craftsmanship.
A person in a green jumper and black hat carefully guides reddish-brown fabric through a white sewing machine, focusing intently on their work. Their hands adjust the fabric, and a beaded bracelet is visible on one wrist.
A person with dark skin threads beads onto a braided rope, attaching it to a woven basket doll with a fabric-covered head. The table holds blue-handled scissors and loose beads. The person wears a blue top and a checked jacket.
Close-up of three ceramic mugs wrapped in colourful woven materials: one mug with turquoise, another with blue, and another with yellow. The mugs are overlapping and positioned diagonally on a light surface.
A woman in a patterned headscarf and brown jacket sits at a table, sorting small beads on a plate. Beside her is a woven doll. She appears focused, using her hands to separate beads. The background includes a black chair and tiled floor.
A red-handled roller spreads black ink over a carved lino block on a white surface, preparing it for printmaking. The block displays a partially visible design, and the ink appears thick and glossy.
A hand with red nail varnish uses a paintbrush to apply black paint onto a textured, square tile with geometric patterns. The tile is on a work surface, and another person stands in the background.
A large white lorry labelled “Ifa Lethu Creative Hand Project” is parked outdoors. The side of the lorry displays black handprints, text, and a logo with a raised hand and red bands. The sky is partly cloudy and trees and hills are visible in the background.
A close-up of a large vase and a bowl decorated with mosaic tiles. The vase has beige and white pieces with blue bands, whilst the bowl features white, black, and green tiles in a geometric pattern. Other blurred containers are visible in the background.
A person weaves a large basket from thin reeds outdoors on a sunny day. In the background, there is a grassy lawn, trees, and a white lorry with creative graphics and text that reads “Ifa Lethu” and mentions a creative hand project.
A person in blue clothing and jeans is holding and weaving a circular pink beaded object with their hands, threading a string through the beads. The focus is on the hands and craft, not showing the person's face.
Two square canvases with raised, abstract patterns made of thick, beige paste. The left canvas features swirls, dots, and curved lines; the right canvas has diagonal lines forming diamond and oval shapes. Both rest on a rough stone surface.
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