Creating trendy, handmade products from waste materials with the aim of creating employment gives youngsters a creative avenue to express their social responsibility.
At the same time, designers will help to make people aware of the importance of recycling, repairing, reducing and re-using material other might consider as just rubbish but which is negatively affecting our environment.
At present 65 unemployed people and a group from George’s Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) are involved with the project.
They work with a product or surface designed and produced from waste material or found objects that can be manufactured by unemployed people in the Southern Cape.
The products from the 2010 Design for Work competition manufactured by groups of people in George was exhibited at the Decor and Style Expo at Oubaai recently. All these products were made from waste materials and thrown away objects.
They are currently on display at the Sikelela Skills Development Centre located on the corner of Albert and Merriman streets.
The products that entrants can design are décor items (lights, cushions, chandeliers, mats, throws), fashion items (bags, hats, clothing, jewellery), toys, furniture, surfaces (textiles, mosaics, mats, shades), hand-printed and painted textiles.
The criteria for judging includes choice of material, quality of construction, durability and finish, aesthetics, commercial viability and functionality.
Prizes for the 2012 competition include:
Scholars grade 10-12: 1st Prize: R2500; 2nd Prize: R2000; 3rd Prize: R1500.
Scholars grade 6-9: 1st Prize: R1500; 2nd Prize: R1000; 3rd Prize: R500.
Scholars grade 9-12, Students and adults: Robin’s Nest: Best décor product: R2500; Best furniture design/wooden product: R2500; Best fashion product: R2500; Best corporate gift: R500; Best entry grade 4-6: R500.
Best entry: People with disabilities: Agricol George: R500.
The closing date is 20 April 2012. Entry forms are available at Sikelela Skills Development Centre and at most schools. Alternatively contact Elna Pretorius at 082 471 5997, or visit the ‘Libere Ontwerp vir werk’ facebook page.
Attending the 2012 Libere Design for Work competition launch was (from left) Bernie Scholtz (Parkdene High), Ilse de Waal (Outeniqua High), Francina du Toit (skills facilitator at Sikelela Centre), Masha Pretorius (Outeniqua Primary), Leoni Selzer (Outeniqua Primary) and Alida Lubbe (Hoekwil Primary).
(Compiled by LeeAnne Pratt)
