Project information

StatusFinalist
URLGo to website
CategoryEconomic Development
CountryBotswana
Operational areasRural
Target groupsWomen
Fixed connectionDialup, DSL
Wireless connectionWiFi
Access pointsGovernment office, Business, Home, Library, Telecenter, Cafe
InteractLandline Phone, Desktop Computer, Cellphone, Laptop

Project location

Random images Challenge 2008

Etsha Weavers Group

  • Brief description
  • As experienced art class basket weavers we felt the prices we were getting for our work was not enough and did not justify the work we put into weaving. Weaving baskets is alot of hard work and it can take months or even a year to finish a large basket. We were tired and ready to stop weaving! Botswanacraft suggested we form a group and try to market our artworks directly on the internet. We now have 24 women in our group and we are able to sell most of our artworks to collectors from many different countries. We are keen to continue with our weaving skills and if we can find more customers we will allow more women from the community to join the group. Maybe one day we can have the world university of basket making here in Etsha!
  • Vision, Objectives and Goals
  • Our next goal is for the weavers to purchase shares in the company and to collectively own at least 50% of the company. We can also start trading in baskets made by other weavers outside the group.
  • How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
  • The whole project is based on on-line sales of the baskets directly to the collectors throughout the world. Our customers can view each individual product and make a selection from our web site. When the basket is sold we take it off the web site. Without the internet web site and email facilities we could not sell our products to collectors around the world.
  • Transferability
  • Small private groups would be very succesful,  the main assistance required is in the marketing aspect of the project. 
  • Project summary
  • Etsha Weavers Group is based over 1,500kms away from the Capital city of Botswana and yet we are able to sell our baskets on-line using the internet. This has helped create sustainable employement and income for all 26 weavers.