Projects
Buyel’Ekhaya Fashion Development Programme
The purpose of the Buyel’ Ekhaya Fashion Development Programme, in partnership with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) Seta, is to be a catalyst for the development of fashion industry-specific skills such that aspiring fashion designers are empowered with the requisite skills and knowledge to build careers in the fibre processing and manufacturing industry. The ultimate goal being for them to participate and have a meaningful stake in the South African fibre processing and manufacturing sector.
Over the years at least 600 emerging designers have participated in the development programme. The programme culminated in the emerging designers presenting their craft on the Buyel’Ekhaya Fashion Show runway alongside leading designers including Palesa Mokubung, David Tlale, Thula Sindi, Gert-Johan Coetzee, amongst others.
Salient Objectives of the Buyel’Ekhaya Fashion Development Programme:
- To develop the latent talent that resides within the youth of South Africa and translate this into commercial benefits for emerging designers.
- To give exposure to local designers and fashion labels, thereby encouraging consumption of local fashion through mentorship.
- To assist in the development of aspiring designers by exposing them to established designers.
- To assist in the creation of a fashion economy and influence the way it is consumed – with the ultimate objective of opening international markets for local designers.
Buyel’Ekhaya Artists Development Programme
The Buyel’Ekhaya Artsist Development Programme was established in 2011 in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture and the National Lottories Commission which sought to upskill and capacitate emerging young artists in the Eastern Cape in the music business. This is done through a carefully crafted skills development programme which covers the essential and core aspects of being a musician in the South African and global context. This culminated in select artists performing on the Buyel’Ekhaya Festival Main Stage in front of thousands of music lovers. Over the years over 400 young aspring musicians have been trained, including MSAKI (who established a music career and won a SAMA award for Best Female Artists in 2022), BERITA (who also established a music career and has won SAMA awards), and DUMZA MUSWANA (also an award winning jazz musician), amongst others.
• To develop the latent talent that resides within the youth of South Africa and translate this into commercial benefits for emerging musicians.
• To give exposure to local artists (specifically empowering developing artists in the locality of the implementation of the project), thereby encouraging consumption of local music.
• To assist in the development of aspiring artists by exposing them to established one, which have included the likes of Nduduzo Makhathini, Simphiwe Dana, Nathi, amongst others.
• To assist in the creation of a music economy and influence the way it is consumed – with the ultimate objective of opening national and international markets for local artists.
Special COVID-19 Mask Production Programme
During the time of COVID-19, Buyambo Cultural Organisation partnered with the FP&M Seta in 2020 and 2021 to launch the special COVID-19 Mask Production Programme which equipped 100 learners from the greater Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni areas with the skills of textile manufacturing and production.
Out of this programme five Co-operatives were formed and these are operating fully functional business entities with orders for various clothing and special industrial apparel, hospitals and school uniforms.
School Uniforms Co-operatives
Forming of small enterprises and businesses
