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UpswingSA, the brainchild of Ayishabibi Gaffoor and Fatima Hoosain, was founded as a response to the ongoing unemployment and poverty on the Cape Flats.
The number of people who suffer as a consequence of bad politics, poor economy and a lack of skills in various degrees were the main reasons for the creation of UpswingSA.
The organization registered first as The Skills Development Programme but later started to trade as UpswingSA.
UpswingSA is at its heart what world leaders are trying to address. We see these issues brought forward through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of 2015.
Goal 12 in particular, which talks about responsible consumption and production of resources, is a key focus area for UpswingSA. The goals of UpswingSA remain inline with other UNSD goals including alleviating poverty, redressing gender inequality through industry innovation.
Development with dignity and diversity...
UpswingSA is currently expanding its skills development programme by launching community craft workshops focused on activities like decoupage, sewing, crochet, upcycling, and jewellery making.
The workshops aim to empower unemployed individuals by teaching them to repurpose waste materials into marketable items. Classes will be paid, with affordable pricing, and also offered to children on weekends and holidays.
Explore our range of upcycled products on our Peek platform
PEEK
While UpswingSA's main focus is skills development, it launched a thrift store to help fund the organisation. Over the past five years, the store has become self-sustaining, employing two full-time and three part-time staff, and offering work experience to trainees from various institutions. The thrift store accepts donated goods to reduce landfill waste, sells affordable items, supports women resellers, offers a swapping option, sells second-hand school uniforms and textbooks, and provides a clothing alteration service to the community.
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