Fusing fresh, contemporary designs with KwaZulu-Natal's age-old craft techniques may be just what is needed to reignite interest in craft products among consumers who have become tired of seeing the same old craft items everywhere. A British charitable trust the SEM (Sarah Elizabeth Marks) Trust is helping to make this fusion happen and ensure that crafters make a living from their craft work.

The SEM Trust has contributed to South Africa's transformation over more than a decade, focusing on active support for the development of its marginalized youth. Over these years Sarah Radomir (neé Marks), one of the Trust's two trustees, has made Durban her second home. Sarah Radomir and Antoinette van Niekerk of the SEM Trust are pictured here with the Africa!Ignite team.

Sarah, who has learnt to speak Zulu, gets hands-on involved in the youth development and special interest projects funded by the Trust. She says that the Trust ‘empowers young people of all races, creeds and abilities to achieve their goals by creating a learning environment within which they can grow. Legacies are created through the seeds of learning.'

Africa!Ignite provides support to more than 600 crafters across KwaZulu-Natal, with a specific focus on helping them to market and sell products. In the first half of 2010 alone, the organization paid over close to R1 million directly into the hands of crafters. One of its primary aims is to help crafters make products that appeal to contemporary South African and international customers as exciting and desirable objects.

Kudzai Mqingwana, Africa!Ignite's marketing manager, is excited about the SEM's Trust's contribution. ‘We can now bring in young black designers who understand and appreciate traditional Zulu craft and can relate to crafters. In the process, we hope to increase learning opportunities and come up with exciting new products to be sold at the WOWZULU open-air craft market at King Shaka International Airport and to other local and international craft markets.'