Sheltersuit South Africa has some big goals for the next 18 months, including doubling production and creating more employment.
Cape Town, South Africa (16 May 2023) – The local Shelterbag team has set its sights on bettering the future for their team, the homeless and displaced, and South Africa. Their goal? Doubling production, having branches throughout the country and creating much-needed employment.
The Sheltersuit was developed by Bas Timmer in the Netherlands, Europe, as an answer to the influx of refugees who were left without shelter in a foreign place. The suit offered protection from cold weather that many refugees had never experienced before. As the organisation grew, it employed the very refugees they were working to save.
Soon, the suits were being made by the refugees for refugees. As the suits got international recognition, the global foundation was established. It now works in countries across the globe, including South Africa!
The only difference is that the Sheltersuit is actually a Shelterbag in South Africa because we have a milder climate compared to Europe. The Shelterbag was established in 2020 after a successful trial period in 2019.
The Shelterbag which is made in South Africa, is specifically adapted to warmer climates and provides protection from the wind and rain. It is compact, and lightweight which allows for unsheltered people to easily transport it with them wherever they go as a daily-use bag, so their goods are protected and in one place. Due to its lightweight and compact design, it is the item of choice when assisting people who find themselves displaced, whether economically, politically or socially.
Previously, the Sheltersuit team celebrated its seamstresses but now they are setting even bigger goals!
They recently shared their goals on Facebook and people are loving it!
“With a focused effort we will be able to reduce inequality and poverty in SA through our empowerment programme and our skills and development project.
We want to reduce unemployment and we can do this by multiplying our ability to employ women in SA.
We currently have a team of ten and we would like to see a branch of Sheltersuit SA Foundation in every province of SA.Our ambition is to double our production over a period of 18 months from 500 to 1000 shelterbags per month.”
You can follow along with all the incredible things being done by Sheltersuit in South Africa, on Facebook here. Below is an 8-minute short documentary about the organisation.
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