About

Filani Africa, loosely translated, embraces a sense of freedom in Africa. Freedom from poverty and ignorance, and freedom of opportunity. Filani Africa was formed recently in East London, South Africa, as a manufacturing facility in the Arts & Crafts sector focusing on producing its own ranges as well as manufacturing on contract for foreign clients. In so doing the company will ensure a healthy spread of financial risk management, continuous training, job creation, and market development.

The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest regions in South Africa and job creation via social entrepreneurs and PPP’s is essential to alleviate poverty in the region. Filani Africa is such an initiative. We are currently in discussions with African Angels, a non profit organisation that raises funds to educate young disadvantaged children through school. African Angels has funded 23 such children from a local community and Filani Africa is looking to the parents of these children, as well as the rest of the targeted community, to train them in various manufacturing disciplines. In addition to this, Filani Africa will contribute towards the education of these youngsters from each unit produced and sold.

Filani Africa is also in discussions with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation to arrange finance for expanding the facility. Currently 5 previously unemployed African ladies have employment with us. We are aiming to increase this tenfold in 12 months. This employment will sustain just short of 400 people. Skills will include tapestry, weaving, clay, textile, painting and carpentry, together with other skills required for the contract manufacturing division. In addition to this, a community account, is to be formed where 10% of the profits of Filani Africa will be held and applied to a specific infra structural need in the community. This will be identified during consultation with the
community Leaders.

Filani Africa is looking for partnerships seated in real business. Wholesalers and retailers can buy our products, manufacturers can outsource production of some or all of their components . We are intent on developing a high quality production facility with multiple skills in order to underpin long term sustainability. We receive assistance at local Government level with finance, training, and marketing, but much of this is reliant on meaningful business partnerships from abroad. Commitment from business partners gives local government the “green light” to support our endeavour.

Our initial offering is a basic range of gifts using polymer clays and wire. These products are aimed at the children’s and mums’ markets. We have existing local business with these products so we are using this as an initial sales platform.

Skills for more sophisticated products are available as well as training. Our next step is to procure contract work which will guide us in terms of which specific skills to employ next. We want to grow this business organically and driven by demand, and not fall into the typical crafts trap of producing
products not knowing whether they will sell or not.