Neema Crafts Centre

​Until recently, our third activity was supporting Neema Crafts Centre in Tanzania through fundraising activities and marketing the crafts. Neema Crafts is a social enterprise set up by our director, Susie Hart, which gives training and employment to people with disabilities. We're delighted to say that the centre is now self-supporting and no longer needs our help.

​In 2003, our director, Susie Hart partnered with the Diocese of Ruaha in Tanzania to found and establish Neema Crafts Centre. The centre started with just three young deaf men learning how to make paper from elephant dung. Neema Crafts now employs over 120 people who were previously living in poverty or social isolation.

The centre has transformed the way that disabled people are perceived in Tanzania. The centre has eight craft workshop areas, a physiotherapy unit for children with disabilities, an award-winning cafe, a conference centre entirely staffed by deaf people and a welcoming guesthouse staffed by people with disabilities. Check out the video to see the stories firsthand.

In 2012, Susie handed over the management of Neema Crafts Centre and returned to Harrogate,where she set up Craft Aid International to similarly serve people with disabilities both globally and locally. We're delighted to say that the centre is now entirely self-supporting however and no longer needs our help, thanks to the fantastic efforts of all the staff there and especially Ben and Katy Ray, who took over from Susie. We're still here to support them when needed, but for now this is rarely, if ever, necessary. ​Take a look at their website, where you can also visit their online shop.