Once struggling to find a job after school, Minenhle Simelane turned to his grandmother’s mat-making machine to craft something truly special: mats made from discarded waste!

Durban, South Africa (29 May 2025) – To transform discarded plastic waste into unique, handmade products, promoting sustainability and environmental conservation. This is the powerful motivation behind Minenhle Simelane’s colourful and stunning mats made from plastic and other waste.

Originally from rural eShowe and currently residing in Durban, Minenhle matriculated from Embizweni High School in 2018.

After facing challenges with unemployment, he chose to create mats from waste materials as a way to make ends meet and creatively contribute to environmental conservation.

Drawing inspiration from his grandmother, he used the Imbongolo (mat-making machine) to make these mats from waste collected from the roadside, rivers or dumpsites.

Over time, he found purpose in transforming discarded plastic waste into beautiful, handmade products, which in turn help him make money and address the alarming rate of plastic consumption.

With the increasing demand for mats this year, Minenhle has taken on four workers under his wing and is working towards developing his business. In his own words, “trash has created jobs and brought smiles to their faces”.

In support of Minenhle’s journey of using artistic expression to save the environment, Woza Moya stocks his mats for the public to view and purchase at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT).

Moving forward, he hopes to grow his business and generate more job opportunities, fuelled by the growing demand for his eco-friendly products.

It is so inspiring to see young people not only make the most of their circumstances but also contribute to preserving the planet we all share in such creative ways. We wish you all the success, Minenhle!

Sources: Woza Moya | Minenhle Simelane

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The post Minenhle is Saving the Environment Through Colourful Plastic Mats! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A special order of bangles on their way to New York City from Hillcrest travel tethered to a unique story!

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (01 May 2025) — A striking collection of colourful beaded bangles are heading to New York City all the way from Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal. To some, they’d merely appear to be a bold range of accessories. But to the empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT), Woza Moya, they are shorthand for an unbreakable bond.

The Woza Moya team explained that the bangles are on their way to a very special customer, Tierney Echelmeier Norris. And, the ‘very special’ part is due to the fact that Tierney is no stranger to HACT. In fact, she once came to the centre as a volunteer, determined to help those in need.

Heartwarmingly, despite the years and distance between Tierney and HACT, the former volunteer has never forgotten her friends there. She continues to support them through Woza Moya in a big way—hosting jewellery sales in her home to spread the word of their work and, of course, to give the Big Apple a taste of local creativity.

“We love how Tierney manages to share her sparkle wherever she goes!” The Woza Moya team share.

About Woza Moya & Friends

So, who are the talented hands that create impactful craftwork? Woza Moya was established as an important project of HACT in 2002. While HACT is an organisation that has spent over three decades saving and transforming lives infected and affected by HIV/AIDS throughout KZN’s semi-rural and disadvantaged communities (HCAT was one of the first NGOs in our country to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic), Woza Moya supports a different socio-economic concern.

Through Woza Moya, people can use crafty skills to put food on the table, helping them get a hand up against poverty. Especially during incredibly financially strenuous times like the pandemic, their work often came to the rescue with creations sold locally and overseas.

Some of Woza Moya’s most gorgeous creations come in the form of beads, others in feathers. But you can decide for yourself by checking out their collections here. 

Sources: Email Submission 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Bangles, The Big Apple and an Unbreakable Bond appeared first on Good Things Guy.