Namibia (University of Namibia) UNAM Cares & CFLI Community Project in Uis

The University of Namibia’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, UNAM Cares, through Dr Rachel Freeman as Head of the Unit, in close collaboration with the Department of Humanities and Arts (DHA), through Dr Goodman Gwasira, recently embarked upon a community empowerment project with local artists from Uis in the Erongo region. This community empowerment project was made possible through funding from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The project, which commenced in March 2022, aimed at empowering local community artists with knowledge and skills through repositioning traditional arts and crafts in contemporary contexts. The overall aim of the project was to boost sustainable economic activities among local community artists. It leveraged traction by focusing on local indigenous knowledge in the creative and visual arts for local economic development. The ultimate objective was to increase visibility of rural-based arts and crafts projects, value indigenous knowledge, and find potential ways to upscale and increase the economic gains of arts and crafts for rural communities.