Tholo’s story is now full of hope
Meet Tholo. She may be soft spoken, but she’s determined and driven to change both her life and the community in which she lives – the Valley of 1000 Hills. Even with a matric certificate Tholo battled to find job opportunities in South Africa. But in 1998 instead of just sitting at home and doing nothing, she decided to ask her aunt to teach her how to bead.
With little to no income life was hard for Tholo and her children. But that was before her beading career – so much has changed since then. Tholo started selling her jewellery in Durban until she found the organization Woza Moya in Hillcrest. They were instrumental in the journey that she is now on as it was through them that she met Philippa Spark. Philippa recognised Tholo’s talent and the impeccable quality of her beadwork, so it wasn’t long before she invited her to join the Philippa French team of beaders. Each beader is empowered to build their own business so Tholo is training other women who are in a similar situation to what she was, so they can also improve their lives. Tholo doesn’t like to see other woman suffer so she encourages them to learn how to bead rather than sit at home and do nothing.
Tholo has big dreams and she’s making them happen. She has already managed to build herself a brick house (she used to live in a mud hut) and has set a 2-year goal to buy a car and send her children to university. With Tholo’s tenacity and the backing of Philippa French we have no doubt she will reach her dreams and more! We are proud to call Tholo a Thusana Friend and absolutely love that we are part of her story.
Tholo’s specialty is bespoke beaded earrings – she has an incredible ability to bead any of the designs Philippa comes up with and is a complete specialist with earrings as well as beaded Christmas baubles.
You can be part of helping Tholo reach her dreams by buying any of the beaded creations from the Philippa French team.
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