Thirty six years ago, Creina and Neil Alcock settled in a small holding on the Tugela River known as "Mdukatshani," which in Zulu means "place of lost grasses." Creina and Neil vehemently opposed apartheid and decided to withdraw from the system and live in the heart of KwaZuluNatal amongst their Zulu neighbors. Originally, with the help of Tessa Katzenellembogen in the late 1980's, they trained weavers to use telephone wire. Due to shortages of telephone wire, they began experimenting with industrial copper wire. Today, approximately 110 weavers produce copper wire baskets, eggs, bangles, and ornaments intricately woven with imported Bohemian glass beads. It is astounding that such high quality fine art pieces come from a location ridden with poverty, violence, and HIV/AIDS. Sadly, Neil was killed twenty-three years ago amidst tribal warfare, which he and Creina had attempted to mediate.

The Zulus in the area are a strong and proud people. While there are over 287 Zulu tribes, the five strongest live along the Tugela River, in the heart of KwaZuluNatal. Many of the weavers Creina works with are widows, their husbands the victims of AIDS, malaria, or inter-tribal warfare. This very rural area is rife with unemployment. A majority of the men travel great distances to find work. Creina's copper weaving project provides a stable source of employment in the region. Creina sees copper weaving as a profession and an art form, not just something to supplement a low or no income family. This way, people can be provided with job stability and the product quality has and will continue to improve over time.

Creina loves to instill in the women she works with a sense of the world outside of Tugela. She tells them, “This little thing you’re making; it will carry your heart with it, and it will see the places that you won’t.” Creina keeps the weavers up to date with world events and has visitors speak to the women about where they are coming from and what they are doing in life. Despite the fact that many of them have AIDS, are widowed and living in dire poverty, these women are the most empathetic group we have ever met.

Creina also has taken on a number of teenage boys. One such boy, Jawbe, was orphaned at a young age and raised by his elderly grandfather. Jawbe lacked the funds to go to school and soon started weaving with Creina. To his delight, Jawbe had his work exhibited in London at the age of twelve. He is now seventeen and has asked Creina to manage a bank account for him. Jawbe’s dream is to save enough from his weaving work to be able to get married and support a family one day.

HIV/AIDS emerged in this area 18 months ago, but now is wiping out the community. There is a funeral almost every day and AIDS is known as the “Children’s Disease,” as so many youngsters are succumbing to illnesses related to HIV/AIDS. Bridge for Africa hopes that by providing sustainable employment through basketry in the rural areas, over time fewer men will relocate to Johannesburg and other cities, exposing themselves and their communities to the risk of HIV/AIDS. In addition, we hope that by providing a fair wage for the baskets, the financial factor in the neglect to use condoms as protection against HIV/AIDS will be minimized.

The copper bowls are woven much the same as the telephone wire baskets: on metal sheet molds. However, the rounder baskets are woven on traditional Zulu clay pots, which are broken as soon as the basket is complete. All of the beads are glass and imported from the Czech Republic. The copper bangles are made using a beer bottle as a mould.

While the majority of the weavers work from home, a group of 10-12 women plus several teenage boys come to weave at Creina’s workshop in order to enjoy the company of working alongside others. Creina often takes in those who are lost with no place to go. One such case involves a woman named Sbantu. Sbantu’s husband returned from Johannesburg where he had been working one evening with a new woman who he claimed to be his wife, and told Sbantu she must leave. Sbantu had no skills and was left alone to support her children. Creina took Sbantu under her wing and started training her in the art of copper weaving. At first it seemed as if there was little hope as Sbantu, it seemed, lacked any artistic ability. However, she was aided by her dedication and perseverance, as two years later she is now the weaver of some of the most exquisite pieces coming from the Tugela River Valley group. Purchasing a copper beaded basket, bangle, or ornament from Bridge for Africa helps to support women like Sbantu to get back on their feet and support their families.