A summary of Tapestry of Dreams 2009 (from Heather’s perspective)

January 2009:

I’m planning a busy year for Beautiful Life Project when I’m contacted out of the blue by Roz Thomas whom I had met in October 2008 when I had last been in Winterton (which is in rural KwaZulu Natal in South Africa).  Roz and I had originally met when she had co-ordinated and organised a music / worship conference at a church in Winterton – and Nick (my husband) and I had been invited as guests.  In January, I get an e-mail from Roz.  She tells me about a dream she has that just won’t go away.  She dreams of a fashion show using women from the local community.  She dreams that they’ll wear fashion which incorporates the exquisite beadwork of the Amangwe Zulu Beaders (where Roz volunteers much of her time).  She dreams that somehow, a project like this could raise money for a good cause – very specifically – Isibani Community Centre, founded by a very special lady called Sofi Cogley.  Roz tells me that she’ll post me a DVD about some of Sofi’s work.  I tell myself that I’ll probably help out a bit – but I’m a bit uncertain of my involvement because there’s already so much on my plate (big plans for Beautiful Life Project).

Sofi of Isibani Community Centre (pictured here with a disabled child).

February 2009:

After watching the DVD about everything that Sofi Cogley is striving to do in the rural communities of KwaZulu Natal, I’m sold.  I just know deep within my heart that I have to build this project with Roz.  Roz has very limited time and resources.  She lives in a cottage in a rural part of the Drakensberg (KZN).  She’s a missionary (from England) and has been volunteering in the community (with her husband and 2 young sons) for 4 years.  Most of her time is spent mothering her 2 young sons, but she also regularly volunteers at a beading project (Amangwe Zulu Crafts). In England, she was a physiotherapist – and so she uses this knowledge to also occasionally volunteer at Isibani Community Centre’s “Special Needs Day” – amongst other things.   Roz doesn’t have the resources, the time or the contacts to make her dream a reality on her own.  She knows that Nick and I are city based and have access to everything needed in order to put the plan in to action.  Nick and I travel down to Winterton in rural KwaZulu Natal (South Africa).  We meet with Roz and Sofi Cogley of Isibani Community Centre.  We brainstorm ideas and put together a rough plan of what we’d like to accomplish with our baby project.

Roz Thomas - Winterton - February 2009

Me (Heather) with my daughter, Morgan - Winterton - Feb 2009

March 2009:

Roz puts out word and Nick and I return to Winterton in late March to audition various women from the local community.  We eventually end up with 10 women.  Some are HIV positive.  Others are caring for AIDS orphans.  Others are orphans themselves, caring for younger siblings left behind after both parents had died.  Each has a powerful, poignant story of a lived lived in one of the worst AIDS ‘red zones’ in the world.  We visit the homes of each ‘model’ and interview them for the first time to learn more about their lives and their stories.  I come up with the name “Tapestry of Dreams” – and Roz comes up with the tagline:  ”Let your life shine!”

Heather arranges the models for their first group photo shoot.

Our 10 models. Back Row from left: Philile, Nicola, Thully, Nokuthula (later replaced by Thandeka) & Zanele. Front Row from Left: Lungile, Nozipho, Sebenzile, Thembi (later replaced by Bongi) & Nondumiso.

Heather's husband, Nick - with his camera (in Zanele's home).

Heather interviewing Zanele in her home in Khetani Township.

One of our originally-chosen models, Nokuthula (in the pink dress) later dropped out of the project and was replaced by Thandeka.

Roz helps out with Isibani Special Needs Day. She fetches this disabled young woman and drives her to Isibani for free medical care & therapy.

The beading project (Amangwe Zulu Crafts) where Roz volunteers.

April 2009:

I design and put together the Tapestry of Dreams “Promo Tin” (in my ‘other life’, I was a graphic designer) and Nick (my husband, who has a film production studio called Switchvert) edits a mini-documentary that we can use to raise interest in our new cause.  We upload the doccie on youtube and include it in the promo pack.  My sister, Suzanne, volunteers for a week and we put together a detailed budget of what we imagine the project will end up costing so that we can search for sponsors.  It’s a large, scary amount.  In the meantime, Emily Stockil comes on board.  She is based in Winterton and volunteers to hold regular workshops with the 10 models.  With these workshops, we aim to prepare our special ladies (mentally, physically and emotionally) for what’s to come at the end of the year.  Emily implements various creative initiatives in the workshops and keeps Roz and I updated with the progress.  Roz, also being based in Winterton, keeps regularly updated with the progress of the models and often attends workshops too.

The Tapestry of Dreams "Promo Tin" that we sent off to potential sponsors.

Emily's mom, Ren, helps out with some of the workshops.

We commissioned this lady, Charmaine, who is HIV positive - to sew and embroider 100 red squares to be used in our promo tins.

May 2009:

Yolanda Turner comes on board as a volunteer and works with me full-time in my Johannesburg office.  We actively search for sponsors.  We contact corporates, we go to many meetings, we send out press releases and countless e-mails, we keep the websites, blogs and Facebook ‘pages’ updated.  I design and print postcards for fashion designers (appealing to them to get on board with the project) and Yolanda visits fashion schools and universities all over Joburg and Pretoria and drops off postcards wherever there’s an open door.  We also send promo tins and postcards to well known designers… and even some well-known international designers.

Heather & Yolanda with some of the submissions from fashion students around the country.

June 2009:

We get some response from student designers across the country.  We go through their portfolios and designs.  I select my favourites and Yolanda arranges for interviews with the designers.  We choose 3 student designers and 1 design school lecturer from the design submissions:  Cindy & Marli from Pretoria… and Claire & Botho from Durban.

Some of our designers... from left: Marli Strydom (student), Cindy Visser (student), Botho Chalebgwa (student), Claire Molliere (design school lecturer)

Anel Alexander gets us a meeting with designer Simon Rademan and he agrees to come on board.

Simon Rademan - professional fashion designer from Pretoria

I start writing and planning November’s show.  In late June, Nick and I return to Winterton (together with our friends, Bertus and Ronel Kirsten) to continue documenting the progress of Tapestry of Dreams.  We interview staff at Isibani Community Centre and we follow around a Home Based Caregiver for the day.  We also audition a young Zulu dance team in Loskop township.  We decide to incorporate the Zulu dancers in to the November show and bring them up to Joburg together with the models in November.

Audition for the Zulu Dancers at Youth Hall in Loskop township. Nick & Bertus discuss the shoot logistics while Ronel takes photos.

The Loskop Zulu Dancers

Heather enjoys the performance... as do a number of community members who start filtering in to the hall after hearing the drums and the singing.

More dancing and singing...

Ronel and Roz.

Our translator - Roderick de Bathe (he has such an amazing and inspirational life story - and is also a writer & poet!)

After the audition, the Zulu dancers watched their own performances on the camera.

Heather and Roz - deep in planning...

Nick - filming some cut-away shots for the documentary.

Heather and Nick on the way back to Joburg - with the hills of the Drakensberg behind them.

Also on this trip, we meet with and measure the models so that we can send their photos and measurements to their respective designers.  We show the models the mini doccie (they’re very excited) and we show the the various drawings submitted by fashion design students around the country.  It starts getting ‘real’ for the models.

July 2009:

Yolanda and I still work hard at obtaining sponsorship.  Nobody wants to sponsor money!  We go for a meeting at Spar supermarket group.  They agree to sponsor gift vouchers for each of the ladies – valued at R2000 each.  Thanks to connections that Emily and Roz have at Champagne Sports Resort (in the Drakensberg), we manage to secure accommodation for our next trip to Winterton when we’ll be bringing our designers along to meet their models and the Amangwe Zulu Beaders.  Yolanda and I manage to scrape enough money together to make up 10 special Pamper Packs to give to our ladies for the upcoming trip.

Yolanda sitting with the "Pamper Packs" that we put together for our 10 ladies.

Another special thing happens in July – I get to meet with the ladies of ChemCity (a Sasol Group Company).  They use Sasol CSI money to incubate small businesses within needy communities.  They decide to partner with Tapestry of Dreams and offer each one of our 10 models the opportunity to own and operate their own small business.  ChemCity starts making immediate plans to visit Winterton, Isibani – and to meet with our 10 models.

August 2009:

I drive down to Mafikeng to the home of my friend (and talented songstress), Ziya –  and stay there for 5 days, writing the plot and the original music for November’s show (which we’ve decided to call “SHINE!”).  I want original music – both for the live show… but also for the accompanying documentary.  I write 5 songs and Ziya does pre-production on 3 of them.

Heather composing music for November's show, "SHINE!"

Later in the month, we take a large team down to Winterton and stay at Champagne Sports Resort.  Our team includes a camera crew, the 3 student designers & 1 design school lecturer and a handful of volunteers.  We’re met at the hotel by the team from ChemCity who have undertaken to set each one of our ladies up in their own, sustainable business.  The ChemCity team have also brought along Paballo Mofokeng and her assistant, Julianna.  Between Paballo, Julianna, Emily and our 4 designers, we manage to give each of our 10 ladies a mini make-over in preparation for the mini fashion show that we’ve organised for the community of Winterton.  The idea is to introduce the community to the Tapestry of Dreams project – and also to allow the ladies to ‘perform’ for the first time in front of an audience.  They model the beadwork of the Amagwe Zulu Beaders and thoroughly enjoy the experience.  We also include the Loskop Zulu dance team in this event.  In the 2 days leading up to the event, Ziya records the dance team singing backing vocals which we plan to use for the November show.

One of our student fashion designers, Botho, colour-codes the beads that our 10 ladies will be modelling.

Paballo's assistant, Julianna, works on Nondumiso's hair as Emily looks on.

Paballo Mofokeng (entrepreneur and owner of a number of salons) gives a demonstration to the models on how to use the manicure and pedicure sets which were included in their pamper-packs.

Thandeka, Philile, Thembi and Thully work on their toes... while Zanele admires her newly manicured fingers.

Claire (fashion designer) works on Nondumiso's face.

Our 10 Role Models - all dressed up with somewhere to go!

While in the meantime, Ziya records the singing of the Loskop Zulu Dance Team in one of the hotel's conference rooms (their music will be incorporated in to November's show).

The Loskop Zulu Dance Team singing and rehearsing while Ziya produces and records.

Our 10 Role Models make their fashion debut (modelling the exquisite beadwork of the Amangwe Zulu Beaders)

The entire Tapestry of Dreams team... including the 10 models, 4 fashion designers, Heather, Roz, Emily, Ziya, Anel and the team from ChemCity; Esme, Paballo, Julianna and Adri.

The day following our fashion show, we interviewed each of the models in their homes. In this photo, we were interviewing Lungile.

Nick shoots through the door while Heather & Anel interview Sebenzile in her home.

Lungile Mayaba (one of the models) with Heather Costaras (co-founder of Tapestry of Dreams)

September 2009:

Things start heating up.  I pay a visit to Foschini head office and manage to secure sponsorship for a wardrobe worth R2500 for each of our models!  The fashion designers are busy designing and creating dresses for the models.  Designers Claire, Botho, Cindy and Marli commission the Amangwe Zulu Beaders to create intricate beadwork for their dresses.  We manage to find 2 more professional designers who are prepared to come on board:  Bongi Magongo of Imma 51 and Cari Stephenson of Tart.  We also find a semi-professional fashion designer, Angel Skukazi, who volunteers to be a part of the project.

Fashion designer: Bongiwe Magongo of IMMA51

Fashion designer: Cari Stephenson of TART

Fashion designer, Angel Skukazi with her husband and her baby.

We are also delighted to receive an e-mail from the PA to Vivienne Westwood in London, who informs me that Vivienne received our promo tin that we sent – and that she’d be sending outfits for one of our models.  With Vivienne on board, the media suddenly start taking notice of Tapestry of Dreams.

International fashion legend, Vivienne Westwood.

In the meantime, I continue writing and planning “SHINE!”.  Yolanda puts together a guest list and seating plan for the theatre and we book a catering company.  I design and print tickets for the show.  We still have a tiny amount of money and no idea how we’re going to pull of the show with no money!  All of us try not to panic – but some of us do.  A few volunteers start hatching a “Plan B” – ‘just in case’ we don’t come up with the money in time.  We go over the budget again and again and remove all the ‘frills’.  But even the very basic costs (theatre, sound, lighting, musicians, projector hire, costumes, printing, hair, make-up and so much more) still works out to way more than what we can afford.  Roz, Yolanda and I plough ahead regardless.  We step up the effort to raise money and I start approaching family, friends and ex-business colleagues.  Roz does the same and exhausts every contact she has.  I manage (through an ex business colleague) to secure a gorgeous hotel for our models to use in November but still – only a tiny amount of money comes trickling in from a few family and friends who empathise with us.

October 2009:

The month begins with a few of us returning to Winterton.  The visit begins with a team-building event (organised by Roz) and courtesy of Champagne Castle Adventure Centre.  The models are given their first opportunity to abseil down a steep cliff.  To my amazement, most of them do it – and all of them are excited and proud that they had the guts to do it!  After the abseiling there are other team building events including tug-O-war and boat races.  In spite of the constant drizzle, everyone agrees that it was a fantastic and successful team-building morning!

The models hiking up the hill for their abseiling expedition.

The models look out over Champagne Valley as they prepare to launch themselves off a cliff face.

Emily leading by example.

Sebenzile braved the scary cliff face.

Thandeka braving the cliffs.

Team-building races...

Boat races...

Tug-O-War with Roz lending a hand and Emily cheering on (this side lost).

During the same visit, I am delighted to see that ChemCity have stuck to their word and have established businesses for our models.  These businesses also employ and support a few family and friends of the models.  There is a bakery, veggie tunnels, candle making businesses, soap making businesses and a beauty salon.  Fifty new jobs are created!

Models Thandeka, Philile and Nondumiso - with 2 friends - in their new bakery with all of the goods they've learned how to bake.

The veggie tunnels now at Isibani Community Centre.

One of our models, Thully, with her new soap-making business, "Amazing Soap".

Lungile with her business, "Lungile's Cards & Candles"

Sebenzile with the banner and marketing material for her new beauty salon (courtesy of ChemCity and Paballo Mofokeng).

Dr. Esme Young of ChemCity chats to one of the trainers.

Also – on this Winterton trip, we plan to rehearse the show with the models and the Zulu dancers – using the correct music.  Ziya joins us and brings the pre-recorded songs that we worked on previously (they sound beautiful).  We tape out the exact size of the theatre stage on a conference room floor at Champagne Sports Resort.  Then we have a meeting with all of our key volunteers and suddenly, everything falls apart.

One of our volunteers (the one who refers to herself as the Realist) announces that it’s pointless for us to continue any further (with practices, etc) until we manage to raise the money required for the November show.  She asks why we should waste the time of the models and the Zulu dancers by rehearsing and practicing when… practically… it seemed as though we weren’t going to be able to host the “SHINE!” production – because we were nowhere near to meeting budget.  Right there, a very definite split evolves between our team leaders.  I want to plough ahead in blind faith – such is my belief in the project and, also, the thought of letting those 10 women down is a thought that I simply refuse to entertain.  There are lots of tears and feelings of complete hopelessness as 3 of the volunteers decide upon a sensible “Plan B” whereby there would be no big show in November and whereby we would need to cancel the “SHINE!” event.  A deadline is set.  If the full amount is not raised by the 19th October – a full month before the event – then the event will need to be cancelled.  I am devastated by this news and feel as though my legs have been cut from underneath me.  I pray to God as I have never prayed before… and I believe that God wants me to ‘walk the talk’.  I get an encouraging call from Ziya.  She says:  ”I’m with you on this project – let’s take it through to the finish line!”.  Yolanda says the same thing.  Roz says:  ”Let’s finish this – I don’t like to start something and not finish it properly!”.  Nick backs me 100%.  The deadline comes and still, the full amount of money is not raised (although, at the last minute, a large amount is donated – but not enough to meet budget).  I make an “executive decision” and announce that we’re going ahead with the show regardless.  This doesn’t go down too well with the volunteers who are proponents of Plan B.

November 2009:

We have not managed to raise enough money for Yolanda for all of the months she has volunteered for Tapestry of Dreams.  Out of necessity, she is forced to leave our Johannesburg office and earn a living helping her husband with a small, income-generating business.  She tries to volunteer for a few hours – once a week – but often cannot make it.  I begin to question my own sanity (and faith) as the pressure and strain builds.  In the meantime, everything else is in full swing.  We are still short of 1 designer and Emily volunteers a couple of hours – phoning every contact we can find in order to obtain a suitable dress for our final model, Nicola Dookey.  We concede that we can no longer afford the catering company that we booked, so we cancel that catered food and I send out letters to family, friends and church members and ask for their help.  We need to figure out how to feed 16 Zulu dancers 3 meals a day – for 7 days.  The models will also need lunch and supper for 7 days (not supplied by the hotel).  Extra volunteers start trickling in.  People from church offer to help.  Somebody offers to prepare packed lunches for the 10 models for 7 days.  Somebody else donates the bunches of flowers that will be given to the designers on the night of the show.  A few more people donate small amounts of money and, together with ticket sales, it all starts to add up.  Ziya and I beg favours from musician friends and ask them to cut their fees (which they do).  The theatre agrees not to charge us their usual commission of 10% of the ticket takings.  Foschini agrees to dress Nicola Dookey for the event and Emily still manages to find 2 more designers who donate 2 extra dresses.  It slowly dawns on me that our project is being pushed through by small acts of kindness from LOTS of generous people!

Friends… family… church members… community members… all step up to the plate.  Individuals donate what they can (we did not receive a single cent from any corporate company for the entire duration of 2009).  A large concern is transport:  how do we transport 10 models and 16 Zulu dancers from Winterton (5 hours away)… drive them around Joburg for a week… and then return them to Winterton after the event?  Bus hire is too expensive for us to afford.  Just as we start to panic, a friend from church introduces me to his friend who owns Inkosi Africa Tours and a large 16 seater van.  He agrees to hire it to us for a price far cheaper than any previous quotes.  Sofi from Isibani Community Centre lends her large vehicle and pays a driver and so, on the 15th November, we manage to transport 26 people from Johannesburg to Winterton.  The models are booked in to the Crowne Plaza Rosebank Hotel.  The Zulu dancers stay at Fisherman’s Village who have enlisted volunteers to help feed all 16 dancers for the week.  There is excitement and chaos at the hotel as the fashion designers arrive and do final fittings on their models.   I have designed and printed show programmes and posters for the event.

On Monday, we take the models to Foschini where stylists await.  The women excitedly choose fashion to the value of R2500 each.  Foschini make-up artists do a make-over on the models and we do a photo shoot.

The Foschini stylists, Elzaan Smit & Naeema Cassimjee with five of our models.

Thully gets her make-up done by one of the Foschini make-up artists.

Heather gets a big hug from Lungile.

The 10 models wearing their Foschini-sponsored outfits.

On Tuesday, everybody moves in to the theatre and full rehearsals begin.  In between the chaos, I give interviews to reporters and a TV show.  The Tapestry of Dreams story is featured in The Times, Rapport, Today Magazine, Drum Magazine, Readers Digest, Vrouekeur, TV show Artcha and on Talk Radio 702.  A talented photographer (Dino) from Media 24 agrees to photograph each of our models – wearing their dresses – for free!  The photos are more beautiful than what we could have imagined.

Official photo of our 10 Tapestry of Dreams models, all dressed up in gorgeous dresses designed for them by our fabulous dresses. These 10 dresses - including an extra 3 that were donated - will be auctioned off with 100% of the profits going to Isibani Community Centre in rural KwaZulu Natal.

Finally, the 19th arrives.  There is chaos backstage as models, fashion designers and make-up artists crowd the dressing rooms.  The Zulu dancers are dressed in their full regalia.  The band and vocalists are doing last minute rehearsals and sound checks.  The film crew and sound crew are running around fixing last minute problems.  In the foyer, a beautiful display of the beadwork from Amangwe Zulu Beaders are on sale (thanks to the hard work of my mother, my sister, Yolanda and a few other volunteers).  Also on sale are some of the soaps and candles from our models’ new baby businesses.  There’s large platters of food available to guests – and a cash bar.  When the evening arrives, there’s a large, healthy turnout of guests.

One of the posters that Heather designed for "SHINE!"

The show itself runs completely smoothly.  Everything – miraculously – goes as planned.  We show a mini documentary about our 10 models and how far they’ve come since March 2009.  When they finally make their grand entrance, there is a thunder of cheers and applause.  The models are beaming… and my dream has come true:  we have given them the opportunity to SHINE!

The following morning, the models say their goodbyes and are driven back to Winterton.  They’ve had an experience of a lifetime.  They have new clothes… food vouchers… and brand new sustainable businesses.  They return to their communities as “Role Models” – or, at least, such is my dream for them.

Heather with the 10 Role Models from the Tapestry of Dreams Project - just a few hours before they left Johannesburg to return to their communities in KwaZulu Natal.

December 2009:

I go away  - with my husband and my children – on a long beach holiday where I try… unsuccessfully… to relax and unwind.  My head simply cannot stop spinning with ideas, plans, thoughts, worries and a whole bunch of “what if’s?”.  I continually thank God for my amazing family – and especially for my supportive husband who has been behind me all the way on this journey.  We have long, intense chats about the future of Tapestry of Dreams.  ”Everything has changed!” I tell him.  Tapestry of Dreams must go on.  We must learn from our mistakes… build on the successes – but we must go on.

January 2010:

Roz and I are, once again, discussing the future of the project.  Roz will be returning to England in June 2010 – but still wants to be involved in the project – perhaps from England, raising money, awareness and support from that side of the world.  I plan various ways to sell the 13 dresses that we now have (100% of profits will go to Isibani Community Centre).  Nick and I start editing the hundreds of hours of footage that Nick shot during the process of last year.  We’re making a documentary about Tapestry of Dreams – and, once it’s finished, we plan to host a special “Premiere” in Winterton – so that the models can invite their family, friends and neighbours to see what they were up to in 2009.

February 2010:

Nick and I return to Winterton to shoot the final footage for the Tapestry of Dreams documentary.  We want to meet up with each of the models and find out how they’re doing in life… how they feel about last year… how their businesses are going.  I also chat with Roz and Sofi.  I want to know their thoughts and opinions on the project.  They are the people at grassroots level who experience, on a daily basis, the various crises facing these needy communities.

This time, we take Gary Swart with us (from the TEARFUND Inspired Individuals programme).  On the one hand – the trip is a hard one for me.  I realise that, with all of my good intentions, that I cannot implement a Westernised “3-Step-Poverty-Busting-Plan” on a community as broken and sick as the townships of Khetani and Loskop (where all our models are from).

Amongst the encouraging testimonies and beautiful stories and experiences of 2009 – there’s some hard, tough stories – and some difficult lessons to digest and learn.

But… learn we will… and I will update you with the stories of how each of the models are doing in 2010 – and our imminent plans for the future.

THANK-YOU’s…

This long-winded post has been mostly about my (Heather) experience of Tapestry of Dreams… obviously from my personal perspective.  Of course – it was never me, alone, on this journey – and without a number of important and dedicated volunteers – this project would never have happened!  I also know that an enormous amount of work and dedication went in to this project from Winterton-side (Roz, Sofi, Ren, Emily…).  They worked tirelessly with the models over  last year – and I probably could never realise or fully appreciate their input – simply because I live in Joburg – and they live 5 hours away in Winterton, KwaZulu Natal.  I really – REALLY appreciate their input and work – and especially Roz – who was in this right from the start… in fact, you could say that this whole project started with Roz.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to the following people:  Roz Thomas, Yolanda & Mark Turner, Anel & James Alexander, Emily Stockil, Adelaide Ndlovu, Ren & Mark Stockil, Ronel & Bertus Kirsten, Hannes & Jana Viljoen, Rogan & Tracey Kelsey, Tizer Bailey, Linda Patterson, Suzanne Patterson, Roderick de Bathe, Sofi Cogley, Flaps van der Merwe, Dino Costaras, Nick Costaras, Wayne Els, Lerato Mokotedi, Elaine Young, Lynn Telfer, Peter Pieser, Carmen Jennings, Marcus Pryor and all of the “Imagineers”, Bob & Nelly Patterson, Istell Orton, Sandy Steinberg, Elsabe Opperman, Els Herten, Tris Bekker, Patty Vermaak, Dr. Esme Young, Adri Naude, Jumie Viviers, Paballo Mofokeng, Kirsty Galliard, Joshua Rous, Lebo Pule, Kevin Pickard, Joel Clark, Rob Koch, Gary Swart, Sean Callaghan, Louise Mouton, Dawn Ngwenya, Tracy Straughan, Bernice Hynard, Helen Brits, Naeema Cassimjee, Elzaan Smit, Lee-Anne Nourse, Mark Griffioen, Cecelia Steinberg & Dr. Elna McIntosh.