In Her Own Words: Artisan Victoria Ihula
(Translated from Oshiwambo by Isabella Shilongo)
"When I first started working here, at Work Of Our Hands, I started in the middle of the month and therefore I got paid N$400 ( about US $ 40 ). That day I couldn't eat or sleep or do anything because I was overjoyed and couldn't believe that I too could improve my own life and make my own money. I told myself that I too can come out of poverty. This is my first job ever.
Now, I make 3 or 4 times what my first salary was depending on how much I work that month. My husband does not have a stable job and so we couldn’t afford our own zinc house. We used to rent from a landlord that acted as if we were always doing something wrong, even though, we always paid our rent on time.
With the money I earned from working at Work of Our Hands, and with a little help from a relative, I bought materials to make my own house. Tate Lon helped me transport the materials for free. We are now freely living in that house and I still can’t believe that I myself could afford to build my own place with the money that I earned on my own. My life and the life of my children improved. I even have a bank account now which I never dreamed I would have.
With the money I earn, I support my 2 children, as well as a number of extended family members who are grateful they have an Aunt that is able to assist.
I am very grateful for Meme and Tate for coming to Namibia just for us. Our project is the only one that I know that creates jobs for people in Okahandja. We work peacefully and have freedom of when to come to work. We earn more than some people that work at farms or in the shops.
I thank God for Meme and Tate and do not know what I would do if I did not have this job."
Further translation:
*zinc house: house about 10 ' x 10' made of corrugated metal with a dirt or concrete floor and no running water
*Meme and Tate : exact translation, is mom and dad, but the terms are used as a way to respectfully address someone older than you are; in this instance, they refer to the founders of Work of Our Hands, Valeria and Lon Garber
