In a world where passion, skill, and resilience know no boundaries, the Virtual Artisan Market (VAM) emerges as a symbol of hope. The face of VAM is Lentsaba Village, a digital platform that is not merely an online marketplace. Rather, it provides a platform for small entrepreneurs, women empowerment projects, refugees and talented artisans to showcase their creations to a global audience.
VAM originates from the endeavors of Saving Orphans Through Healthcare and Outreach (SOHO), a nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis that serves orphans and vulnerable children in Eswatini. This vision was embraced by the INFS 318 Business Systems Analysis and Design class of 2021. Each student diligently worked towards finding solutions that could transform this distant dream into a tangible reality. Their encounter with resilient women and girls who had survived abuse and human trafficking yet produced remarkable artwork became the driving force behind the inception of the VAM.
Subsequent classes continued the project, developing protocols, and crafting a compelling narrative.The INFS 436 Web-Based Systems played a pivotal role in constructing an online platform integrated with Etsy, launching what is now known as Lentsaba Village. With support from the Andrews University School of Business Administration, students collaborated with SOHO to explore and develop avenues for vulnerable women and young adults who were transitioning from orphanages to gain sustainable employment and stay off the streets.
Today VAM connects women empowerment projects in Eswatini, skilled bronze artisans from Ouagadougou and Burkina Faso, Burmese communities and a resilient women’s battalion from Harare, Zimbabwe. A bakery initiative in Eswatini reflects VAM’s commitment to providing vocational skills, enabling survivors of abuse to seamlessly transition into the workforce.
Yet VAM, like any entrepreneurial endeavor, is marked by challenges. Issues related to finance, inventory management, quality control, marketing, and logistics often appear insurmountable. Nevertheless, each challenge is seen not as a setback but as an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and evolve.
VAM is more than just an online marketplace; it is a global chorus of voices, a testament to human resilience. Every piece of artwork is not merely a product; it is a story, a journey of indomitable spirits that rise from the ashes, transforming each challenge into an epic narrative of triumph.
In Octover 2023 at the 4th annual Celebration of Community Engagement, the VAM project won the “Most Innovative Project” award. In addition, Takudzwa Mugwisi, who served as the student general project manager for VAM and the Lentsaba Village store, received a scholarship in recognition of her outstanding contributions.