THOHOYANDOU - The days of poverty might be over for some of the unemployed women of the Far North, who are members of the Girl Guides Association of South Africa. This is the result of a cultural village project, which is to be established soon.

According to Mr Jooste Hagendoorn, the Netherlands volunteer working on job skills and business skills in the GGASA, the project, which is funded by the National Lottery, is expected to be built around Thohoyandou and must be opened in November this year.

Hagendoorn said the cultural village will have several activities, and will mainly focus on tourism. He said there will be shops, Venda Crafts like clay pots, beadwork, Venda dresses, and a restaurant, where traditional Venda meals will be offered. There will be accommodation in traditional Venda huts and Venda music and dances will be performed.

At least 32 unemployed women received training from June 6 to 8 at Makwareala as part of the preparations for this project. The training was meant for Kharifhatisane Project, which is aimed at empowering women with business skills and job skills.

These women are now busy with the setting of Vedna Cultural Village in Thohoyandou, where a site is to be established.

This training, conducted by Marcelle Bosch, who is also an advisor to the national team, helped the women work with several teams. Each team is responsible for different activities.

"We train women about learning and understanding the Venda Culture. We also to help them to draw up a plan and to calculate some prices. Furthermore, we teach them how the tourism industry works. In the next few months, the women will start with the work and build the village. The plan is to open the village in November, around the holiday season."