Location
three groups from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Windhoek, Namibia

Team 
Coordinators: Christiana Afrikaner and  Katrina Garises 
Namibian Art Teachers; LAL group.

Activities
In July  2022 Christiana Afrikaner and  Claudia Mushindi launched a call for the Ladies Arts Link Action  (LAL) using dishcloth to portray the value of women. During 2023 the group launched the call' A Plant for Peace'.  

In August 2024, Katrina Garises and Christiana Afrikaner meet every week with LAL group, and conducted  several workshops with many women to create squares to send to the other groups. 
Exhibition: Walvis Bay-Namibia
Theme: A plant for peace


Our team, consisting of three groups from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, and Windhoek, led by the inspiring Katrina Garises, has worked tirelessly to showcase the power of plants to spread love and promote peace. We aim to bring a theme that touches the hearts and souls of our audience, and we believe that "A Plant for Peace" is the perfect representation of that.


We intend to touch the hearts and souls of our audience with a representation of hope and positivity that plants symbolize. Plants can promote peace in various ways:
  1. They have a calming effect on the mind and body, which can help reduce stress and anxiety, leading to a more peaceful state of mind.
  2. Plants symbolize life and growth, which can inspire hope and positivity, two essential elements for promoting peace.
  3. When used in communal spaces, plants can bring people together and create a sense of community.
People can build connections and relationships by cultivating plants and sharing the experience, leading to a more peaceful and harmonious society.


We had challenges in getting the embroidery threads, but we managed to do a lot of art pieces and had the first exhibition in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay. Although we were challenged with a venue for the exhibition, we held the exhibition and could invite a few audience.
Sharing embroidery skills and using art to depict peace is a powerful way to bring people together and positively impact the community. We also see it as a great way to showcase the value of traditional crafts and keep them alive.
The project to create embroidered squares depicting peace was a beautiful way to bring people together and spread a positive message. It was truly inspiring to see everyone's skills and creativity on display. Through embroidery, we could express the vital idea of peace tangibly.
The project was successful, with many participants contributing their time and talent to the cause. The squares created were truly remarkable, each unique and beautiful in its own way. We were able to showcase the skills of everyone involved in this project and the message of peace that it promotes.
Overall, the embroidery project was an excellent opportunity to unite people and create something meaningful. It was an honour to be a part of it, and we are confident that the report will do justice to the hard work and dedication of all those involved.
Bios
Picture

Christiana Deliewen Afrikaner (PhD)
Christiana lives in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Her interest is in community arts.  Coordinates community projects. Researcher and arts education activist, interested in arts educational projects. She is a founding member and president of Africa Arts Association (AfrAA).  Founding member and chairperson of the Sub-Saharan Africa Society for Education through Arts (SSASEA).  Served as World Councilor for International Society for Education through Arts (InSEA), representing Africa and the Middle-East. Country representative for Namibia on the International Study Association on Teachers (ISATT). Founding member of the Ladies Arts Links: LAL.

Katrina Garises 





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Claudia Mushindi
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Claudia is from Okahandja, but lives in Windhoek with her family. She is a teacher by profession. Claudia has been a teacher for 36 years and a Head of Department for the junior Primary phase over 16 years. Claudia taught subjects like Needlework, home Ecology and Arts. She is interested in music and dance. Claudia spends enormous time on doing crafts. Claudia is a member of the Sisedi Women’s Group and the Bridge Workers Choir. She holds a Diploma in Education Management from Technicon Pretoria and Post Graduated diploma in Education from the university of Namibia. Claudia is a founding member of the Ladies Arts Link: LAL

Magdalena Naweses

​ She has a background in Financial Management and holder of M(Sci) in finance. Board member of Communal Land and serves as treasurer for various institutions. Recently joined Namibia Ladies Arts. Has attended various arts workshops, conferences and walking seminars.