and vulnerable children in the rural Swaziland communities of Engculwini and Nsoko. The
90 women of Timbali Crafts help feed more than 2600 children each day at 14 different
care points.
The women themselves face many hardships: most are either widowed or abandoned, many are single mothers, or grandmothers raising their orphaned grandchildren. Timbali Crafts was started in 2006 to help reach out to the physical and spiritual needs of these hard-working women and their families who would otherwise have little or none.
In a country where 2/3 of the population lives on less an a dollar a day, many of the Timbali women earn between $70 and $100 a month. Money earned by the Timbali
women goes to help with the basic needs of their families such as school fees, medical care, food, and housing. The women are also assisted in saving throughout the year, in preparation for school fees due each January.
Timbali reaches out in emergency situations with food baskets for families who have lost a loved one,
or have a special need, and also medical care when neededREACHING OUT TO SPIRITUAL NEEDS
Timbali Crafts was started out of a weekly Bible study with some of the women, and
pointing them to Jesus continues to be the central goal. The Timbali women take part in
regular Bible studies and also attend a yearly camp, where they can rest, laugh, be
encouraged, and poured into.
WHAT DOES “TIMBALI” MEAN?
Timbali means “flowers” in the local language, Siswatti. It is also the word used to
translate “lillies” in Matthew 6, when Jesus talked about his loving care and provision for
His children.
hardworking women.
