For the past two years, our company has been working in partnership with the Khumbulani Trust in South Africa to help develop the handicraft skills which are available in rural areas of Kwa Zulu Natal. The Khumbulani Trust was originally supported and promoted by David Rattray of Rourke's Drift Lodge, who was tragically killed last year. The hand embroidery project was close to his heart.

With the benefit of a £50,000 grant from EEC funding, Khumbulani and Reed Family Linens have compiled a feasibility study for the business project during 2007 which would bring employment to around 1000 people in the heavily HIV infected area of Ingwavuma in Northern Natal, close to the Kruger Game Park and the Mozambique border. Together we, Khumbulani and their corporate sponsors in South Africa, are currently trying to raise the required seed capital in the form of a grant from the Kwa Zulu Natal goverment so that the business can start operating in early 2008.