The 23rd of August 2019 will long be remembered for the celebration that marked the official opening of Heartfelt’s new workshop in Makapanstad, NW Province. The IDC funded the building of the workshop as well as providing operational capital to improve the sustainability and profitability of Heartfelt.
The Heartfelt project is Martha Letsoala’s story. It’s about who she is. It’s about her children. It’s about the lives of the women and families in her community. It’s about the sadness that happens on a daily basis in a little place called Makapanstad. And the big difference one small heart can make to the happiness of others. Today Heartfelt products are sold within South Africa and Internationally. There are now eighteen women employed by Heartfelt. Each day they come to work full of pride and hope. Creating each Heartfelt design out of love and strongly believing that they can make a difference – not only to their own lives but to the lives of the community in which they live.
The Heartfelt philosophy is simple – We always make each product out of love, fill it with hope and send it out into the world to spread its wings. Every action can make a tiny difference. Lots of tiny differences can mean a lot of action.
Julie Hadley and Martha Letsoalo, co founders of Heartfelt
The celebration included the Gogo Dancers, Makapanstad Troupe, the Heartfelt ladies signing, moving tributes and so much joy. I think that all who attended experienced a sense of hope – that if government, corporates and passionate individuals work together with one vision, anything is possible.
A video clip of the Makapanstad Troupe, and another and one of the Gogo Dancers