CLEAN UP, DON’T CHUCK OUT

Did you spend the long weekend doing a massive clear-out of all those bits and bobs that you knew you’d find a use for one day? I can help you deal with those old scent bottles: as you can see from these pictures, Shingirai Trust, a community project that empowers women and girls, is turning them into beautiful vases.

Glass4Africa is recycling glass in the latest of the Trust’s income generating projects and the results are lovely so if you are looking for a gift for a girlfriend, it’s the place to go. It has a proud record since being formed in October 2003 of having helped more than 2,500 orphaned pre-schoolers, empowering young people and care-givers so they can support themselves and their families and helping in family emergenices.

So if you’d like to contribute to these worthwhile projects, please either buy a vase, a bag, a buckle or any of the really beautiful crafts made by people helped by Shingirirai—or donate any pretty, old bottles, such as scent ones.

My friend Joy Peacocke, who works with the Trust, says: “We know people hate throwing away anything that can be repurposed and we are particularly keen to have donations of any coloured glass, (other than basic green and brown), bottles or ornaments with interesting shapes to enable our artistic craft ladies to create amazing pieces.

“This includes Venetian glass, liqueur, perfume, medicine and deodorant bottles. Although we can’t accept basic wine and beer bottles at the town collection points we can take Nederburg rosé, Robertson, Butlers, vintage Johnnie Walker and anything in blue glass."

These ‘interesting’ glass bottles can be delivered to

14 Kent Ave Avondale. (phone 0712 614 097)

or to the Miracle Mission rooms at Highlands Presbyterian - clearly marked for ‘Glass4Africa’

Please note we have limited space so standard-shaped wine and beer bottles can only be accepted by prior arrangement at our depot in Tafara - phone Mary or Tiny on 0717 341 248.”

P.S. They can repurpose damaged glass treasures and take chips off the rims of your crystal glasses too—but Joy says no guarantees because, if the chip has weakened the intrinsic fabric of the glass it may shatter.