Woza Moya

What Woza Moya does

Woza Moya is a non-profit craft social enterprise operating as an economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, established in 2002 and headquartered at 26 Old Main Road, Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The organization markets and sells Zulu beadwork, telephone wire weaving (using PVC-coated wire on a galvanised steel core), carvings, paintings, sewing, and crochet both locally and internationally. It buys and resells products from over 400 crafters monthly, the majority drawn from the Valley of 1000 Hills area, where Woza Moya is often the crafters' sole source of income; crafters are encouraged to set prices based on material cost and time taken.

The core product portfolio spans beaded jewellery, beaded wirework (wire baskets, bowls, trays, decorative beer pots), corporate gifting lines, sewing and apparel, soft toys, Christmas decorations, greeting cards, and upcycled products, with individual items ranging from roughly R50 (small accessories) to R18,000+ (large decorative bowls) priced in South African Rand. Distribution runs through four channels: a direct e-commerce storefront (wozamoya.co.za), a physical curio shop and art gallery in Hillcrest positioned as a KwaZulu-Natal tourist destination, wholesale and retail market supply, and bespoke corporate commissions for promotional gifts and conference gifting. The organization also recently incorporated the African Art Centre sub-brand and operates an auctions section, with international shipping handled via individually quoted logistics.

The business is structured as a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 005-800) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 130001231) under the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, with stated headcount of 5 employees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the model combines trading income from craft resale with fundraising (a Donate link is featured on the website). Recent operational activity includes a 2024 Giant Beaded Christmas Baubles display project at Oceans Mall, signalling continued channel and product experimentation within the social enterprise framework.

Name

Woza Moya

Legal name

Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust

Website

https://wozamoya.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woza Moya is a non-profit social enterprise that markets and resells Zulu beadwork, wirework, and South African crafts from over 400 crafters in KwaZulu-Natal via e-commerce, a Hillcrest gallery, wholesale, and corporate commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Arts & Crafts

NAICS

Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Needlepoint & Embroidery Shops (CRALADAE)

Keywords

• Handcrafted beadwork jewellery
• Zulu wire weaving crafts
• South african artisan crafts
• Corporate gift hampers
• Fair trade crafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillcrest

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail E-commerce Sales: Direct sales of Zulu beadwork, wirework, carvings, paintings, sewing, and crochet to individual customers through online store and physical gallery
2. Wholesale and Retail Market Supply: Supplies products to wholesale and retail markets
3. Corporate Commissions: Regular large commissions for corporates and international organisations; promotional gifts and conference gifting
4. International Shipping: Ships orders worldwide with individual shipping quotes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Woza Moya buys and resells handcrafted Zulu beadwork, wirework, carvings, paintings, sewing, and crochet items produced by a network of over 400 crafters from the Valley of 1000 Hills in KwaZulu-Natal. The organization markets and sells these products directly to individual customers via an e-commerce storefront and a physical curio shop and art gallery in Hillcrest near Durban, and also supplies wholesale and retail markets and undertakes large corporate commissions.

Product overview

Woza Moya is an economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust that operates as a craft e-commerce platform and physical retail location. The company markets and sells Zulu beadwork, wirework, and other South African arts and crafts both locally and internationally. The product portfolio includes beaded jewellery, beaded wirework (wire baskets, bowls, trays, decorative beer pots), corporate gifting items, sewing and apparel, soft toys, Christmas decorations, greeting cards, and upcycled products. The company buys and resells products from over 400 crafters monthly, primarily from the Valley of 1000 Hills area. In addition to the online shop, Woza Moya operates a physical curio shop and art gallery in Hillcrest near Durban.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• African Art Centre: Incorporated entity noted on the website, representing African art centre operations.

Products and services

• Beaded Jewellery Handcrafted Zulu beadwork jewellery including necklaces, earrings, and accessories made by artisans from the Valley of 1000 Hills.
• Beaded Wirework
• Wire Baskets, Bowls & Trays
• Decorative Beer Pots
• Little Travellers
• Corporate Gifting & SA Shopper
• Sewing & Apparel
• Soft Toys & Dolls
• Christmas Decorations
• Greeting Cards & Stationery
• Upcycling Products
• Woza Moya Curio Shop and Art Gallery Physical retail location in Hillcrest near Durban offering authentic Zulu crafts, handmade gifts, and cultural shopping experience in KwaZulu-Natal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ crafters receive monthly income through Woza Moya
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hillcrest AIDS Centre TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoza Moya is an economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, established in 2002. The parent organisation is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 005-800) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 130001231) that provides palliative care and support to those affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as their families and communities. Woza Moya was created to reduce poverty through craft, providing income to communities infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ten Thousand Villages: Fair-trade retailer of handcrafted gifts and home décor sourced from artisan groups in developing regions. Comparable as a social-enterprise model sourcing crafts from disadvantaged communities and selling through retail and online channels.
• Made: Fair-trade e-commerce platform curating handmade goods from artisan cooperatives worldwide. Comparable in mission and distribution model selling curated craft from developing-country artisans to conscious consumers.
• Soul of Africa: Fair-trade brand working with African artisans to produce handcrafted products including home décor and accessories. Comparable social-enterprise model focused on authentic African craft for international markets.
• Novica: Global e-commerce marketplace selling handcrafted artisan goods from developing countries. Highly comparable to Woza Moya in selling authentic craft products online to international buyers, though operating at much larger scale.
• African Art Centre: South African retailer of authentic African craft and art, referenced as a related sub-brand within Woza Moya's operations. Direct overlap in product categories including beadwork, carvings, and African décor.

Regional players

• Relove (Relove by TechSoup): South African social-enterprise platform supporting local makers and craft producers. Comparable as a South African marketplace promoting locally-made crafts with social-impact objectives.
• Muindi African Crafts: Kenyan-based retailer specializing in traditional African beadwork and crafts. Comparable in product category (African beadwork and craft) and B2C/retail model, though operating in a different East African market.

Emerging players

• World Crafts Online: Online directory and marketplace for fair-trade artisan products including African crafts. Comparable as a discovery channel for handmade goods from developing regions targeting ethically-minded consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade and vintage goods including beadwork and craft items. Comparable as a distribution channel for handcrafted goods to international buyers, though operating as a broad marketplace rather than a curator.
• The Maiyet: Luxury fashion and accessories brand working with African artisans. Comparable in promoting African craft heritage to premium international buyers, though operating in a higher price tier.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Hillcrest_AIDS
• Facebookfacebook.com/280100765363756
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woza-moya

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Woza Moya