Providing groups with a space to try new activities and have in depth Q&A sessions is one of the ways Shanga supports and gives back to the local community. Thankfully, Shanga was recently able to restart their daily line-up of local in-person events, activities and information sessions, together with guest visits, after a long pause. 

The latest activities included hosting a local primary school group where students first watched Shanga’s glass blowing and glass bead making artisans and then got busy making their own bead bracelets and necklaces from newspaper and cardboard. They went home with goody bags filled with a few treasures from Shanga’s glass garden and as one of the student’s was leaving, she commented to her teacher, “that was so cool when can we come again?” We hope very soon!

A local secondary school’s “Do it Green” club came to learn about recycling and what recycled items can be used for including learning about the importance of sorting waste, uses for crushed glass as a substitute for gravel in driveway/laneway covering and ways to support and empower people with disabilities in their own communities. The students were captivated by Shanga’s glass blowing techniques, including the use of recycled bottles as raw material and how Shanga’s furnaces run on recycled cooking oil. They were also enthralled by the decorative Dalle de Verre pieces, made from cut glass tiles.

Finally, an entrepreneur training program for young women made a visit to meet the Shanga team. Their main mission is “to propel the next generation of successful innovative women entrepreneurs” and they enjoyed learning more about product development and what customers’ needs and interests are, including how Shanga addresses the needs of tourist visitors who are often looking for holiday mementos that are unique and easy to carry. 

For the best experience at Shanga, we recommend building 2-4 hours into your itineraries and scheduling your visit with us. The social enterprise looks forward to continuing to welcome visitors, both locally and from afar, in the months to come.