For more than 20 years we have been transforming redundant hardwood railway sleepers from around the world into stunning furniture
We have accessed the best hardwood & oak sleepers , well seasoned, good quality sections of timber, not readily available today, that has been weathering slowly for the last 60-70 years. The process of converting those sleepers into usable timber is a painstaking and costly process in time and labour but the end product justifies the effort.
Benefitting those who need it most
Reclaimed & Natural Edge Furniture Made in South Africa for the benefit of an NPO “OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ORGANISATION NPO”
NPO Registration No: 160-194 NPO (2015)
About
Our furniture manufactured from Railway Sleepers is a unique product as its impact is both a preservative effect and a means to alleviate poverty among African Women by creating Jobs and Training Opportunities.
During the colonization of Africa in the 1800’s the railroad companies used the most readily available timber they could find for Railway Sleeper ties. It is for this reason that most of the wood used for sleeper is from indigenous species found only in Africa. Many of these species are endangered or extinct. The only way to preserve and retain the splendor of these rare woods is to create unique, exclusive and handmade pieces of furniture that can show off the beauty of the rare wood in timeless pieces to be preserved and handed down from generation to generation, instead of discarding them for use as firewood or garden steps.
Rural South African Women are the creators of this unique furniture, many of them the sole providers and caregivers to countless children orphaned due to the spread of TB and HIV in Africa.
Giving these women the opportunity to learn carpentry and furniture manufacturing, lifts them out of their cycle of poverty into self-sufficiency. Giving these women the precious gift of being able to carry themselves with pride and dignity.
All our furniture is unique and 100% handmade in South Africa. Each Railway Sleeper Tie has been exposed to it’s particular seasoning and aging, making each piece as unique as the women who make them.
Interesting Facts
In developing countries, up to 43% fewer women have access to the jobs than men. 90% of jobs in Africa are created by entrepreneurs, making the role of the small business economy in African growth undeniable. Though women inject 90% of their income into their families and communities, their greatest barrier is that they often do not have access to funding opportunities or formal training necessary for future success. (Source: UNESCO)
