Meet our Crafters

Martin Boonzaaier

Martin Boonzaaier

Moses first came to me to ask me to work with him here at Imbali. I said ‘only with pleasure’ and the very next morning I was here. He has taught me to do beadwork, and I am so grateful to have a job like this. I come here on my own everyday, but when the weather is very bad, I have to stay at home because I can’s get the wheelchair here. At school I made the wrong friends, and was stabbed with a knife which has left me partly paralysed. So it has always been very hard to find work. After my parents died, I was quite helpless and came to live with people here in Kylemore. But my disability grant is very little and it was a struggle to survive. Now I live with my wife’s parents, come to Imbali during the day, and appreciate this wonderful community of friendly kind people. I never want to leave here.