Living in Nyanga, Rita Nyamza is in her own words “a fighter, a dreamer, and a visualiser,” who loves what she does for a living, and even more that she is able to support her family through doing it. After attending a beadwork course in 2008 she started to make earrings at home, and was able to expand her skills to create shoes, belts and headbands. Her idea for the beaded shoes came from a dream that she decided to act upon, and are now her favourite product to create. She enjoys coming up with different designs for each pair and seeing them worn at cultural events.
She sells her products at home, schools, outside malls and within her community, often on credit. For the future, she would welcome more opportunities to sell her products and market herself, and her big dream is to have her own shop where all her wares could be displayed.
Nyamza is married with two children. She has overcome adversity to be where she is today, losing a lung to tuberculosis in 2009. She draws on the support and strength of other women in her community and has started teaching those interested in her skills, finding fresh inspiration in their creativity and ideas.