Christina Chigondora: Building a life with imagination and grit
In a country with a staggering unemployment rate, many Namibians are left wondering where to turn next.
For Christina Chigondora (36), the answer was always in her hands, quite literally. What began with picking wild sunflowers from valleys (Omuramba) has blossomed into a full-fledged craft business that now brings colour and beauty to the streets of Eros, Windhoek.
“I first started selling fresh sunflowers, which I collected in the valleys, and I got inspired to make something that would last forever,” Christina recalls, standing beside a vibrant display of hand-made metal birds, flowers, and abstract home décor crafted from recycled materials.
Inspired by her former partner’s skill in transforming discarded materials into something useful and beautiful, Christina learned to weld and craft her own pieces.
Years later, she’s a master of her trade, each piece telling a story of survival and imagination.
The sky is the limit
But street entrepreneurship isn’t without its hardships.
“It’s not easy. There are days when business is not moving and I have no customers at all,” the mother of three admits. “That is why I save. It’s important to have a side business, too. I sell household essentials like brooms and mops to keep going on dry days.”
Her favourite pieces? “The birds,” she says with a smile. “The sky is the limit and birds fly. I love the spirit of them.”
While her art attracts passersby and brightens the Eros pavements, the uncertainty of informal business weighs on her. Without a permanent location, Chigondora constantly fears being evicted or fined, something she cannot afford as the sole provider for her sons.
“We barely make enough to get by, and the City of Windhoek doesn’t make it easier for us,” she says.
Find your purpose
Still, she persists, an example of the unbreakable spirit. For eleven years, she’s poured soul and skill into her craft, not just making ends meet, but inspiring others to find beauty even in struggle. “This business makes people appreciate what nature is and how beautiful it is,” she says.
Her message to others, especially the youth, is simple but touching: “The moment you were born, you had a purpose. Find your purpose through God and prayers. Don’t give up on yourself and the people around you.”
In every weld, petal and beaded wing, Chigondora crafts more than objects – she crafts her survival.
For Christina Chigondora (36), the answer was always in her hands, quite literally. What began with picking wild sunflowers from valleys (Omuramba) has blossomed into a full-fledged craft business that now brings colour and beauty to the streets of Eros, Windhoek.
“I first started selling fresh sunflowers, which I collected in the valleys, and I got inspired to make something that would last forever,” Christina recalls, standing beside a vibrant display of hand-made metal birds, flowers, and abstract home décor crafted from recycled materials.
Inspired by her former partner’s skill in transforming discarded materials into something useful and beautiful, Christina learned to weld and craft her own pieces.
Years later, she’s a master of her trade, each piece telling a story of survival and imagination.
The sky is the limit
But street entrepreneurship isn’t without its hardships.
“It’s not easy. There are days when business is not moving and I have no customers at all,” the mother of three admits. “That is why I save. It’s important to have a side business, too. I sell household essentials like brooms and mops to keep going on dry days.”
Her favourite pieces? “The birds,” she says with a smile. “The sky is the limit and birds fly. I love the spirit of them.”
While her art attracts passersby and brightens the Eros pavements, the uncertainty of informal business weighs on her. Without a permanent location, Chigondora constantly fears being evicted or fined, something she cannot afford as the sole provider for her sons.
“We barely make enough to get by, and the City of Windhoek doesn’t make it easier for us,” she says.
Find your purpose
Still, she persists, an example of the unbreakable spirit. For eleven years, she’s poured soul and skill into her craft, not just making ends meet, but inspiring others to find beauty even in struggle. “This business makes people appreciate what nature is and how beautiful it is,” she says.
Her message to others, especially the youth, is simple but touching: “The moment you were born, you had a purpose. Find your purpose through God and prayers. Don’t give up on yourself and the people around you.”
In every weld, petal and beaded wing, Chigondora crafts more than objects – she crafts her survival.
