Timothy, Our Creative Chameleon
Timothy Shonhai is quiet and unassuming. Always polite, patient, punctual and impeccable with his word, he is as precious as the pieces he produces. Timothy never ceases to amaze us with his versatility. He is always experimenting with diverse materials from telephone wire to bead and wire to tin can, bottle tops and more. Like the chameleons that he creates, Timothy always adapts his skills to clients’ custom needs, completing each task with flying colours.

Yet beneath his soft exterior, lies an inner strength that has helped him endure the many hardships of his life circumstances…

Timothy, now 35, grew up in Harare Zimbabwe. He is the second youngest of a large family however his past is weighted with much bereavement. Timothy’s father died when he was young. Tragically, He also lost two sisters and three brothers in an accident, though three brothers and a sister have survived. He currently supports them and his 82 year mother with his humble earnings.

Timothy began his wirework career in 1983 during his formative years. He learnt wirework at school as a young boy and developed his skill as he matured. While his mother attempted to accrue some income through knitting, it was not enough to pay his school fees. Therefore, craft became a means of earning additional funds towards his education.

Craft used to be a thriving industry in Zimbabwe, Timothy explains, however “the situation kills the market. I could see I wouldn’t survive in the situation.” He is referring, of course, to the increased hardships that he and his fellow nationals endured since their country’s ten year socio-economic decline.

Timothy arrived in South Africa with no direction and little money. He began his life in Pretoria and Johannesburg but the crime soon drove him away. He had lived in a shelter and was often subjected to attacks, theft and discrimination. Xenophobia is an ongoing bane for him. The violence that swept through the country in 2008 left him with little time to gather his things. He took refuge in a shelter but knew that his home would be subjected to looting and vandalism.

Cape Town is gradually beginning to feel like home to Timothy. Initially, life was difficult. Friends and work were few and far between. However, his positive attitude kept reminding him that ‘one day things will be alright’ and that he could realise his dreams “to grow his business, to better his life circumstances, to look after his family and to overcome his problems.” We certainly hope that working with African Home can facilitate this outcome.

Timothy discovered African Home one day while on route to the home affairs office. His pleasant nature and persistent visits reassured us of his reliability and dedication. As his relationship with us grew, so too did his orders. During the FIFA football World Cup, Timothy single-handedly created most of our vibrant range of football fever products. We are truly grateful for this special individual and facilitating orders for him is hugely gratifying. We endeavour to assist him on his path to his humble dreams.