TAKA TAKA PARTNERSHIP DODD & MARTIN
Early in 2008 Kate became aware of a new and unique range of textiles for children being created in Zambia. She showed first the photographs, and then the samples, to great friend Brenda Martin whom she had first met at the dreaded ante-natal classes!
Brenda loved the product and was up for a challenge so the two girls decided to join forces and develop the new Kids Brights Range. Before long this lead to combining the Original Handicrafts and Kids Brights Range and Taka Taka became a partnership.
Over endless cups of tea and night-time calls when littlies are meant to be asleep, Kate and Brenda are seeking to create, and find and source new and exciting ideas and products without losing sight of what is important to them – fair trade, products made from recyclable and re-usable materials, but still vibrant, colourful and original.
Kate and Brenda bring together their own attributes and strengths which although different to each other, compliment their partnership.
KATE DODD
Kate is married to Graeme (Doddy) and they have three children, Jonty, Tilly and Jasper. They live just outside Amberley, in North Canterbury, on 5 acres. The continual renovations make it a work in progress! She is a relieving teacher several days a week, and also has a busy picture-framing business. Kate cannot resist a challenge and fortunately has a long-suffering and usually patient husband as “organized” and “businesslike” would not be her middle names! There is never a moment for Kate to be bored!
BRENDA MARTIN
Brenda is married to Michael (aka Gummi) never short of a word… , boys Thomas & Daniel both with strong characters!!
Wilbour Smith is to blame for my love of Africa, I remember so clearly being absorbed in his novels at a very early age mainly because I did not care for much else in the library. Sometimes you hear people say “I just knew I would” well I knew I would go to Africa and that it would be a part of something in my life.
A short trip abroad to do my OE began in 1995 and as it turns out ended in 2005, this was the most outstanding ten year adventure. There was a never ending thirst for travel, which among the many continents did include return travel to Africa.
Many foot prints have been left in my heart but none as deep as the African children and villages. To have the opportunity to assist and support these villages is something I have wanted to do and now it is a reality!!
Thanks for your support of us and them!!
TAKA TAKA in the beginning
Taka Taka began in 2002 when Kate Dodd (nee Lucy) returned to New Zealand from Kenya. What started as a small venture, and the means to cover the cost of bringing her accumulated belongings home, has continued to grow, and with her love of Africa still so strong, she has been unable to let go!
Kate began her time in Kenya working for a British couple who were making a wildlife documentary in Tsavo East National Park, commissioned by the National Geographic. She taught their two small boys, and found herself taking on more and more responsibility for over-seeing cooking, doing the shopping in a local village where foreigners were virtually unknown, and many other commitments. Living in a tent in a previously uninhabited area, surrounded by amazing wildlife night and day, it all proved to be the most amazing experience.
Kate’s next enterprise was to work for several years on the island of Lamu which is north of Mombasa, on the East coast of Kenya. She worked for a couple who had established their own school so that their own two girls could remain with them until they went away to boarding school at twelve years old. Kate was the sole teacher and the pupils totally multicultural, ranging in age from 5-13 years. Lamu has no cars, only donkeys, dhows and feet! Again an incredible experience, among amazing people, and she only hopes that she taught the children as much as they and their families taught her.
When it was time to return to New Zealand, she was faced with just two choices. She could leave with just her backpack and allocated 20kgs, leaving all her treasures and mementoes behind, or she could take the risk and arrange for the locals to make unique handicrafts such as wine kikapus, baskets, sandals, etc. sufficient to fill an entire container. The first option was too easy so she gambled on the second, hoping to help the locals to better their situation – in one instance the village making the wine kikapus earned enough to install a standpipe which saved the women walking 5 kilometres for their daily water requirements – and also by selling their handicrafts in New Zealand, to cover the shipping costs…. So this is how Taka Taka began.
Kate’s passion for Africa, her love of bright colours and original items, and inability to resist a challenge, and the help of wonderful friends in Kenya have all contributed to the continued growth of Taka Taka.