Winfred Korley

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I am a sociable person. I love to sing and am always content with what I have. I hate cheating.

I developed the art of carving at a young age. After school, I'd walk to a nearby workshop to observe carvers busy sculpting different objects from a log of wood. I was surprised to see such beautiful art pieces, and this aroused my interest in learning more. Several times during such visits, I picked up pieces of wood from the workshop and, when I reached home, I tried my hand at carving, following the process I had observed.

"When I completed school, I informed my father about my interest in carving and he was so supportive. He sent me to the master, popularly known as "Jumo," at the workshop where I had been observing his carvers work. I was a familiar person to them and they gladly welcomed me.

"It took me four years as an understudy to my teacher. In 2000, I successfully completed my studies and, since then, I have been actively involved in carving on my own. But anytime my teacher has a large order, he calls on me and I go to assist. I have been able to train two people how to carve. I mainly use sese wood, and nyame dua for my carvings.

"Starting on my own was not so difficult for me, because I diligently served my master teacher and he was willing to send some of his customers to me when he had a number of orders to complete. This is an opportunity I have always cherished, and I also respect him for it.

"Everything hasn't been smooth. I remember a time when I'd get an order and was given a partial payment for it. It was often less than half of the price for the order but, because I wanted to maintain the customer, I wanted to manage with the little he had given. It was difficult to get the wood and I had to travel a long distance to find it. I decided to carve the items right in the woods and later transport the finished carvings. Upon completion, I need a little more funds to transport the finished items. I kept calling the customer and he wouldn't pick up the phone. I was in a fix and had to buy food on credit, which was an embarrassing moment for me. A friend came to my aid to assist me with funds to transfer the goods. The customer paid the balance alright, but I learned a big lesson from it. I would insist on receiving half the price on future orders.

"It is my desire to train more people to carve, and also to educate my child to attain a higher education, since I was not able to reach far. I was born April 15, 1978, in Accra."

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NOVICA was started with a dream to create a better world for artisans, because a better world for artisans is a better world for all.

Along the way, the founders of NOVICA discovered something very important - as artisans around the world succeeded, there was also a visible and profound impact on the communities around them.

Your purchases are that powerful. They directly and indirectly provide for education, help with health care, fund basic needs, support children, preserve disappearing arts, and of course, spread happiness around the world.

The founders of NOVICA had a vision of the future that is not one of mega factories producing cookie cutter products for all to cheaply consume. Instead, a bright future that celebrates artisans who take the time to create an item by hand. A future where time is protected, where stories are told, where unique details are honored. Love, respect, inclusiveness become driving force.

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