Christmas shopping that gives directly back to the community – The Mamre Community Christmas Market is taking place for the third year running on Saturday 01 December at Tori Oso on Mamre Werf.
Empowering entrepreneurial women
This unique Christmas market is part of The Mamre Project, a non-profit organization whose mission it is to empower local entrepreneurial women with cottage industries to become financially independent by creating markets for them to sell their goods and generate an income. So you can start on your Christmas shopping – purchasing unique, carefully hand-crafted items – and support a good cause at the same time.
Mass-produced is out – handcrafted is in
The idea started when a group of like-minded women came together and began brainstorming on how to create a market with unique, non-mass-produced gifting ideas for the Festive Season. The market is about handmade, artisanal items sold in a face-to-face environment, and that support the members of the community directly – and not about factory made imported items packed in bulk onto store shelves. It is about a personal, special shopping experience and taking home treasures that will have special meaning to the recipients.
Market goers can look forward to artisanal foods, handcrafted arts, crafts, décor, toys and so much more. A meal and a cup of coffee at Tori Oso is also a must. Tori Oso (meaning a place to socialize and talk in Surinaams) is a restaurant and coffee shop which was established in 2015 by Stephanie and Marlene – two sisters from Mamre – who are also the original founders of the Mamre Community Christmas Market.
Tori Oso recently received a first of its kind West Coast Way Award for being a unique tourism attraction that has actively contributed to the sustainable development of small-town tourism.
Take a road trip and visit Mamre
Whilst visiting Mamre – one of the oldest and most scenic German mission stations in South Africa, and the place where slaves found their freedom in the 1800’s- the public can also experience the unique culture of this town through a guided heritage walk or by listening to Stoep Stories under the old trees of the werf. Another fun activity to try is the Mamre Donkey Trails.
The town is situated on both the West Coast Way, the innovative self-drive circular sightseeing routes known as ‘South Africa’s road trip with the most twists’, developed by West Coast Way.
Carmen Lerm, founder of West Coast Way explains that West Coast Way developed these self-drive circular routes as a way to showcase the hundreds of attractions on Cape Town’s doorstep that many people may not be aware of. “Mamre Werf and Tori Oso are examples of such attractions and we have been working tirelessly to spread the word and bring visitors to these wonderful places. Likewise, we developed the West Coast Way award that was recently awarded to Tori Oso to recognize them for their efforts towards growing Mamre’s local tourism.”
“I firmly believe that tourism promotion has the ability to reinvent our towns and cities while preserving the uniqueness and authenticity of the destination. Initiatives such as the Community Christmas Market and the efforts of Tori Oso as a tourist attraction bring visitors and economic opportunities to the area,” says former Shadow Minister of Tourism, and City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member: Assets and Facilities Management, Alderman James Vos, who also officiated at the launch of the Community Christmas Market.
For more information on the West Coast Way Routes and what Mamre has to offer visit www.westcoastway.co.za.
Find Mamre on the West Coast Way Culture Route and Cape Way Route.
Distance from Cape Town: 59km
Where: Off R27, via the R307 between Atlantis and Darling
Coordinates: 23.5292400 S and 30.0866400 E
Tori Oso Geselshuis Coffee Shop
Tori Oso ‘geselshuisie’ is one of a kind in South Africa situated in Mamre on the ‘Werf’ in the historical Ou Winkel. Established for young and old to just relax or enjoy in your own unique way.
Open Fri – Sun 10:00 to 19:00 and on Tues – Sun 10:00 – 18:00
Where: Church Street, Mamre
Contact: + 27 72 972 3539 | +27 73 378 8801 | [email protected] | www.tori-oso.co.za
West Coast Way is South Africa’s road trip with the most twists. Explore a unique collection of 101 road trip stops along themed routes by planning a self-drive trip or guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast vacation. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route, the West Coast Way Wild Route – as well as the newly launched Cape Way Route – all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many.
For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za o