Isaac Nkwe, born 1975 in South Africa. 1998 Diploma, Jewellery Design and Manufacture, Tshwane University of Technology (Pretoria Technikon); Certificates of competence as Assessor and Moderator; 1994-2000 Professional experience at South African Diamond center DE-BEERS, Arthur Kaplan Jewellery Workshop, Atteridgeville Technikal College, Goldsmith Art and Design Training. Since 2001 Chairman and Founder of Imfundiso Skills Development, a Section 21 company, which has to date established five Jewellery Schools in training unemployed people. 2002 Nelson Mandela honours Isaac Nkwe for his work in alleviating poverty. 2003 Nominated Community Builder of the year by SABC, SOWETAN,OLD MUTUAL. Cooperation agreement with Tshwane University of Technology. 1999-2002 Designed and manufacture of 15 jewellery pieces for Mnet Face of Africa awards, Cape Town. Grantholder to the Anglogold Project for Traditional African Goldsmith training, Bamako, Mali. At the Oscar-Gala 2006 Tsotsi actress Terry Pheto wears a necklace designed and manufactured at the Imfundiso Soweto Jewellery School.

Imfundiso Skills Development is a training initiative in South Africa that has unleashed creative potential in many former unskilled young people. Leading them to high quality design in jewellery manufacture and even as far as laureates in renowned jewellery design competitions. Unearthing latent talent from historically disadvantaged communities, combining African traditional goldsmith techniques with contemporary design skills. Founded by Isaac Nkwe in 2001, Imfundiso Skills Development has until now managed to set up five schools in the country and trains 300 students and learners in a two-year jewellery design and manufacturing training course. Imfundiso has been accredited by the Mining Qualification Authority and cooperates with several Universities. It is being supported amongst others by De Beers and Anglogold Ashanti.