Activities

1. Training

The aim is to provide 120 women beneficiaries with the skills and knowledge of embroidery, sewing and finishing craftwork pieces so that they can produce final pieces that are both of quality and competitive. The knowledge on Palestinian embroidery (Tatreez) is informally passed from mother to daughter in the home: As it is a “verbal” passing of the Palestinian culture, some external patterns considered as traditional have been inserted. For this reason, it has been necessary to include training on Tatreez, its origins and patterns to familiarize the women beneficiaries with Palestinian embroidery origins and characteristics. This training not only provides them with knowledge of their own culture but also seeks to reinforce their self-confidence as they will be considered as craftswomen and transmitters of Palestinian culture instead of being considered as seamstresses. Likewise, Palestinian embroidery craftswomen do not generally know how to finish craftwork products, a situation which makes them dependent on organizations, enterprises and other actors that undertake the assembly of the final product. Training these women in the product finishing will allow them to be autonomous and control and work in the production process of the product from the beginning to the end. Therefore they can start up their own business without depending on other actors who increase the costs and reduce the benefits.

During six months, a first training phase of 15 women trainers will take place (4 from Rashidieh, 6 from Ein El Helwe and 5 from Beddawi/Naher El Bared according to the number of working woman in each camp and population). Subsequently, women trainers will teach the courses that they received to the rest of the 120 beneficiaries during 8 months with three days classes per week (5 hours daily) dedicating one day for embroidery of Tatreez (160 hours), one day for the creation of regional and international designs (160 hours) and a third day for training in commercialization, marketing and creation of small-sized enterprises with social character and good practices dissemination at workplace (160 hours).

2. Designs and marketing

Here, we try to use the bases established in the previous activity in terms of sewing and embroidery Tatreez to add in this activity art and market. Apart from the courses taught by Anat (following the same framework as described in the previous activity), the participation of Fundesarte is added here. The Spanish Foundation for Innovation of Craftwork (Fundesarte) is the public state entity in charge of the promotion of Spanish craftwork inside and outside national borders. It is a non-profit entity attached to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism whose main objective is to improve competitiveness in Spanish craftwork enterprises. Fundesarte works together with craftwork sector of various countries in developing projects by carrying out programs which target professionals of the sector and focus on the support and strengthening of its institutions, organizations and entities with the aim of benefitting from the sector in those countries in such a way that craftwork could be considered as an activity not only profitable but which improves the quality of life of those who earn their living with it.

www.fundesarte.org

3. Small businesses

The idea is to provide in this phase necessary tools to the 120 women beneficiaries so that they could (once the knowledge basis on Tatreez craftwork is established, and they are aware of the possible designs that can motivate these women in the creation of their own style and commercialization lines) obtain means to create their own business. To do so, key knowledge in terms of market study, legal support, business management and marketing skills will be provided. For greater efficacy, a project will be assigned to each group of women beneficiaries to stimulate their creation of a business that will be evaluated at the end of the project.