The batik workshop for Youths and Women in Ghana
Empowering of the economical situation of the women in Ghana is connected with making them more active and self-dependent. Many of projects incorporate training for women in alternative income generating activities such as batik and tie-dye, bee keeping, pomade and soap making, or gari and sheabutter processing. This is an important first step to poverty reduction and women’s empowerment because they gain some level of economic independence. This idea is supported by PZS during the activities undertaken with the communitites from Tafie area in the Volta region in Ghana.
The betterment of the economic condition of the communities needed precise diagnose of the opportunities. Traditionally the people of the Volta region have been associated with textile design and there is a good market opportunity from the neighboring regions and countries. It gave an idea of workshops for interested in batik and tie-and-dye women. Initially there were planned 4 workshops for 100 people in total. Unfortunately because of the logistic problems, finally there were conducted 2 workshops, in which participated 102 people. Participants of the workshops not only hale been trained in the traditional design, but also received basic information concerning
opening and running of their own business. After the trainings they joined into small groups. Every group received starter pack including 300 yards of the material, dyes, caustic soda, buckets. Now, they are prepared technically and motivated to start own small productions. Training has added value – showing alternatives for independent source of financing and improving their place in the community.
Trainer: Rejoice Doe assisted by two other persons, who have technical certificates from the National Vocation and Technical Institute in Ghana (NVTI). Training agenda: Each training day will start at 9.30 am and ends at 3.30pm with one hour lunch break (5 hours of training each day). First week: Introduction to dyes and designs, selection of cloths and dye process, treatment of wastes and disposal of waste, marketing of products, financial management and managing of small business. Second week: Practicalness in design, dying and colors mixing practices, tie-and-dye table cloths and curtains design, dress making with tie and dyes.
First workshop took place in Vakpo Todzi between 11 and 23 of September 2006. There were 52 people trained from Todzi and nearby communities (i.e. Anete, Jordan, New Adomi).
Second workshop took place in Tafie Mador between 30 of October and 10 of November 2006. There were 50 people trained.
In 2007 Polish Green Network has collected money for sewing machine for Youths and Women for Volta region.
contact