“Design for Peace” by Afrika Tiss, World Refugee Day 20 June

? The traveller knows the day of his departure, but not when he will return. ? Tureg proverb

On the eve of World Refugee day (20 June 2019) Storie is proud to present the collection “Design for Peace” by Afrika Tiss, a collaboration with The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Burkina Faso.  

The project “Design for Peace” works to empower Malian refugee artisans in prolonged exile in Burkina Faso by enriching their traditional artisanal skills through multicultural artistic collaborations. The goal is to help refugee artisans improve their production and marketing capacity through a global training program; and then the sale of their products in international or regional markets which will ensure a regular income for the refugee crafts people, also improving in this way their socioeconomic integration.

The products are beautifully made; one can clearly see the traditional tureg craft, although evolved through carefully considered contemporary design.

Artisans and the team at Afrika Tiss together have achieved a superbe finish, and a product they can export with pride across the globe.

The current refugee population, numbering around 33,000 people, fled to Burkina Faso in the wake of conflict in the north of Mali in two waves: the first in January 2012 and the second in January 2013, following the Malian-French military intervention in the region. A majority of the refugee population is made up of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists from the Tuareg ethnic group, with a smaller number of Songhai, Arab, Fulani and Dogon households. As well as livestock herders, the refugee population also includes skilled artisans, traders and shopkeepers, many now operating on a small scale in the camps.

The Afrika Tiss project, developed in partnership with the UNHCR, is working to strengthen the production and entrepreneurial potential of several groups of artisans in local and refugee populations, by combining their skills in weaving, leatherwork, metalsmithing, and basketry. The project helps improve product quality and design, providing artisans with equipment and training for them to commercialise collections for the fashion and interior decorating sectors. The idea is to strengthen the independence and the living conditions of all artisans in the programme by ultimately enabling them to generate a regular and sufficient income from their craftsmanship.

As artisans often have a precarious existence, as a priority, the training targets men and women whose occupations are already related to weaving and sewing (local women artisans), and basketry, metalsmithing, and leatherwork (refugee artisans), so that they can improve and diversify their skills. This initial training programme will give preference to artisans with the personal and professional skills that allow them to absorb new ideas and techniques. The artisans selected are prepared to become trainers, to gradually train other artisans as the commercialisation and production increase. The programme passes skills on from one artisan to another. 

This strategy encourages refugee communities and local populations to come together establishing creative synergies. Enabling refugee populations to take part in the economic development of their host country, and to preserve their age-old skills that are under threat.

https://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/

Text by Afrika Tiss and Fiona Cameron