Nest is soon to launch a new program in Khenifra, Morocco. The women there practice traditional crafts, including embroidery, carpet-making and sewing jalabas, a kind of long robe, as well as making fabulous textile buttons by hand. Even though Khenifra is the provincial capital, it is not a tourist destination, so the women must sell their products to middlemen who buy them for very little and sell them in the tourist towns for a great profit. Other than craftwork, there aren’t any jobs there, so most women work alone in their homes, sewing or weaving. One problem for these women has been that they don’t often leave their homes, except to go to the souk so they tend to be isolated and lack companionship from other women. The goal of our program is to help these women get together and form an “association” – the Khenifra Women’s Handicraft Association. This will be a formal organization registered with the Ministry of Artisana. As an association, not only could the women support each other, but they could sell their products at expositions and craft fairs around the country. There is a big, nearly empty building in Khenifra that currently houses the offices of the Delegate to the Ministry of Artisana. Inside this building, there is space for a gallery to display the work of artisans and space to create a communal workshop. There are 30+ women who have already decided to be members. Nest will be providing the funds necessary to form this association and to renovate this space for the women.

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Designer: Nest