Helping Women in the Marshes: Income generation through local skills

The project is called the “Best Future for Environmental Awareness: Woman First” and it is a joint effort by two Iraqi non-governmental organizations: Together to Protect Humans and the Environment, and the Ibin Sina Society.

Iraqi women that live in the marshes suffer from a lack of income and the difficulties due to the harsh lifestyle they face. At the same time, they have the skills and experience that can help them earn a living through handicraft production using local materials such as reeds and bamboo, palm tree fronds, mud, and other natural materials available in their environment.  The development of such handicrafts products over industrial products that cause pollution can also help protect the environment.

In many parts of the world, developing the skills to produce and market such products has been a means to bring women in similar situations much-needed income and a sense of self-reliance.

The goals of the Woman First project is to improve the quality of life for Iraqi women in the marshes and enable them to improve their experience in making high quality products that can sell at high “Fair Trade” prices; to increase the public awareness about the value and importance of handicraft work and skills and encourage the local population to utilize natural sources and friendly environmental products. Their idea is to develop a pilot project in Iraq that can be replicated elsewhere in Iraq to provide income-generating opportunities for local women.

An initial exploratory trip took place, with support from Nature Iraq, in October 2006 in the marshland communities of Abu Sobat, Nahr Al-Ez, and Kurmashia.  The focus was to meet local women and discuss the project with them, identify key craft workers/trainers in the community and get some idea of the local needs required to develop the project. 

Expert advice on how to develop and improve the quality of their handicrafts to make them more marketable will be required and the women need to be provided with information on how to export & market their handicrafts.

This initial project envisions a gallery showing in Kurdistan for the women to present and sell their craftwork.  Some of the monies raised from this gallery sale can be used to buy sewing machines and other supplies and materials needed to continue the project.  Ultimately it will be important to investigate other methods for marketing and selling the women’s handicraft work both inside and outside of Iraq.  Several organizations exist (Fair Trade Network, SERRV and others) to assist women in developing ways that they can cooperate and coordinate efforts to produce, transport and market their handicraft work.

These and other projects need your support.  Financial donations can be made tax-deductible through the Iraq Foundation at 1770 Catlin Street, Fullerton, CA 92833 (email: info@natureiraq.org  to explore other payment methods).  Please specify that the donation is for the Nature Iraq Small Grants Fund.