Niger Weaving Cooperative
Niamey, Niger
This project aims to revive and sustain the Niger handweaving tradition, a symbol of national pride. For generations, these weavers have made beautiful, complexly woven cloth. Recently, the profession has been in decline and the highly skilled weavers lack access to materials, organization, and the urban market. This project is working to improve its artisans’ incomes while preserving cultural heritage by organizing the weavers into a cooperative.
Through the support of a Purpose Earth grant, the project will provide looms and allow the cooperative to increase its support of artisans, from five to 38 weavers. By organizing the weavers into a cooperative, they will be able to secure larger demand for their textiles and greater financial opportunities for the weavers.
“Most of the weavers we plan to work with are not weaving now because they do not have looms or access to markets. This project will provide both and allow the weavers—who are mostly subsistence farmers—to increase their incomes, improving the quality of their lives and that of their families. The project will also help preserve a beautiful craft that is the source of great national pride.” – Judith Sen, Project Lead
Maasai Ngosuani Greening Project
The Cosmic Hologram
