Building on the learning and successes from three prior phases of the Community Development Project (CDP) in rural districts in the south of Tunisia, and with a goal of bringing transformational development to seven rural communities by the end of 2023, CDP IV launched in November 2022 following consultations with local community leaders in the first of these seven communities, Taoujout.

The Taoujout community celebrates and seeks to preserve its Amazigh (Berber) heritage. The project seeks to help local women share their rug-making traditions within the community, and then share those traditional Berber rugs with the world to generate income for their families and communities. 17 women with previous experience of traditional weaving from Taoujout will be trained and receive a certificate of participation – such a certificate is a pre-requisite to have access to national fairs and exhibitions.

As the community in Taoujout begins its training and rug making work, ACT and its partners will continue the cycle of building relationships with six other rural communities from the same region to develop projects to address their community needs. Priority will be given to groups composed entirely or primarily of women, with a special attention to women in a precarious situation, in keeping with ACT’s efforts to focus our projects on the most vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged groups.

Duration

November 2022 to December 2023

Location

Seven villages in the Gabès governorate (including Taoujout)

Budget

14.165 €

Partners

The CRDA Gabès (Regional agricultural administration) | SwissContact |The Association for the Safeguarding of the Amazigh Village of Taoujout | Carthage, Co.

Activities

Result 1: Creation of a traditional Berber craft workshop in Taoujout 

  • 17 women to be collectively trained in high-quality weaving and dyeing, one day a week over 12 weeks
  • An additional eight days of monitoring and support will be offered to small home-groups
  • Provision of wool and thread for initial production, as well as five wooden looms
  • Provision of funding for the purchase of dyes, creation of an e-commerce platform, and participation fees for artisan craft fairs for the first year
    (A contribution of 30% of the cost of the wool and thread will be required from the participants at the end of the training)
  • The collective (through the internet page, the participation in fairs, at the village exhibition room) and individual marketing of the products and individually
  • Exploring the opportunity to adapt the traditional design of the margoums to the export market

Result 2: Support for Transformational Development activities with six other rural communities  

Six groups at least will be selected for professional training and income-generating projects, planned to start in the first quarter of 2023. Three groups of poultry rearing and four groups of handicraft production with the plant halfa.

  • Selection of the participant groups
  • Engagement in the development of new relationships with local community leaders, potential participants, and other local partners
  • The incorporation of transformational principles in activity plans
  • Assisting with project implementation through the purchase and delivery of equipment and supplies
  • Providing ongoing encouragement and support to participants
  • Collecting participant contributions, stewarding those funds toward the support of other community groups
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