Participants in the Women’s Education Program began training in bogolan fabric design last month.  Bogolan is a traditional Malian art form, which uses natural mud and plant dyes to create intricate fabric designs with symbolism rooted in Malian history and tradition.  Project Muso has arranged intensive trainings for each class with two of world’s leading bogolan artisans.

 Each class participating in the Women’s Education Program conducted feasibility research into five different potential revenue generating activities. For each potential enterprise activity, they researched the supply and demand for the activity, the technical requirements for production and distribution, the social and environmental impact of the activity, and the financial feasibility of the activity, and the potential profit to be earned. Based on these feasibility studies, each class has chosen to train in two different enterprise activities.  Of the seven classes currently participating in the Women’s Education Program, six have chosen to train in bogolan mudcloth making, after finding that there is significant demand domestically and internationally for bogolan products, and that the all-natural dyeing process protects the environment.  

From the beginning of the Women’s Education Program, participants have been eager to begin enterprise training. They understand from experience that their ability to improve the health of their families is directly tied to their ability to earn an income and provide nutritious food, clean water, safe housing, soap, and other essential resources for health. It is thus self-evident to the women we work with in Yirimadjo that a health education program must also provide training to help participants earn an income.