The history of weaving in Somalia dates back thousands of years and holds deep cultural significance for the Somali people. The art has been an integral part of their traditional practices and has played a vital role in their daily lives. Somali weaving techniques have been passed down through generations, with knowledge and skills shared among women in the community. The craft of weaving utilizes locally available materials such as grass, reeds, and palm leaves. These materials are carefully collected, prepared, and then woven into intricate and durable baskets, mats, brooms, and household décor items. Unfortunately, the artistry has endured numerous challenges throughout history, including the ravages of civil conflict, war, displacements, poverty, and the harsh impacts of the climate crises such as recurrent droughts and devastating flash floods. These adversities have not only disrupted the availability of raw materials but have also made their access increasingly difficult.
Safiya Abdi Mohamed is one of the many women in Somalia who know the craft of weaving which she learned from her mother. She was displaced from her hometown in Ooflaaw village, Bay region by drought and conflict and she now lives in Abhinaya IDP camp in Garasbaley district, Banadir region along with her 7 children. Before moving to the camp, Safiya sustained her family as a small holder agropastoralist relying on small scale farming and livestock keeping. Unfortunately, the devastating drought, claimed all her livestock and she could no longer grow crops forcing her to migrate.
Life in the IDP camp brought forth numerous challenges, most being the lack of water and adequate sanitation services, food, shelter constraints, and the discontinuation of her children’s education. In order to generate income and provide for her family, Safiya started utilizing her weaving skills within the IDP camp and mainly made mats and brooms for sale.
In March 2022, Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) in partnership with Terre des Hommes (TdH) with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) introduced a project to empower small-scale businesswomen and youth within the IDP camps located in Kahda and Garasbaley districts. The project aims at strengthening the resilience of their businesses hence boosting their business profits which will increase household income and enhance their resilience to climate-related shocks hence supporting them with more sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Safiya is among the select group of 100 women and youth who actively participate in this project. While Safiya focuses on the art of weaving, her fellow participants engage in diverse small-scale ventures such as tailoring, shopkeeping, and clothes selling. These women and youth received comprehensive training incorporating aspects of business planning, management, bookkeeping, and effective marketing strategies for their products and services.
Following the entrepreneurship workshops, they were provided with in-kind support specifically tailored to their respective businesses, amounting to a value of $350. This support aimed to facilitate business expansion and enhance operational efficiency. Moreover, the project facilitated an environment of collaboration and learning, enabling participants to broaden their networks and benefit from shared experiences among fellow businesswomen and youth.
Safiya has now been able to weave brooms, mats and has also started weaving baskets using locally available quality raw materials. Among her diverse range of products, she mainly sells baskets which are used for various purposes, ranging from practical to decorative use. “Most of the women use the baskets for storing goods, dry foods, water cans, and other household items.” Reported Safiya.
This income generating activity (IGAs) has granted Safiya a sense of independence and financial stability, allowing her to adequately provide for her family. Presently, Safiyas business is making good progress and she expressed her satisfaction, stating that she can now afford to purchase nutritious food, cover her children’s madrasa fees, provide them with good clothing and other basic necessities.
To ensure sustained progress, project officers from NAPAD conduct regular bi-weekly visits to monitor the businesses’ development. They provide valuable guidance and advice on ways to further improve their IGAs, ensuring that the participants receive ongoing support throughout.
Safiya expressed deep gratitude towards NAPAD and its partners for the invaluable support they are providing and urged NAPAD to continue empowering women led small-scale businesses like hers.