Peace Corps Mali 50th Anniversary

Small Enterprise Craft Project with Women Recovering from Obstetric Fistula

Small Enterprise Craft Project with Women Recovering from Obstetric Fistula; Mopti

This small business development project at the Janjigi So Fistula Center in Mopti trains women recovering from obstetric fistula so they can earn money during their three to six month stay at the center.  While at the Center women receive training in literacy, as well as other skills such as tailoring, soap making, bogolan and jewelry making.  In recent years, the center has focused on jewelry making as it is a skill that is easy to learn and sells well on the local market.  In collaboration with Delta Survie, a Malian nongovernmental organization, and SERRV, an American partner, the women have begun exporting their jewelry to the United States and gained access to new markets.  The money they earn from the various goods is invested back into the center to help pay for the food and basic necessities of the women staying at the center.  The Center has collaborated with Peace Corps since 2004, when health volunteers initially began working with the women and now a small enterprise development volunteer is working with the women's group.

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