We have been working on getting a new building outfitted with artisan products for the past few months. My counterpart was approached by people with the Mohammed V Foundation about managing the Artisan side of of a new building being built at the edge of town to promote tourism. the artisan side includes a showroom that displays artisan products from around Morocco, primarily from the Midelt region. The center includes 5 schools to teach local people stone carving, Clothing making, embroidery, rug weaving and reed/basket making.
Three looms were set up in the rug weaving class and trainees went to work creating original design loop carpet with natural wool and dyes. These products will eventually be displayed for sale in the showroom.
The last week of November the King came to Midelt to open the Center. He met all of the principles and students working in the center. The king shook hands with many of the principles including my counterpart who had a talk about Midelt and the products it has to offer. The ceremony was recorded and shown on Morocco television. It was an honor for all the people involved.
Unfortunatly, I was not cleared through security so I did not get to meet the King , nor was I allowed to be in the building. No Problem. I could use the day off.
The Center is up and running. I now go by almost every day and work on projects to get the programs set up and running. There is a lot to do and with the help of our local team we will ger r done.
All of the products are produced by coops. Each coop is a member of the local Association. If everything goes well in the future, the Association will promote craft fairs in other locations around Midelt at local festivals and events. Hopefully this will provide a market for all the products produced in the Center and by the individual coops.
Midelt is known for its mineral history and a big part of the Center is devoted to mineral products. This includes gypsum carved stone, fossil products (amonites and autosairs) and natural minerals. Mineral exports in this form are an export market worth millions of dollars. There are some beautiful stuff from platters to slabs, geods and crystals.
Embroidery is one of the products that I have been working with since i got here. One of the counterparts I work with is now teaching at the Center. I would like to see some new design and color workshops for these people to create a larger variety of product. Unfortunatly the SBD Small Business Development program has been discontinued. My group is the last business group in country.
Next project, Boumia Carpet School.
The last week of November the King came to Midelt to open the Center. He met all of the principles and students working in the center. The king shook hands with many of the principles including my counterpart who had a talk about Midelt and the products it has to offer. The ceremony was recorded and shown on Morocco television. It was an honor for all the people involved.
Unfortunatly, I was not cleared through security so I did not get to meet the King , nor was I allowed to be in the building. No Problem. I could use the day off.
The Center is up and running. I now go by almost every day and work on projects to get the programs set up and running. There is a lot to do and with the help of our local team we will ger r done.
Midelt is known for its mineral history and a big part of the Center is devoted to mineral products. This includes gypsum carved stone, fossil products (amonites and autosairs) and natural minerals. Mineral exports in this form are an export market worth millions of dollars. There are some beautiful stuff from platters to slabs, geods and crystals.
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