The 2021-2022 school year was a busy one for DIMA. The leather working students made 75 wallets and 52 clutches. The sewing group made 78 children’s outfits and 10 adults’ outfits. The weaving students made 100 scarves and a wrap. Some of the scarves were used in making the clutches and wallets.
Students are tested twice a year to assess their progress. In April, the school added what our executive director Adiza Amadou calls the ultimate test—our students put some of their work up for sale in a Ramadan market. The results were excellent. The students sold 52 wallets, 20 clutches and 55 children’s outfits.
At the end of July, DIMA had a party for the students to celebrate the end of the school year. As you can see from the photos, many of the students wore outfits they made at school. School will start up again at the beginning of October.
During the summer, DIMA had several visitors. In July, Amanda Gilvin came to the school. Dr. Gilvin is an art historian who did research on weaving in Niger. She is currently supporting the school by giving talks in Nigerien weaving and DIMA to weaving guilds in the USA. She is generously donating her speaker fees to DIMA.
Also in July, Alhassan Ali Mamadou Souna paid a visit to DIMA. He is a member of Friends of Niger and the project champion for our grant with them.