Building on the richness of cultural diversity, 70 Egyptian, African, and Syrian women have been able to acquire training and exchange knowledge through art and production. Many products’ prototypes and models were crafted during the first phase of the project and will be further processed during the second phase of the project…

Duration: July – December 2015

Partners: UNHCR (Egypt) | Sting for Consultancy and Design | The GUC (German University in Cairo)

The traditional Egyptian craft of quilting in its applique technique, or Khiyamieh, forms the basis of the Nilfurat concept, which aspires to create a common space for learning and intercultural dialogue between women from the local host community and refugee communities in Egypt.

Building on the richness of cultural diversity, 70 Egyptian, African, and Syrian women have been able to acquire training and exchange knowledge through art and production. Many products’ prototypes and models were crafted during the first phase of the project and will be further processed during the second phase of the project.

The project aims to economically empower the women through a modernized product with a refined blend of their stories, drawings, traditional materials, skills, symbols and traditional craftsmanship.

The Nilfurat project has been developed by UNHCR in response to the needs of specific refugee-hosting areas, during a pilot community support program with women conducted in 2014 in Hadayek Al Maadi.