DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

In the Saharawi refugee camps located in the Sahara desert of Algeria (Africa) life can be very hard. Uprooted by a war they didn’t begin, the displaced people of Western Sahara reside there;  in a country that is not their own, in conditions that many would consider to be unlivable. Most of these people will never leave the boundaries of the camps. Most of them will never get to travel or see the world. They are prisoners, yet they have committed no crime.

So we decided we would bring the world to them.

Nearly a decade ago, we formed the Saharawi School of Ceramics for women; a non-profit academy dedicated to using the amazing power of art to uplift, educate and enlighten. We opened this school within the camps, to bring some joy and inspiration to the people that are trapped there.  Though the world of art is vast and incredible, you don’t need a plane ticket to see it. It is shared person to person. This has been the goal of our work at the academy, and the process of sharing the wonderful gift of art has changed the lives of our students almost as much as it has changed our own.

Currently the center is shared with Ceramics Cooperative consisting of about 20 women who finished their basic training at the School. Through this cooperative they have a job in a place they are practically intended to stay home and raise a family. They also learn a proffesion  that allows them to express their creativity and have a small source of income to help their families.

The school consists of one year of basic education in the various techniques of ceramics. Every year 10 women are selected by a simple test which measures their artistic skills. Once the education year is completed these women are given the option to join the cooperative where they work producing pottery for sale.

Up until now the school was funded by government grants, but due to the economic crisis in Spain the funding has stopped and, whith no help in sight, the school is in risk of closing it's doors.

So we decided to start this campaign, to reach out to the world for help. We want to reach out to those with a passion for art, and who understand the power it can have to change lives. We want to reach out to the people who care about the struggles of those who live beyond their borders.

Will you help us continue our work?

WHO ARE WE?

We are Alicia Fernandez Diaz, professor of ceramic, and Pilar Mas-Masia Sierra, coordinator of the project, from Spain.

To this date the project has been coordinated by the Federation of Support to the Saharawi People of Valencia (FASPS) and the City Council of Puzol (Valencia).
After traveling there several times a year and working voluntarily at the school during the past 10 years and loosing the public funding, we decided to turn to private funding to continue the school and allow that more women still benefit from this project in which so much time and effort has been invested.

WHAT WILL WE SPEND THE MONEY ON?

• Airline tickets: Regular trips of the coordinator and professor of ceramic.
• Visas
• Stay
• Material: Ceramic Material, solar panel to power the battery that powers the gas kiln, consumables, etc.
• Shipping of the material: through the annual caravan bound for the camps.
•  Repairs and maintenance of the school building
•  Salary of the director and head of the center: It notes that without this figure, the project would have been impossible.In the camps, all proyects require a responsible and accountable to be in charge and respond adequately for the project. Salary director (€ 50 / month)
• Salary two trainers: These two woman are those who have more seniority and experience and are responsible for educating the new students (30 € / month)
• Expenses of the Crowdfunding campaign: Video production, shipping of perks and commission of the website.

AND IF WE MAKE MORE MONEY THAN THE AMOUNT WE ARE ASKING FOR?

The money will go to continue maintaining the school. The more money, the longer we can keep up with this project and the more women will benefit from it.

APPROXIMATE TIME TERM

The amount of money we hope to raise will fund the functioning of the school for two years. If we raise more money the school will last longer.