Pigeons have been bred in Egypt since the ancient Egyptian periods. Pigeons stuffed with rice is considered a special Egyptian meal. In addition breeding pigeons is practiced as a traditional hobby, specially those type of pigeons called 'Zagil' which are the first historical messages courier. Breeding pigeons is considered a good business for people in countryside specially that pigeons are easily fed with grains such as lentils, corn and barley. The farmer usually adds simple minerals to the … Read more
Manual ‘konafah’ Manual baking of 'konafah'
The 'konafah' was introduced in Egypt during the Fatimid period. The maximum consumption of 'konafah' is in the holy month of Ramadan. After their breakfast in sunset time; Muslims prefer to eat the 'konafah' as dessert. In this month the bakers get the most revenue from this traditions. The baker prepares the dough of water and flour used in baking 'konafah' in a big pot. He then pours the dough using a scoop in a perforated cup. He then pours the dough on the stove. The stove used for … Read more
Daret (the round) A traditional Moroccan way for organizing a community bank
“Daret”: is a common organization for comunity banks in Morocco. Every woman in the group makes a monthly contribution. Let’s say we have a group of 10 women where every woman gives 100 MAD. The money gathered after 1 month, which is 1000 MAD, is given to a chosen woman from the group every month according to her needs. The 9 other women keep receiving the amount of 1000 MAD in turn every month, while they keep of course, making the contribution of 100 MAD per month. The decision of which woman … Read more
Creating a Local Currency for use in Women’s Co-operatives Generating wages for women in the co-operatives
The new system will be more transparent and can be directly exchanged for groceries, vegetables and meat at the local market. It can also be exchanged for money. … Read more
Promoting Women’s Handicrafts Women's co-operatives provide a market for local handicrafts
As part of the cultural tradition, women learn to make carpets, hair accessories, scarves, and pieces of traditional clothing. In addition to marketing Argan, cooperatives would encourage the women to produce more handicrafts by marketing these pieces as well. … Read more
Online marketing of Moroccan Argan products and handicrafts Selling Argan products and handicrafts through a womens co-operative online for fair trade
For women who produce Argan oil or make carpets, co-operatives can have an online website for them where they can sell their product nationally and internationally, enabling them to become more financially independent, as well as receiving the true commercial value of their products. … Read more
Bookbinding Traditional hand-made bookbinding
There are several types of bookbinding, ranging from normal to luxurious forms. Bookbinding can be done with paper, leather, gauze, light metal sheets and wood. There are various tools and materials linked to this industry including; paper, cardboard, leather, glue, mixture of water, flour and alum, linoleum, iron, gold solution, gauze, pins, cutter, puncher and sponge. The stages of the bookbinding process are as follows: gathering the book sections, assembly and knitting, hammering, 80 gm … Read more
Souk Seasonal open-air market place
Generally a Souk is a market or a part of a market in an open space that exists especially in North Africa and the Middle East. The idea is having a Souk that opens one day per week for people from all the regions around, on a weekend for example. People bring what they make (Tagines, Tamena, cotton made stuff…) to sell them or whatever they have to sell. It raises the economy of the village and enables people to reconnect and relax while seeing, buying and selling goods. A Souk or Souq entails … Read more
Farmers Markets in the Heart of the City Providing direct consumer-producer space in the urban central
To empower local Palestinian farmers, Farmers markets are set up to provide a platform for local organic farmers to have a direct connection with urban consumers living in the city, to ensure that local produce is being sold and promoted in the cities of the West Bank. By opening weekly farmers’ market, conscious consumers, who value the quality and source of food they eat, have the perfect spot to meet local producers and buy their fresh seasonal products. This empowers the organic producers … Read more
Alkhiamiah Alkhiamiah traditional fabric handicraft
The 'Khiamiah' handcraft is one of the oldest crafts, that emerged in Muiz street in Cairo. This craft became most famous during the Fatimid period in Egypt. The 'Khiamiha' craftsmen were actually part of the fabric industry in Egypt. The tools used in this craft are the 'costiban' - which is a copper piece the craftsman wears on his middle finger to protect it from the needle - blades, pencils, colored strings, scissors, needle, talc powder, colored fabric and hard paper. The stages of the … Read more
