Creating financial freedom through arts education and entrepreneurship
The Design Africa Project endeavors to bring professional training, resources, materials, and opportunities to aspiring young fashion designers, mothers desiring to be merchants, and men who are artisans and creators across the continent! Design Africa is built on the principal of creating financial freedom through education and mastery of the creative arts paired with business development and entrepreneurial support. Fashion Design and Sewing is one of the skilled crafts that one does not "need" to have a college degree or specialty license to pursue. And while there must be a mastery of industry standards in order to be successful, these are skills that can be taught by industry professionals as "Teaching Artists". Design Africa will enable professional artists to bring their knowledge base and skillset to the continent by offering instructor stipends, funding for professional tools, supplies, and training for students, as well as scholarships for students. Additionally, as the program grows funding will be offered for micro-businesses to assist graduate students in establishing businesses and/or offering assistance to students who may have opportunities for advanced design education.
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The Design Africa Project is born out of the lifelong passion of Fashion Designer, Phoenyx Reign. Sewing since the tender age of 8yrs old, she later attended Fashion Design School and became a master pattern maker, master seamstress, and independent designer. However, long before she attended school, she was making and selling one-of-a-kind creations. It was the training that allowed her to perfect her craft and elevate her creations to a professional industry standard level.
Gaye Njorro Skill Academy - Getting Youth of the Street
The Gaye Njorro Academy for Youth Empowerment began with a Beauty Program approximately 13 years ago, which is still its largest program. The Academy is focused on empowering young people and keeping them off the streets. Those who "can" pay do... but many can't and are on scholarship. It later added a catering program and is grooming The Gambia’s next crop of Chefs and Culinary Professionals, and the newest in its training programs is Tailoring/Garment Construction Certificate Program which they endeavor to grow into a full Fashion Design Diploma Program. They currently have a small room with sewing machines and an additional small classroom that houses three separate classes of beautiful eager students.
We've begun with one local academy in The Gambia... and we plan to walk with them for a long time into the future. But it's a BIG CONTINENT... and we want to have a BIG IMPACT. Yes... It's a BIG VISION, with BIG GOALS... and We are inviting you to be a crucial part in funding this program that we hope will spread across the continent and offer opportunites for the vast number of creative africans who just need the right environment to THRIVE! WE ARE DESIGNING DREAMS... Won't you help us...
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The budget below lists many of the items needed for the students to obtain the professional training required to sell garments on a professional level. Some items will be needed on an ongoing basis with others needed periodical maintenance.