The women prepare to start their working day making wire fencing. Some of them are the family breadwinner, and depend on the income from this work to survive.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
This roll of steel wire is part of the stock of raw materials provided by the ICRC to enable the women to get their venture up and running.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
ICRC financial support also enabled the women to invest in equipment such as gloves, pliers and machine lubricants.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
The women work diligently under their supervisor’s direction and helped by a technician from the Mali Red Cross.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
The team leader works on the wire fencing under the watchful eyes of her colleagues.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
With most of its members widows, the association is based on solidarity; the women support each other at work.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
Everyone has a role to play and the women work together in perfect harmony. The pace is set by the team leader, who also trains her colleagues as they go along.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
The women use pliers methodically and skillfully to finish off the edges of the wire mesh.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
Two members of the group who are glad to be working again after having to stop during the conflict.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / A. Kashironge
Timbuktu, Mali.
Once it is finished, the wire fencing is rolled up and sold at the local market. The money they make from this venture enables the women to provide for themselves and their families.
The ICRC is helping women's associations and collectives in Timbuktu set up livelihood projects. One such group is this association of 10 women, mainly widows, left destitute by the conflict in Mali. With ICRC support, they have started a cottage industry making wire fencing – an item much sought-after by both arable and livestock farmers.
With an initial investment of 1.65 million CFA francs, they were able to buy two wire weaving machines. They were also given a small grant to buy equipment and raw materials to get this traditional activity up and running again. It is now their main source of income and allows them to provide for themselves and their families.
