Afghanistan Inspiration Challenge
Context: Within the framework of a self-help project of the DAI (Deutsch-Afghanische Initiative, German Afghan Initiative) women in Laghmani, north of Kabul embroider 8 x 8 cm squares. By selling their embroidery they are able to substantially improve the financial situation of their families.
The embroidered squares are not to be seen as finished products but rather as a basic element which is sold in Europe in order to be integrated into a textile work. The embroidered squares are very well suited for combining with patchwork, quilt, embroidery [hand or machine], weave or felting techniques, where they can be set as eyecatchers. The results are symbolically striking textile works that unite not only techniques but also two cultures. The aim of the exhibition is to promote curiosity and openness toward the culture of other women and to encourage the coming together and uniting in a common spirit. For further insight into the project you can read Pascale Goldenberg's travel reports by following the links on the menu, above.
Participating countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
These pages were created to invite participation in a European textile project, and to provide a space for an English translation of the travel journals of Pascale Goldenberg, the originator of the project and organiser in the European Union. Pascale developed this in response to her work with the women of Laghmani, a village north of Kabul, Afghanistan. In her journals she describes how the project evolved.
Pascale's journals:
Status of the Project in Afghanistan
Pascale has provided an update on the project and where the money raised will be spent.
After 22 months, stage 1 of the programme concluded at the end of March. All 96 of the girls have requested an extension. Provisionally, we are proceeding along the same lines for another year: 2 hours per day, 6 days a week. The project is financed by the sale of the embroidered squares.
The UK Challenge
The themes of the squares were specific to a country, and participants chose from those available to their location. For the UK the challenge was mugs, cups, pots, jugs - everyday vessels familiar to women everywhere.
Motifs offered by Afghan embroiderers as themes for European textile artists:
Entries
We have received some wonderful work, and are looking forward to the selection. A total of 670 submissions from 14 countries are being processed. 220 works will be selected for the European tour. Germany and UK have an equal number of entries, 90 each and one third of our UK entries will qualify for the European tour.
one earth textiles
The 'one earth textiles' website came about as a result of my awareness of the Afghanistan Inspiration project and following email exchanges with Meike Laurenson, who is organising the project in the UK, I decided to join in. It was originally hosted at my feltmaking website - greenweeds.co.uk - but I soon decided the project merited a site in its own right. From there, I decided that I may be able to use the site to support similar projects in the future, so rather than tying the site specifically to this project I came up with a more generic name - one earth textiles. Whilst in the future the site will hopefully be used for similar 'good cause' textiles projects, for now, the site is dedicated to the support and distribution of information about the Afghanistan Inspiration project.