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Crafts People
NAWOU, Uganda
The National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda (NAWOU) was formed in 1992 by members of non-governmental and community-based organizations. The mission of NAWOU is to promote a coordinated network of member organizations for efficient use of resources in order to improve the status and living conditions of women in Uganda.
NAWOU is an umbrella body for women’s NGOs as well as for Community Based Organizations (CBOs) at village level in all districts of Uganda. A large number of CBOs are involved in the production of various crafts according to the raw materials available as well as the traditional skills in their areas.
At present over 50 groups are members of NAWOU's marketing network, living in different parts of the country. NAWOU's marketing department represents the link between them and their customers. The duties of the department are to facilitate training, organize open-air markets, coordinate production for orders, quality control, collection, storage etc.
The dolls made by women from NAWOU show the traditional dress of Uganda. The woman doll wears a long dress known as a busuti or gomesi. These dresses use around 6 metres of fabric and have distinctive peaked sleeves, finished off by a cloth belt tied in the front. The male doll is dressed in the traditional kanzou, a long, light-coloured tunic with long sleeves, worn over long trousers.
Once a British colony, English remains the official language of Uganda, alongside around thirty indigenous languages. Around 2/3 of Ugandans are Christian with the remaining third practising either Islam or tribal religions.
NAWOU is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.
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