Designing Hope

This year, the IHC Congress invites the association Designing Hope to present its "Porte Bonheurs" project in a scenography of textile flowers designed by South African fashion designer Thebe Magugu, and sewn by vulnerable women supported by the NGO in Southern Africa.
The sale of these flowers finances the "Garden of Skills" project in Eswatini (the new name of Swaziland).

The initial exhibition and sale of these flowers in the Le Bon Marché department stores' in Paris in 2021 generated a significant income for the 120 women involved in their sewing, but the profits from the operation also made it possible to finance the setting up of an ambitious project benefiting these women: the Garden of Skills.

On a one hectare plot of land acquired by Designing Hope in Malanti, Eswatini, a large agroforestry vegetable garden has been set up in 2022, alos hosting:

  • a training centre for sustainable agriculture techniques,
  • a greenhouse for the production of organic seeds,
  • a training workshop for sewing and handicrafts with a local market,
  • a kitchen equipped for processing and preserving the garden's vegetables and hosting nutrition awareness workshops.
  • A house for volunteers wishing to share their skills and contribute to the running of the garden by developing a solidarity-based eco-tourism.

The sale of these flowers at the IHC conference will contribute to the running costs of the Garden of Skills.

Program S06

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