Ceramics : training and production workshop
Purposes of this project :

• to reintroduce ceramic craftwork, which is one of the eldest traditions in this country : the oldest ceramic items discovered in Syria date back to 6.500 B.C. !
• to promote the labour of women and of disabled persons in the surrounding villages ;
• to allow them access to their financial self-sufficiency.

Forecast 2005 : A main workshop with satellite workshops in the villages :

The centre is aiming at the opening of a workshop by the end of 2005 in order to train village women and disabled persons to manufacture ceramic items. Satellite workshops will later be founded in the villages and run by groups of women. The main workshop at the centre shall then care for the technical background, the finishing where required, the baking, packaging and shipping, as well as for the marketing and the commercial follow-up.

Test workshop :
An experimental workshop has been installed at the centre in october 2004. The first ceramic items have been manufactured with traditional means ( throwing and baking in oven) according to the « raku » technique. A first exhibition with sale has been held in Damascus in December 2004.