Naziha Bousaidi
Tunis - The "Qramed" village represents an innovative handicraft project launched by Face Tunisie Association in collaboration with the Development Association for the Promotion of Arts and Industries. The initiative aims to preserve Tunisia’s cultural heritage and protect it from extinction. It also seeks to empower women and youth by providing free training in various traditional crafts while creating a dedicated space for showcasing and marketing their products - enhancing the sustainability of traditional crafts and granting them renewed economic and social vitality.

Our agency attended the opening of the craft village and the closing day of the training workshops, conducting interviews with exhibitors and officials from both associations.

Strong Interest in Training
Raja Raies, a trainer at the village’s training center, said she joined the project to train women in sewing and several other crafts. She noted the great demand for the program, with about 40 women applying, prompting her to divide them into two groups to facilitate training and ensure its quality.

She explained that the training courses are provided free of charge, with two sessions per week, emphasizing that having trainees from various crafts in the same space encourages the exchange of knowledge and experience, fostering collaboration and complementarity among them.

Raies added that the project aims to promote traditional industries that are gradually disappearing and to encourage young people to preserve heritage and traditions. She highlighted that returning to traditional crafts and clothing offers housewives and working women alike a productive way to invest their time and generate income.

For her part, craftswoman Leila Ben Said, who specializes in amber crafting, said the center is “a dream come true for any woman wishing to learn traditional crafts that are disappearing or being imitated in markets.” She explained that the center allows trainees to learn directly from Tunisian craftswomen and that, unlike in other places where such training is costly, the sessions in the village are offered for free to revive craftsmanship. She added that amber is available locally in Tunisia, but the goal is to produce a high-quality, authentic local product.

Training in Various Crafts
Ikbel Chabbi, president of the Development Association for the Promotion of Arts and Industries and coordinator of the Model Center for Entrepreneurship Program, explained that the center focuses on traditional industries and women’s empowerment through training in heritage-based crafts. The main goal, she said, is to help women market their products and improve their family situation.

She added that the association organized an event titled “Gathering of Artisans,” bringing together both veteran and new craftswomen. The program saw strong participation across diverse crafts such as sewing, jewelry-making, pottery, pastry, and weaving.

Chabbi explained that the center assists artisans in obtaining a craftsman’s card and in the steps of creating their own craft business. “We united to make this project a success,” she said, “and we send a message to every woman — whether at home or retired — to learn a craft that preserves her identity and benefits her, because craftsmanship never dies.”

She noted that during the first three days of the center’s opening, workshops were held for visitors in most of the crafts to be taught later, with training hours running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will receive a professional competency certificate upon completion, followed by a craftsman’s card from the National Handicrafts Office. Training is available both free of charge and for a symbolic fee on Saturdays.

Growing Interest in the Village
Rahma Ferjani, a craftswoman specializing in macramé and interior decoration and holding a university degree in biology, said, “I tried to work in my field of study but faced obstacles, as is often the case in the job market, so I decided to pursue my lifelong passion — decoration - which I’ve loved since childhood.”

Ferjani participated in the “City Climates” exhibition, marking her second participation with the Development Association for the Promotion of Arts and Industries. She also launched her own small business in the field.

Another participant, Wajihah Ayad, a farmer from the El Jedida delegation in Manouba, said: “I work on enhancing olive oil and use my agricultural space for ecological farming and organic vegetables, turning them into natural, healthy products. We always strive to offer products with low sugar and salt content to protect consumers’ health.”

A Multi-Purpose Village
Zahra Ben Nasr, president of Face Tunisie Association, expressed her great joy at the opening of the craft village, noting that the project is part of a series of initiatives carried out by the association over the past ten years to support women and youth.

She explained that years of experience have helped the association understand the key needs of women and youth — namely training, guidance, organization, and marketing in a structured environment. “The village also provides a space to display products in a way that ensures greater visibility for craftswomen,” she said.

Ben Nasr added that the training programs cover various crafts inspired by Tunisian heritage, some of which have already vanished or are on the verge of extinction, such as embroidery and weaving with halfa grass. The association aims to encourage women and youth to master these crafts and develop marketable products both locally and internationally.

She also noted that digitalization was included in the training program through the creation of a “Digital House” within the craft village, equipped with modern technology - since digital tools have become essential for product promotion and marketing.

Furthermore, the craft village will host regional activities once a month to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas, allowing craftswomen from various regions to exhibit their products in one shared space.

In conclusion, Ben Nasr said that the village will also focus on attracting tourists to showcase Tunisia’s rich heritage and identity while helping to market authentic Tunisian products both locally and globally by opening opportunities for all exhibitors.