Trial-and-Error Bazaar

In mid-November, a bazaar was held at a JEN community centre in Za’atari Refugee Camp. It was the third bazaar organized by the Women’s Recycling project, first mentioned in this blog in August. This event, the first one since May 2016, aimed to earn revenue through selling hand made products including carpets, winter clothing, toys for children and decors, all constructed out of old clothes over the course of the last six months.

On the event day, the Recycle project members prepared for the bazaar with support from the JEN staff. Thanks to the effects of flyer distribution, word-of-mouth advertising, and email the bazaar had a total of 100 visitors including more than 90 Syrian refugees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[All set for the bazaar.]

 

 

 

 

 

[Visitors examining products.]

 

 

 

 

 

[A variety of products for sale.]

 
Although the previous bazaar had more than 100 visitors, a majority of them did not purchase products. Reflecting on this, the Women’s Recycling project members exercised their ingenuity and flexibility in setting prices to suit visitors, making products to more precisely meet the need of customers, and advertising the bazaar more actively based on their own ideas. These efforts saw a revenue of 100 Jordanian dinars (about 15,500 Japanese Yen), almost four times more than last time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Support organization staff selecting recycled carpets.]

 
The main goal of the Recycling project is to improve quality of life in the camp through the refugee women’s making and selling goods crafted from old clothes. There are very few chances to generate income in the camp. Thus, supporting the women who are taking these step towards independence by gaining an income, albeit not very much, provides the JEN staff great pleasure.

We are considering holding the next bazaar at the JEN community centre in the third district of the camp, not the fourth district where three bazaars have been held so far, because we would like residents who live far away from the district to be able to come to the bazaar. Looking forward to witnessing the further creativity of the women, JEN will continue to support their income generation.

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