Former Koogere applies for The Global Eco Artisan Awards

Ms. Basemera Alice

Former Engabu Za Tooro Koogere Ms. Basemera Alice has applied for The Global Eco Artisan Awards which honors artisans whose work demonstrates a high level of commitment to design and creativity while also creating ecological, social and cultural impact.

The Global Eco Artisan Awards is an international platform which recognizes artistic excellence, visualizes endangered crafts and glorifies eco-friendly cultural practices of the artisans in the world. Generating solidarity across craft communities and empowering the women craft makers by valuing their skills.

The winners will have their products posted  on AGAATI Foundation Artisans of the World directory and 100% of any sales goes to the artisan, a potential exhibit opportunity in USA in 2023, will receive feedback from expert panel of judges to improve on the design, application and marketability of their products, marketing for collaboration with retailers, designers and individual clients around the world, invitation to trainings and skill development and will be alumni of the Awards for lifelong and be part of the community to inspire, learn, celebrate and grow together

Winners will have a complimentary marketing of their product entries on their social media platforms for 2 months after the awards, potential sales of the physical samples submitted for final round, media coverage in the US media, cash prize of USD 1,000, one-on-one design and marketing consultancy with potential mentors such as Saloni Shrestha, Founder and Design Head of AGAATI and others - To be announced in August.

Koogere making crafts

In 2000 Ms. Basemera Alice joined a fellowship program on culture and entrepreneurship organized by Engabu Za Tooro NGO https://engabuzatooro.or.ug/. It involved entrepreneurship training modules and a Koogere Award contest where I emerged winner and title holder in 2003. The role of this title was to promote cultural entrepreneurship which is predominantly artisan enterprises. Other courses were further attended in crafting as a business, culture in development and Jazz Award.

In 2020, she becaome one of the artisans who came together to establish a social enterprise “African Continental Crafts Ltd” with an aim of improving artisan capacity to access the global craft market.