Malian Women making Beaded Jewelry

Delta Survie, located in Mopti, Mali, is a center that provides support services to about 200 women a year who are recovering from obstetric fistula. In Mali, one of the poorest countries of the world, women often don’t have access to basic health care. Obstetric fistulas can be caused by prolonged labor, lack of pre-natal care, childbirth at an early age, and malnutrition. Women who suffer with obstetric fistulas are often shunned by their husbands and communities because of the infertility, incontinence and infections the condition can cause.

At Delta Survie, the women find acceptance and a supportive community. As they undergo medical treatment, which often means several surgeries, Delta Survie trains the women to produce handcrafts, generating income for them while they recover and developing skills which can be used in the future to help support their families. The women at Delta Survie create jewelry that expresses the beauty and vibrancy of the culture of Mali. The light work of jewelry making is a perfect occupation for the women who are at different stages of recovery and need frequent periods of rest.

SERRV has been working with Delta Survie since 2007 and is one of their only outlets to sell their crafts outside of Mali. SERRV has supported Delta Survie’s work by providing design assistance, markets for their jewelry and a place for the women to tell their stories.