By Christina Randazzo | Friends of Adaklu Volunteer
At Friends of Adaklu’s Nunya Village, our work continues to weave together tradition, culture, sustainability and economic opportunity. Since 2023, young artisans have been immersed in a variety of crafts, mat weaving, Kente cloth weaving, pottery, and bead making in glass, clay, cane, fabric and calabash.
Currently, 15 student-entrepreneurs are mastering the art of traditional straw-mat weaving. The mats are woven from reeds, Cyperus Articulatus, collected locally, pounded into workable fibres and hand-woven into high-quality “Ketsiba” mats.
These biodegradable straw mats have a wide range of uses in Ghana: ceilings, fence walls, mattresses, yoga/fitness mats, and physiotherapy aids. Each mat produced at Nunya Village is a bridge between the past and the future, preserving craft, protecting environment, and building livelihoods.
Economic Empowerment Highlights:
The production of mats is a gateway to rural economic growth, supporting raw-material gatherers, weavers, and product sellers generating much needed-income.
At Nunya Village we use repurposed reeds locally, reducing waste, promoting eco-friendly materials and aligning with global sustainability goals.
Looking Ahead:
At Nunya Village we plan to expand our program by:
Sourcing more raw materials (reeds) to scale production of straw mats.
Training more students and artisans in both traditional techniques and business-skills (product design, marketing, packaging).
Exploring local and international markets for these eco-friendly, handcrafted mats, positioning them as premium, sustainable décor and functional items.
Strengthening linkages across the supply chain: from reed gatherers → weavers → product finishing → sales/distribution.
Together, we’re preserving tradition, protecting the planet, and building pathways to economic empowerment — one hand-woven mat at a time.
THANK YOU TO A RECENT DONOR (with no contact information) FOR A VERY GENEROUS DONATION. WE APPREICATE YOUR SUPPORT!
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