A one-week handicraft training for girls and young women wrapped up Friday June 28, marking the second summer the Marshall Islands Association of Handicraft Businesses is collaborating with Bank of the Marshall Islands to teach the younger generation an ancient tradition with modern application.
Upon learning at the opening training session that a few of the younger girls had taken last year’s training course, BOMI General Manager Patrick Chen encouraged them to continue learning outside of the training to gain skills and experience beyond a beginner’s. The training offers lessons in braiding methods and basic weaving techniques. Under the guide of weavers Laura George and Lukon Limkade, the 20 young amimono makers learned to make a variety of handicrafts.
The six businesses that are part of the handicraft association were keen on continuing their work to instill the traditional skill of handicraft making in the young. Last year’s batch were fast learners and it seems the students this summer, with the youngest being seven years old, were as energetic to sit back on a mat and weave, weave, weave.
Read more about this in the July 5, 2019 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.