Paper Recycling: A Woman's Business

To be the only person recycling paper in Senegal and probably in West Africa does not change anything as far as Sokhna Diéne is concerned. What really matters for this 28 year old young woman is to establish a new tradition as regards the local manufacturing of paper in Senegal and export the idea to other countries in the subregion.

She could be taken as a rock star, even though she rather uses music as a companion in her moments of inspiration.
Moments during which, with a touch of magic, she revives the paper thrown away as thrash.

At a glance, the world of recycling is not favourable to a woman, let alone a young one with Sokhna's style. The latter however, has made her first steps into it, by changing plastic bags into useful and decorative items, through reclamation and recycling.

Having thus opened the gates of that world hitheto closed to woman, she decided to invest in a sector where nobody has ventured so far : " the recycling of salvaged paper".

As regards her start in that trade, Sokhna Diéne says that it all started with a book : this was possible, thanks to an expatriate couple, some friends of mine who had the idea of offering me a book explaining the technique for recycling salvaged paper.

For the rest, I developed it by myself. I taught myself, she confided. In their work, this artist-crafstwoman seeks first and foremost originality instead of facility. It was because there was nobody in Senegal doing it that I decided to do it, she explains. For me, it was a virgin land to be exploited.

Sokhna pratice her art every day in her workshop located in Hann, on the Route des Pères maritstes, in the outshirts of Dakar. This center of creation is equipped with a pool, some small, some a paper press and a mixer.

However her activity is subjected to respecting a series of well - defined tasks. " My work involves collecting used paper from administrative and printing offices and recycling it by first making it into pulp…. And then into hand - crafted paper.

The hand-crafted paper that I produced is used to make writing paper, envelopes, greetings cards, albums, etc ; she indicated. " My products usually find an easy outlet on the market and during exhibitions, she added. People love it, especially when holidays draw nearer".

"As a matter of fact I am always overwhelmed with work because of the large quantity of orders that I receive", she said, "but I always try to honour my commitments" she added.

Contrary to what one might believe, the fact for a woman to practice such a rare and unusual trade does not grant you any right or advantage. The only privilege I draw from this is the pleasure to exercise a very rare profession " she confessed.

Besides that, Sokhna Diéne adores her job and does it with love and passion, while always seeking perfection. "I would love to transform my small workshop into a big hand craft paper manufacturing workshop of top quality" she confided.

The respect of the environment and its protection constitute another reason why the artist -crafstwoman is hanging on to her job. If there was the possibility of salvaging all the paper thrown away throughout the world, there would certainly be no need to fell trees, thus priving the earth of its lungs ", she lemented.

However, Sokhna is confident about the future: " In Senegal, she said things are going rather well. Now, if I could have exhibitions abroad that would help me grow bigger and widen my partnership network ".For the time being her main concern is about transmitting her skills and know-how to women who are wishing to acquire the techniques for recycling paper". Thanks to UNICEF support I have already trained some women to the technique of recycling paper ", she said."

I hope I will be able to impart the experience so as to share the knowledge which has been acquired, with other people ".