YAWOA FOUNDATION
International Women’s Day Skills Empowerment Program
The 8th of March is set aside each year by the United Nations to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day is flagged as International Women’s Day and it marks a call to action for individuals and organizations alike to promote and embark on actions that accelerate women’s equality.
As a woman-run organization, the solemnity of this day was not lost on us. We partnered with Lucia Ikedeshi of Shimmers Crown Services and with Segun Adefila of Crown Troupe of Africa to design a program that elevated the visibility of women thespians and empowered them with skills that they can use to make a living outside of acting.
Left to right: Segun Adefila of Crown Troupe of Africa, Lucia Ikediashi of Shimmers Services and Chinyere Obieze of Yawoa Foundation
The 5-day skills empowerment program trained 15 women thespians in The Art of Tie and Dye. The curriculum for this program covered not just training on the Tie & Dye process but also textile branding, marketing and sewing.
The women learnt both vocational skills and the best practices to set up and manage a clothing business. Today, five women have begun their businesses making and selling graphic branded T-shirts and other clothing items in the community.
One of the thespians at work at the Skills Acquisition
Program
Irie Woman
Left to right: Lucia Ikedishi, The Participants and Chinyere Obieze
The program cumulated in a stage play titled Dis_Loyal Judas, a scintillating opera, which was held from Good Friday, April 15 to Easter Monday, April 18 2022 at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu.
Inspired by the account of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, It explored the relationship between Jesus Christ and the disciple who betrayed him, Judas Iscariot while exploring the concept of love, trust, betrayal, loyalty, and sacrifice, as well as emphasizing the importance of making the right choices every day using Jesus and Judas as social archetypes.
The National Theatre of Nigeria, in collaboration with Live Theatre Lagos, announced the opera where the thespians adorned the costumes that they designed and created during the program and thrilled the audience for four consecutive nights during the Easter season.
The young thespians in their opera Dis_Loyal Judas
