The Culture and Conflict Project: Transformations and Empowerment End of Project Report

The primary objective of this report was to reflect upon, review and assess work completed on this project over 2022-24. This was undertaken through review of fieldwork data from Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, ultimately crafting country-specific curated lists of traditional practices to inform product design training. This training was delivered to all partners in South Asia in three phases between 2022 and 2023. Training was delivered for Afghanistan and Pakistan partners in Kandy, Sri Lanka in October 2022, for Indian partners in Jammu and Srinagar in December 2022, and for Sri Lankan partners in Batticaloa and Mannar in January 2023. Key components of training design include data analysis of raw field data collected from the partners, selecting viable crafts for product design training, data analysis of specific crafts to develop product design training which is bespoke to these practices, context analysis of geography for access, language for training, mobility for planning of training, access to materials and resources that are sustainable in the long run. The following crafts were shortlisted and focused upon for the project: Khammak Dozi embroidery, Charma Dozi leather embroidery and Afghan carpets in Afghanistan; Basohli art, Sozni embroidery and crewel work embroidery in India; Pang Pedura (palm) weaving, Dambura Ratta weaving in Sri Lanka; Swati and Charsuti embroidery, and carpet making in Pakistan.
Suri and Raina (2024) The Culture and Conflict Project: Transformations and Empowerment End of Project Report; Gender, Justice and Security Hub, LSE.