Preliminary

In November 2008 Bea Petri, famous Swiss makeup artist, spent four weeks at the tailors school „NAS MODE“ in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. She stayed there on behalf of Swisscontact, an accredited Swiss development aid organization which was founded by some Swiss economic leaders fifty years ago and ever since has been dedicated to professional knowledge transfer in support of developing countries. Intention of Bea Petri’s sojourn was a focussed professional know-how-transfer in masking and cosmetics for theatre, film- and TV-productions. Burkina Faso is known as the centre of African film industry and in Ouagadougou every two years FESPACO, the largest pan African film festival, takes place.

The Country Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of the ten poorest countries within the world and is located at the south edge of the Sahel. 13.7 Mio. inhabitants are living in a country which has a dimension of approximately seven times the size of Switzerland. Unemployment is around 60% and alphabetization around 30%. Politically the country is known as stable and it maintains intense commercial and cultural contacts to France, its former colonial power. Arts and crafts are the most common articles of exportation; in minor degrees you’ll also find some exports in agricultural products like cotton or peanuts.

Training Centre ‚NAS MODE’

Mme. Safi Ouattara Diallo, a committed Burkinabé, has been running the professional tailors school ‚NAS MODE’ ever since 2001. The school has been able to become well-established in costume building for theatre, film- and TV-productions. Nevertheless, it hardly had any knowledge in masking, which meant that needs had to be covered abroad or - because of high costs - had to be fulfilled in place and in a manner not really satisfying. That’s the reason why Safi Ouattara applied for help at Swisscontact and asked for someone who could supply professional knowledge transfer. This well based application is what finally brought Swisscontact to the placement of Beat Petri in the training centre ‘NAS MODE’. Professional business trainers of Swisscontact usually work as volunteers and are only being paid for travel expenses and fees. ‚NAS MODE’ is training young women and men over a period of three years to become tailors. Technique and handcraft are geared to local traditions, disposable local products are being used. Orders placed by private companies or public authorities allow ‚NAS MODE’ a certain amount of refinancing of the costs, be it for education or for maintenance of infrastructure of the school.

The new courses

Bea Petri was charged with the implementation of an education for make-up artists. This education was to be supplementary to the topic of tailoring and it was to be kept in very simple means. All she could dispose of were existing rooms and a lot of enthusiasm of the headmaster, Safi Ouattara Diallo. All materials and teaching aids had to be imported and were financed by Bea Petri.

So the starting position was quite rudimentary and asked for a lot of patience and a talent in improvisation. Furthermore, this new education had to consider that needs and requirements of dark and light complexions were quite different. It also became obvious that under local climatic conditions and with temperatures over 40°C specific skin- and hair-care-aspects had to be added to the course.

It’s only consequent that the first step in training make-up artists is cosmetics, including the specific field of hair care and hairstyling. This expanded basic education makes sure that graduates are able to offer their services to clients in a vast variety of functions.

Additional infrastructure

After a short time it showed clearly, that the existing location was unsuitable and particularly too small for the new courses. For this reason Bea Petri invested from her own resources in the renovation of a structurally integrated property in the neighbourhood. By hindsight this additional effort has proved as most important key stage, as it attracted the attention of the municipal authority which now is paying a lot of respect to this project. Ever since then, Safi Ouattara Diallo is being appreciated even more explicitly as an important partner in educational concerns and she is supported within limits where ever possible.

Relevance of this offer in education within a country of the third world

Given economical and social problems in Burkina Faso, this new vocational training for cosmeticians and hairdressers might at first sight be considered as a dispensable service. This occidental sight is misconceiving that people in poor countries have similar needs and likes as we have, and that beauty care and physical aspects have important effects on self-consciousness. Beyond that, skin- and hair-care are important parts of hygienic procedures and they help in the prevention of vastly expanded inflammatory skin diseases. Besides it is important to remember that colouring and decorating the body has a very old tradition and a high significance in Africa.

First successes

Already after the very first educational training moderated by Bea Petri, ‚NAS MODE’ was able to offer new competences to the national broadcaster. They didn’t hesitate to make use of this offer and are now helping ‚NAS MODE’ with a periodical and most welcome commercial for the tailor school. Engagements for films, a musical and theatre productions are being planned, too

As a service to the local population ‚NAS MODE’ is offering a simple care programme which is strengthening the school and providing some decent income.

Sustainability is compelling

The school-project has the same ambitions as has the couture-education: it wants to provide a profound training to young people in order to offer them reasonable working- and living-perspectives. This sight of view distinguishes the centre from other aid programmes, which are mainly placed in humanitarian, medical and agricultural fields and have a stronger objective in supporting than in educating. A large variety of vocational know-how in as many different trades as possible is most suitable to enhance independence of national economies and to allow people a self determined design of their future. In all courses it is consciously paid attention to the fact, that neither dependency of imports nor questions of energy and raw materials is created. It is understood that only ecologically sensitive products are selected.

Aspects of gender

All sustainable projects in developing countries are setting high priority on female education in order to provide an improved social status to female population. At the same time, education is taking advantage of the reliability and highly pronounced sense of responsibility of women and thus can achieve a positive social evolution. Beyond that Safi Ouattara Diallo is supporting the students with her enlightened thoughts concerning social and sanitary topics such as Aids, female circumcision etc.

Selection criteria for graduates

From the beginning of ‚NAS MODE’ Safi Ouattara Diallo has been emphasizing transparent, sound and solid selection criteria and is personally taking care of the seriousness and truthfulness of every single application. Thanks to educational credits it is possible to recruit talented young students without own capital. These selection criteria have proven as successful not only fort the school but also for the students and they prove their reliability in a very high pass rate.

Around 80% of all graduates of ‚NAS MODE’ subsequently work in their area of expertise. This can be seen as an extraordinary contribution to the realization of a reasonable life-concept and it certainly helps against the prevalent lack of prospects. By this the necessity of emigration justified in inexistent personal development potential can be reduced

Long-range goals and ambitions

As a result of long geographical distances and poor travelling infrastructure there is an intention of providing a training-centre with integrated dormitories (boarding school / campus) in medium term. This project is supported by local authorities, too. For instance ‚NAS MODE’ has been offered a suitable property on the outskirts at a preferential price of 13'000 EUR for almost 6'000 m2.

It is planned to set up classrooms, ateliers, offices, dormitories for men and women, a refectory, sanitary facilities and a simple sports ground step by step. With an annual investment fund of circa EUR 20'000 an all-out operation built up in reasonable steps and spread over the next few years may be realised.

Controlling

It is Safi Ouattara Diallo who can guarantee a successful project enrolment thanks to her reliability, her precious networking and her complex and modern approach. Regular visits of Bea Petri in Ouagadougou and return visits of the headmaster in Switzerland with the purpose of further education will ensure a fluent and continuous development. An occasional presence of Safi Ouattara Diallo will provide investors with a direct contact to the responsible on site and thus a „hotline“ to the training centre and to the students will be assured.

Additional partners

‚NAS MODE’ has been supported with annual education-fees for at least four students since 2001 by the community of Carcelles/France. The German ‚SOS Kinderdorf’ is financing five annual education-fees and a federation in Burkina Faso is providing the costs for 10 courses.

‚NAS MODE’ will remain in contact with Swisscontact regarding all topics of education. A dual-line-education in analogy to our successful Swiss model for professional education is intended.

Vocational Training Courses

Tailor for ready-made-clothing level A with styling 3 years
Tailor for ready-made-clothing level B without styling 3 years
Cosmetician / make-up artist for film and TV level A cosmetics, make-up, hairstyle 2 years
Cosmetician level B cosmetics, make-up 2 years

Feasible engagements

Direct contribution to vocational training courses with CHF 500 an annual fee for one person can be financed
Contribution to the infrastructure of the new campus share not defined (see paragraph: long-range goals and ambitions)
Plain membership CHF 100 per year

Allocation of resources

Tax exemption for financial support

According to article 60 ff. ZGB, ‘NAS MODE’ is a registered “non-profit supporting association” domiciled in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Grants to the association ‘NAS MODE’ are tax exempted.

Abstract of Articles Of Association


Intent and Purpose

It is the intent and purpose of the association to financially support the school centre ‘NAS MODE’ for young women and men in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The association is a non-profit-organization following charitable aims solemnly and exclusively.

Resources

In order to fulfil intent and purpose the association disposes of money out of it’s annual membership-fees as well as out of donations. The amount of the membership-fees is determined every year on occasion of the general meeting.

Membership

Every natural or juristic person with a strong interest in the financial support of training centre ‚NAS MODE’ in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso or with an interest in supporting directly young students of ‘NAS MODE’ may become a member of the association.

Organs of the association

All organs of the association work as volunteers.

Dissolution

The association may discontinue its operations and voluntarily dissolve upon the affirmative vote of a simple majority if ¾ of all members are present in person. Should less members be present a second assembly is to be hold within one month. On this second assembly the association may dissolve upon the affirmative vote of a simple majority even if less then ¾ of all members are present in person.

Upon dissolution, any funds remaining shall transfer in full to an institution with an equal or similar intent, which is also tax exempted, which is a non-profit-organization and which follows solemnly, exclusively and irrevocably charitable aims.

Legal validity

These articles of association have been ratified upon the inaugural meeting of February 28th 2009 and therefore became effective.

Finances

The financing scheme is based on experiences and existing memberships of the supporting association. Actual activities of ‚NAS MODE’ can therefore be put on a clearly more stable basis, and they can even be expanded in a moderate way. On realization of a new boarding school / campus, investment costs will occur, but at the same time the annual rent of CHF 9'500 can be saved.

All contributions are transferred to ‚NAS MODE’ in monthly tranches and a continuous reporting is guaranteed. No third- or governmental-parties are involved in the transactions.

Engagement Supporting Association ‘NAS MODE’ Financing Scheme in CHF
  Initial Budget Revenues Expenditures Plan Plan Plan
Expenditures/contributions 2008 2009 until 07/09 until 07/09 2010 2011 2012
Education-fees CHF 500 (ca. 20 sponsorships/after 2010 ca. 25)   10'000.00 9'500.00 4'500.00 10'000.00 15'000.00 15'000.00
Direct contributions for rent//infrastructure/administration   10'000.00 10'280.00 5'340.00 10'000.00 10'000.00 10'000.00
private renovation-/infrastructural contribution Bea Petri for new centre 12'580.00            
private expenses Bea Petri for flight, hotels and advertising   5'000.00 6'590.00 6'590.00 5'000.00 5'000.00 5'000.00
               
total expenditures/contributions 12'580.00 25'000.00 26'370.00 16'430.00 25'000.00 30'000.00 30'000.00
               
separate financing: investments for new boarding school / campus         20'000.00 20'000.00 20'000.00

In charge of accounts and finances:

byKK Knecht + Kübler
Beatengasse 9
8001 Zurich

Contact for details is Mrs. Sue Knecht, phone +41 44 222 00 50

Accounting by byKK is realised at no charge.

Conclusion by Bea Petri

The project “Supporting Association ‚NAS MODE’” would not have been born if not out of the encounter between Safi Ouattara Diallo and me. During my month-long stay in Ouagadougou I realized, that sustainability could only be achieved with a long-term engagement and a lot of heart and soul. Young women and men in this African country deserve our attention and support as they are willing to live on their own responsibility today and in the future. However they often don’t have enough professional know-how to persist economically within a modern society. It is Safi Ouattara Diallo who has shown me with her personal engagement that an enlightened attitude towards social demands contributes greatly to a positive personal development. I therefore want to go on supporting this intelligent and extraordinary woman in her efforts for a new independent and self-reliant generation. The best way to do this is to provide funds for the vocational school. Our long-term objective is to become an exemplary boarding school with an integrated campus that can promote and further women and men of different social ranks.

I have obliged myself to those people in Ouagadougou and I want to shape and support their education. I can’t do this on my own and rely on others who share my confidence in a better future for those young Africans.

Thank you very much for your attention!

Bea Petri

Contact

Bea Petri
Supporting Association ‚NAS MODE’
Beatengasse 11
8001 Zürich

Phone: +41 44 383 11 87
Email: beapetri@mac.com