Desa Dubrovnik

Desa is an organization for women based in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was founded in 1993 to meet the psychological needs of victims of the war, both refugees from Bosnia and displaced local women. Desa (pronounced "daysha") now promotes economic and community development through public education (currently offering courses in sewing, weaving, Italian, and English, in addition to planned seminars and courses on topics ranging from small business development, hotel management and computer skills, to womens political participation in democracy), while continuing to provide a space for women to support one another. Desa has also sponsored the successful revival of the local craft of silk-production which has made possible the reconstruction of the traditional costumes of the devastated Konavle region -- with the hope that silk-production may become a viable commercial activity for the women of Konavle.