Jimma Banana Art (JBA) is a project that was started in April, 2000 with the hope of helping a group of young Ethiopian women earn money to support their families. The project involves making greeting cards and several other products from the various parts of banana plants.JBA is located in Jimma, Ethiopia -- a city of 130,000 residents in the southwest of the country, about 335 kilometers (200 miles) from the capital city of Addis Ababa. Ethiopia and in particular, Jimma has a very young population (more than half are younger than 20 years old) and a very high unemployment rate. This combination makes it very difficult for young people to find work. The JBA project was conceived with the following two factors in mind:
The cards and other products that are made by JBA are produced from the many parts of the banana plant including the bark, the leaves and the flowers. The materials are dried, ironed and baked to give many different colors and textures. These are then cut into small pieces using a pattern and glued to make intricate designs and images. The products offered include greeting cards, placemats, small posters, bookmarks and coasters. The designs depict many aspects of daily life in Ethiopia. Of course, there is also a collection of cards for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations and Christmas.
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Through this program, nearly thirty women in Jimma are currently making a reasonable living wage. With continued success, this number is likely to grow. JBA is a non-profit organization and all funds go directly towards paying the women who make the cards and towards extending the program.