The Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC), previously known as the Women Art Center (WAC), is a key element of the Thatta Kedona project in Pakistan. Established in 1993 by Dr. Senta Siller, the center initially focused on providing vocational training for local women in the art of doll making. This initiative allowed women to balance their traditional roles with income-generating activities, promoting financial independence and cultural preservation.
By 2016, the center had evolved into the Senta Siller Design Center, reflecting a broader scope of activities and a deeper commitment to local development. The SSDC now supports women micro-entrepreneurs in marketing their handmade crafts, which include dolls dressed in traditional Pakistani attire and miniature models of local transport vehicles. The profits from these crafts contribute to community welfare, including funding for schools, health care, and further training programs.
The center also emphasizes cultural education and artistic skills, having been instrumental in introducing truck art techniques to the village men, who create hand-painted miniatures of trucks and rickshaws. This expansion of activities highlights the center’s role in fostering creativity and cultural pride among both men and women in the community.
