“Thatta Kedona”, is a village handicrafts project located in Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, a remote village, also known as the “The Village of Dolls” in District Okara, Pakistan. The project was initiated in the early 1990s by Dr. Senta Siller, a German social worker and academic, along with her husband, Dr. Norbert Pintsch. The main aim of the project is to empower local women by providing vocational training and promoting income-generating activities through traditional crafts and doll making.
Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC), formerly known as Women Art Centre (WAC) is a cornerstone of the project, where women are trained to create handmade dolls dressed in traditional attire from various Pakistani regions. The aim of this initiative is not only to preserve cultural heritage but also provide an additional income source and reduce migration to cities. The dolls and other crafts produced are sold as souvenirs, both locally and internationally, enhancing the visibility of Pakistani folk art.
The project has expanded over the years to include a Technical Training Institute TTTC (Technology Transfer & Training Center) for young men, who are trained in skills like solar cooker manufacturing and making miniature tin rickshaws and trucks. This holistic approach to village development has improved the quality of life in the community, with profits from sales being reinvested into local schools and healthcare facilities.
