Local Craft Initiative Gains Ground in Boma Park

(BOMA NATIONAL PARK, GREATER PIBOR AREA) – A group of women in Otallo village are producing handmade crafts to support their families, as a community project in Boma National Park links cultural skills with income opportunities.

The artisans are making engraved and beaded bowls, table mats and necklaces using traditional designs. The items reflect local culture while creating a source of income in an area where economic opportunities remain limited.

Project organisers say more than 500 items have been produced in recent months and are being stored for future sale as tourism and retail markets develop. The initiative currently supports 10 women, with plans for income to grow as demand increases.

The scheme aims to provide small but steady earnings to help cover household needs, while encouraging skills development among women in the community.

The project is part of wider efforts to connect conservation with local livelihoods in Boma and Badingilo National Parks. Officials say working with communities is key to protecting wildlife while ensuring residents benefit from conservation activities.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with conservation groups and South Sudan’s Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism. Organisers say the approach is intended to support both environmental protection and economic resilience in rural areas.