In Senegal, domestic violence survivors craft hope in silver

Growing up in Senegal, it never crossed Ndeymour’s mind that she could become a silversmith. From what she had seen, soldering and shaping silver was hard, dirty work, and it was done exclusively by men. 

Then, two years ago, she felt obliged to do something else that she had never imagined for herself: flee an abusive partner. Pregnant and homeless, she found her way to a Dakar women’s shelter. And when the owner asked her to join a silversmith training program, she already knew she was capable of a new kind of life. She immediately said yes. 

Today, Ndeymour, who has asked to be identified only by her