Awa Eva Seck Gueye: For round furniture for everyone!

SENEGAL

Awa Eva is a woman of exceptional talent. Really, when you see her products, because of the technicality that characterizes them, we find it hard to realize that it's a lady who hides behind them. Awa has opted for the recycling and recovery of used car tyres. An ingenious project that effectively contributes to improving the quality of the environment in Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Artiaf's view of an atypical entrepreneur.

Awa Eva Seck married Gueye, is of Senegalese nationality. Some time ago, she had the good idea to embark on the ecological battle on behalf of her country. Surprisingly for a woman, Awa produces furniture based on used tires. Inputs that it recycles and sorts from waste and residues from vulcanizers. Through this action, it participates effectively in the sanitation of the environment of the urban perimeter of Dakar. To our astonishment, she says that "the world has changed now. Women are capable of doing anything. And it is the palpable proof of that."

In fact, how do we get there?

Awa followed graduate studies in marketing which were sanctioned by obtaining a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS) (year). Only, for family constraints and lack of time, she will not have the opportunity to practice her profession in a company. To keep herself and her husband in support of her family, Awa went into the retail business selling beauty, hairdressing and cooking products. She even went so far as to open a shop. Despite the modest income she earns from this activity, Awa does not find inner peace. She picks up but does not give up. She is looking for a new way.

Guided by an invisible hand, Awa is brought back to her first love: art. Born into a family of craftsmen, an antique dealer and jeweler father and a decorator and seamstress mother, Awa was attracted from her early childhood by sculpture with which she was passionate. It has an attraction for round shapes including furniture, pottery, sculptures and other decorative objects. When she discovers the ottoman (accessory seat), she marvels at the sight of this object. That's when he came up with the idea of making it herself. Wanting to undertake with little financial means, she has the ingenious idea of dressing a tire. With the help of her artistic knowledge and her taste for layout, she developed a first piece of furniture that aroused the admiration of all. Indeed, the result is spectacular.

Demand is exploding!

Demand is exploding. Awa is quickly overwhelmed. Customers call him from all over Dakar. Sometimes they impose custom orders in terms of colors and models taken here and there on the net. This gives him even more innovative ideas. Given these chain reactions of the public, Awa decides to devote himself entirely to his new activity and to organize his production. By sourcing used tyres, it also realizes the ecological nature of its activity. She makes it her business because she wants to fight against the insalubrity in her country.

Day after day, she spends her time on the street where she searches for and picks up tires. With the help of two employees, she washes them to remove all impurities. Then come the steps of drilling, polishing, varnishing and drying the tires. For the happiness of customers, Awa has a catalog consisting of a hundred products such as ottomans, benches, tablets and even flower vases. Very satisfied, customers say that: "Its products are very beautiful, durable and cheaper. With very little money you can decorate your house well." Awa won her bet.

Many projects to implement.

Nevertheless, the Dakar entrepreneur does not want to stop there. She has a lot of projects to implement. She dreams of opening a Senegalese restaurant like no other. Fully furnished by her brand, she plans to set up a large showcase dedicated to the exhibition of her products. She intends to use her marketing skills to popularize her furniture and make Senegalese art known around the world. Let us remember that Madame Gueye is a real cordon bleu. 

Awa also has a big heart. She thinks of the many orphans in Dakar. She hopes, with the grace of God and her future income, to multiply actions for her street children. She believes that current donations are not enough. "Here in Senegal, there are so many children hanging out that I am often sensitive to this phenomenon. That's why in my personal organization I always try to take it into account."

Even so, Awa is realistic. She knows that to boost her business she needs strong partners or substantial financial assistance. To young people, she advises them "to undertake and persevere because any beginning is difficult but with a lot of patience we end up getting there. Always believe in yourself and what you do."

Finally, while thanking her clientele without whom her art could not exist, Mrs. Awa salutes the action of Artiaf for young entrepreneurs and artisans of the continent. Indeed, she thinks "that it is important and that it is a very good idea to want to help artists and craftsmen because we are often left behind".

Writing

Article first published on Artiaf on March 19, 2018