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Products
Meet the Producers
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Asha Handicrafts
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Based in Mumbai, India, Asha Handicrafts, established in 1975, is a non-profit organization, working to promote Fair Trade and Fair Trade practices. Asha in Sanskrit means "Hope", and Asha has brought hope into what was largely a "hopeless" situation by providing a marketing outlet for the craft of talented artisans. From the beginning, the mission of Asha has been the development of the artisan through various development projects designed to meet the needs and standards of overseas markets. It is a society formed with the objective of preserving the crafts of India while marketing them abroad and providing training in craft development. Today, Asha assists directly, and indirectly, over 103 producer groups and 5,000 artisans in India throughout various cities.
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Noah's Ark
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In 1986, Noahs Ark was established to provide integrity, welfare and better living conditions for very poor artisans in the villages of Moradabad, India. In addition to fair wages and business support, the organization provides an opportunity to acquire life insurance, medical care and a facility for the education of their children. Noahs Ark is bringing opportunities to hundreds of the artisans in this community by selling products outside of India to organizations that believe in Fair Trade (paying a fair and living wage to workers while building into the community). There are 28 small artisan groups whose lives have been significantly impacted by improved living conditions and increased market opportunities for their craft. There is also a wonderful ripple affect in their communities as their improved wages get invested in other community businesses. A portion of the profits are allocated for building a school to provide free education for children who have been working in the fields of Moradabad. These children then will grow up with the skills to provide for themselves. Noahs Ark provides an opportunity for struggling families to make a living, to contribute to their communities, and to break the cycle of poverty.
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Village Artisans
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Village Artisan shares an appreciation for the beauty of traditional crafts, yet has a conscience regarding our environment and the people who live in it. It was this appreciation which lead us to place our production facility right in the heart of a under developed artisan community in North India. From handmade paper to bone beads, these artisans skillfully produce a myriad of intricate crafts. The practiced hands which produce each piece represent families who depend on their sales for food, clothing, education and a future. Village Artisan and its partners in the developed world, now bring to you these items, each representing skills passed down for generations, and hope for the generations to come.
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Community Friendly Movement
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CFM, Community Friendly Movement is a social enterprise based out of New Delhi, India whose mission is to create income for its primary stakeholders, artisan communities in rural India, by working directly with the community, reducing the number of levels in the chain, and increasing the sustainable income of the individual. In addition to international marketing support, CFM trains groups on the importance of quality, enabling producers to create high quality, internationally-marketable goods.
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PREDA
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Peoples Recovery Empowerment and Development Assistance Foundation, or PREDA,is a small but pro-active, charitable, not-for-profit organization working on a national and international level for Human Rights, especially the rights of women and children. Located in the Philippines, PREDA provides community support through a wide breath of projects. In addition, PREDA facilitates the international marketing and sales of handcrafted items that range from recycled juice bag totes to brush animals made from the buri palm, as well as food items such as dried fruit and juices.
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Shanti Seeds of Bali
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In the small villages of Taman and Bongkasa, Shanti Seeds of Bali creates employment that provides enjoyment, satisfaction and income for the villagers. Using the “two-drop peyote” stitch, women and students turn sturdy rattan baskets into beaded works of art. In an era of industrial machinery, electronics and synthetics, the artisans proudly hand bead brilliant geometric and floral patterns on every visible inch of the rattan basket, including the bottom. The artisans believe it is their responsibility to keep this valuable craft alive and allow the next generation to inherit the skills to reproduce the beautiful works.
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ThaiCraft
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Working with over 60 artisan groups of diverse backgrounds and cultures from all regions of Thailand, ThaiCraft generates a fair income for village artisans while keeping alive craft traditions. create thousands of fine hand-crafted products, including jewellery, clothing, fabrics, household items, basketry, decorations, stationery, musical instruments, learning games and more.
Some groups focus on, or include, people with special needs. Some others face social, political or environmental difficulties. The rest include village cooperatives, slum projects, and small community workshops.
All partners know about and are expected to follow Fair Trade practices and keep to internationally recognised standards of working behaviour and responsibility.
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Threads of Yunnan
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Launched in 1999, Threads of Yunnanis a project designed to raise the standard of living among the people of Yunnan Province through rural economic development. Women of the Han, Lisu, Miao and Yi Chinese minority groups make authentic embroideries and handicrafts unique to their districts. The company Danyun helps them to promote and market these items.
With this project, the women are able to use their skills and creativity to raise their self-esteem and to earn money. They are provided an opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty which grips the mountain villages. Danyun also provides training in nutrition, hygiene, money management and personal and family development.
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