Global Handcrafters is proud to be working with some of our Producer Groups since 1995. They continue to amaze me how creative they are and have such a natural gift of design. They are also efficient in fulfilling orders in a timely manner and very professional in conducting business with Global Handcrafters. They all practice the Fair Trade principles in supporting the Artisans. Read on about each of the groups.

Prokritee, Bangladesh

The Mennonite Central Committee started working in Bangladesh in 1920 and initiated income-generating programs for rural women in 1975. In 2001, the organization became an independent nonprofit and changed its name to Prokirtee, a Bangla phrase which means “nature”, referring to the all-natural materials used to make their products. They work with 8 individual enterprises with the goal of generating income for poor, rural women. Prokritee offers training in organization and business skills, export marketing and leadership and only works with the poorest Bangladeshis.

Click here to see the cards and other products from Prokritee

Jorova Crafts, Kenya

Was founded by three women, Josephine, Rosemary and EVA. They are located in Dandora, a slum in the Eastand’s of Nairovi, the capital city of Kenya where the majority of the low income and poor of the society are found. The aim of forming the group was to empower the local women/ housewives who entirely depended on the husbands for everything. Because of this, the women decided to form a group and work together towards self-reliance. Initially they met one day of the week to do cleaning of homes and offices and were paid for their services. Eventually they purchased a sewing machine and started embroidery work with it. Today Jorova is made up of 7 groups both in the slums and the rural areas. 10% of monies received is retained as operational costs of the organization and also for offering soft loans to the members.

Click here to see the products from Jorova

Third World Craft, Nepal

Their Mission is to provide ongoing support and service for small scale, home based artisans and producers and for their products to access to the global market by using digital technologies, internet and market research. They practice a code of conduct of Fair Trading, and ahs concerns for fair wages and prompts payments to producers. Their business is based on a practice of business ethics, performing a high level of professionalism in trading and are concerned for the well being of the society, producers and environment. They also provide Micro-loans to artisans without collateral so that they can purchase necessary raw materials and equipment.

Click here to see the products from Third World Craft

Ana Art Group, New Delhi, India

Started working in 1995 and consists of a community of 25 families of men, women, widows and handicapped. All these families have their work place in their houses. Each family works on the different aspects of the making of the jewelry. One family specializes in bone, others in wood, horn and glass. The men in the family finish the raw material and give shape to the beads and pendants. The women then assembles the products into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Ana Art Group keeps 15% of the earnings of each order as a reserve for medical treatment and other requirements of their group. The group’s goal is to have continuous jobs for the members which means more prosperity for them.

Click here to see the jewelry from Ana Art Group

Kathal Kreations, Bangladesh

A resourceful group of women from the river delta country of Bangladesh who use their own skills and their country’s own natural resources to produce this completely handmade product. All paper is handmade and wheat straw, bamboo and jute are hand processed into a form used on these cards. Any assistance given to this native Bengladeshi company with design, marketing, or distribution is done on a volunteer basis. Maria (second from right) is 32 years old and her husband is a carpenter and often us unable to get more than occasional work. With Maria’s card-making earnings, she was first able to buy a fan for their home and move from the slum where they lived to a one bedroom apartment in a better area. This put them near a school where their son, Noyon, 8 years old is going to school for the first time. Minu (second from left) is 19 years old and lives with her widowed mother. She faced the prospect of having to discontinue her schooling due to lack of money, Now, with her card-making earnings, Minu is able to continue her studies.

Click here to see the cards from Kathal Kreations

Comparte, Santiago, Chile

Their mission is to improve the lives of economically struggling workshops and artisan groups throughout Chile by promoting and exporting the handicrafts they design and create, as well as working with the artists to improve their business practices and continually develop new products that stay true to their traditions. We carry jewelry handcrafted by several of their artisans. On the upper left is Jessica, who was a medical student before she began to create jewelry with her partner Carlos in 2000. They employ 10 others to help create the jewelry.

Click here to see the jewelry of Jessica and Carlos

Maritza Quintero is another artisan. She was a student for 5 years before she started to create her glass pieces in 2000.

Click here to see her designs

Patricia and her husband George along with 2 older children have been creating jewelry since 2003.

Click here to see their designs

Click here to see all the jewelry from Comparte