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

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

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