Our Artisans

When she was only 11, Heena's father passed away, leaving her mother, Heena, and her 3 younger siblings to support themselves. Heena left school and learned to embroider from her mother. They got sporadic work from local contractors - but sometimes they got paid and sometimes they didn't. A neighbor let them know about a new self-help group in their area, started with support from Tara Projects, a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. Click for more »

Nestled within New Delhi, Punam sits among friendly faces and colorful saris, smiling and proud of her contribution. Two years ago, Punam learned to bead from a family artisan cooperative in her neighborhood, and since then they have helped her family earn enough to survive. Punam’s family could not afford the dowry for her marriage - her mother is sick and her father cannot work regularly due to a chronic illness. Since working, she was able to pay her dowry as well as her mother’s medical treatments. Working in the cooperative means she is able to provide for herself as well as her family while remaining in a safe, caring environment. Click for more »

Geeta works with Toucan Krafte, an artisan group in New Delhi. The oldest of 7 children, she left school early to help support her family. She found the fair trade group a year ago without knowing anything about jewelry. Click for more »

Although Prema was widowed while pregnant, she was determined to support herself and daughter without becoming a burden on her aging parents. Her uncle introduced her to Teddy Experts, a fair trade organization in southern India that employs over 300 low-income artisans. Click for more »

Rami's parents didn't have enough money to pay for her studies, so she needed to start work shortly after elementary school. Their village, Celuk, in Bali, Indonesia is known for its silversmith artisans, but Rami wasn't finding steady work outside of low-paying factories. The long hours and poor wages made it difficult to help support her husband's meager income and raise their three children. Click for more »

Shaista was born into an orthodox Muslim family in Old Delhi, India. As a woman, it was difficult to find work in her conservative community without discrimination. With the help of two of her siblings, she started a self-help group and began working on handicrafts for Tara Projects. Click for more »

Sushma lives in New Delhi, India with her husband and two young sons. She had to leave school early due to distance and family illness. She learned about Tara Projects 5 years ago and began working there, immediately receiving a fair wage and steady employment. Sushma works 5-6 hours a day and supplements her husband's income to sustain their family. She pays for her children's school fees, food, and clothing. Click for more »