Craft Producers
CIAP
The Inter-Regional Centre of Artisans of Peru (CIAP) is a non-profit association, comprised of artisans' groups from around the country. CIAP is strongly committed to defending and preserving the cultural identity of the Andine and Amazonian indigenous populations, and to improving the living conditions of its members, their families and communities.
CIAP has developed a number of social initiatives including the opening of dispensaries for the distribution of medicines to members; the creation of revolving funds for credit to members in particularly difficult situations, and for productive investments; and the establishment of a common kitchen where members can cook collectively and save an average of 50% on nutrition expenses. CIAP is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.
Corr the Jute Works
Corr the Jute Works is a charitable organisation established in 1973 with the aim of supporting rural Bangladeshi women through job training and job creation projects. Corr gives women the opportunity to supplement their income with craftwork while continuing to raise their children at home.
Over 4000 artisans (now including 200 men) work in small co-operative village groups producing craft from jute (a natural fibre widely grown in Bangladesh) and other raw materials including bamboo, cane, clay and wood.
HEED Handicrafts
HEED (Health, Education and Economic Development) Handicrafts is a large fair trade organisation established in 1978 to support village craftspeople in rural Bangladesh.
HEED trains and works directly with minority groups - including refugees, people with disabilities and indigenous tribes – to enhance skills and income creation. HEED also provides free medical services, health education and agricultural assistance to its artisans - now numbering over 11,000 craftspeople in about 300 producer groups. HEED artisans receive fair wages and share profits annually.
Minka
Minka is a non-profit organisation promoting social and economic development in Peru through its support for local craft projects. Since 1987, Minka has worked in partnership with approximately 10,000 craftwork producers from all over Peru, over three quarters being women living in marginalised areas.
Minka offers artisans business advice, technical assistance (including the provision of raw materials) and fair local wages - over twice as much per hour as middle-merchants, whose prices typically fail to even cover costs. Once a year, Minka distributes net profits among its member organisations. These distributed profits are used in local community development projects such as school construction. Minka is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association.
Nimbin Candles
Nimbin Candles is located in the historic Nimbin Butter Factory, just north of Nimbin township. The candles are made using the age-old method of dipping each individual wick to create a perfect taper. Only the highest grade paraffin wax is used. Nimbin candles are non-toxic and contain no animal products.
Perception
Perception is a small Fair Trade organisation founded in 2006 to assist artisans in Dhaka, Bangladesh. There are presently four full-time and four part-time artisans working with Perception. With the money earned from their handicrafts, these producers are being empowered and are able to provide better living conditions for their families.
Perception is a Member of ECOTA - a networking and coordinating body of small and medium Fair Trade enterprises in Bangladesh.
Sasha
Sasha is a founding member of the Fair Trade Forum in India. It is a not-for-profit association working with more than 100 craft groups in West Bengal, Orissa, the North-East and Karnataka. Sasha supports artisan groups in the preservation and revival of traditional crafts, while encouraging the development and marketing of new designs. The association also offers training in business and management skills, with the aim of assisting producer groups to become economically independent and viable.
Surjomukhi
Surjomukhi was founded in Bangladesh in 1994 to improve the working and living standards of rural producers. Surjomukhi aims to address three main areas of difficulty for low income and marginalised rural people seeking gainful employment - lack of working capital, marketing support or opportunity for skills development.
Surjomukhi presently has 25 artisans, the majority being women. Some of the producers work from home and bring their finished products to the organisation. There is also a small production unit in Dhaka. All the artisans receive ongoing training to improve their skills and meet the challenges of innovation, design and efficiency.
Some of the benefits provided by Surjomukhi to producers are:
Surjomukhi hopes that with increased international market access, they will be able to set up a new production unit, and be able to employ and empower more producers. Surjomukhi is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
TARA Projects
TARA (Trade Alternative Reform Action) Projects provide support for the production and marketing of handicrafts in Northern India, while addressing community development needs. TARA funds and maintains a number of non-formal schools, vocational training centres and adult literacy centres.
TARA has been a leading advocate for the elimination of child and bonded labour in India, and campaigns to raise awareness of illiteracy, unfair trade practices and environmental issues. Amongst many craft groups producing a variety of work, TARA supports three groups of stone-craftsmen, providing for about 250 families. TARA guarantees fair wages and a ventilated working environment for the traditional stone hand-carving of these artisans. TARA Projects is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.
Thai Tribal Craft
Thai Tribal Craft is a non-profit organisation working with seven hill tribes living in about fifty isolated villages in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Thai Tribal provides a marketing outlet for the traditional arts and crafts of the hill tribe people, offers advice and training to producers and assists in the creation of new designs.
Thai Tribal’s support has not only given the villagers much needed income, but helped them to gain dignity and a renewed sense of self worth. About sixty percent of the price of each craft item goes to the producer. The net profit after this is divided amongst the tribal people. Thousands of mountain-dwelling people can now provide better nutrition for their families, obtain medical help and educate their children. Thai Tribal Craft is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.
The Craft Centre
The Craft Centre was established in 1973 by the YWCA as a non-profit organisation with the aim of providing training and job opportunities for Bangladeshi women. Today, about 450 women are working as craft producers with the YWCA in Bangladesh.
The goals and objectives of The Craft Centre include: to provide skills, training and an income to women, especially the uneducated and destitute; to develop markets for the products made by women at the centre and to establish craft centres in other parts of Bangladesh.
In addition to providing a fair wage to its producers, The Craft Centre provides services such as literacy training, health and nutritional advice, subsidised food and medicines, a savings scheme, interest free loans, legal advice and an annual recreational programme. Any profits from The Craft Centre are distributed among other projects of the YWCA. In November 2005, a new Craft Centre was opened in Savar, a village about 30km outside Dhaka.
The ThaiCraft Association
The ThaiCraft Association is a non-profit organisation whose objectives are to provide sustainable income for village artisans whilst preserving the diverse craft traditions of Thailand.
Since ThaiCraft was established as an independent development organisation in 1992, more than 80 producer groups have been assisted in the production and marketing of their craft - from hill-tribes in the north, to fishing communities in the south. ThaiCraft is a member of International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) and abides by the principles of Fair Trade.
Tea and Coffee Producers
Hari Har Chai
Hari Har Chai is a small company based in Victoria. Hari Har Chai uses Daintree Tea, naturally low in caffeine and tannin free.
Kin Kin Tea
Kin Kin herbal teas are organically grown on a small farm near Noosa. They are dried in a unique solar and wind dryer on the property where they are also packed. Oxygen bleached paper is used for the tea bags.
Sri Lankan Tea Gardens
Sri Lanka has a number of distinct tea growing regions which provide a range suitable for producing blended tea of consistent high quality throughout the year. Trade Winds’ source their Sri Lankan tea from Stassen – a totally Sri Lankan owned company.
Stassen is committed to the betterment of employment and education opportunities, social development and the health of their workforce and local communities. Stassen’s tea gardens produced the world's first certified organic tea. Based in the Uva province, organic tea cultivation is coupled with a social development project directed at improving the quality of life of the workers of this area.
Smallholders in East Timor
Trade Winds’ East Timor coffee is grown by the Timor Mogl co-operative, established at the time of independence in East Timor. The co-op employs coffee experts to help restore a system of quality which was very low under Indonesian control. These experts have also helped farmers gain organic certification. The co-op focuses on giving growers more autonomy and security.
Farmers are paid a premium price for their coffee (about 25% above market price) and are provided with comprehensive health care for themselves and their families. At the end of the year growers are paid a dividend from the co-operative’s profits. Supporting this co-op is a great way to be part of the prosperity of the people in the new East Timor.
Smallholders in PNG
The Blue Mountain and Paradiso coffee varieties are grown, processed and packed in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Traditional cultivation methods and the high altitude of the growing area produce a coffee which is naturally low in caffeine and acidity.
The coffee is organically grown and harvested by PNG villagers without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. Certified independently by BIO Farm Australia and the (NASAA) National Association of Sustainable Agriculture of Australia. |
