Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark was established to provide integrity, welfare and better living conditions for very poor artisans in the villages of Moradabad, India. Besides fair wages and business support, Noah's Ark provides life insurance, medical and a facility for child education. Through their profits, they are building a school to provide free education to the children who work in the fields of Moradabad. Noah's Ark is also associated with Indian Society of Deaf and Indian Every Home Crusade. 

Tabaka Mothers and Children — Women

Tabaka Mothers and Children is a co-operative group of soapstone carvers from the Kisii tribe in Kenya. The group was established to provide fair wages for their members and the ability to market their products outside of Kenya. These highly skilled artisans live in remote, rural areas where the standard of living is extremely low. The co-op provides loans, product design and development assistance, and advanced payment for the orders. They are also providing safety equipment and health insurance. The group also offers basic training for youth who can learn the skills for the future.

Holyland Handicrafts Cooperative Society — Urban Poor

Holyland Handicrafts represents Palestianian artisans working in the occupied territories on the West Bank of the Jordan River. There are currently 42 workshops, averaging 5 employees each, which are producing handmade olivewood and mother-of-pearl. The tradition of producing handmade olivewood and mother-of-pearl religious artifacts was introduced to the area in the 17th century

Dominion Traders — Urban Poor

In the 50 years since its independence, the population has moved into the cities for a chance at prosperity working in factories. Nearly 20 independently-owned factories, each employing about 100 workers, are associated with Dominion Traders, an export company based in Karachi. When large onyx boulders arrive from the mines in Naukundi, a representative from each workshop chooses a block of stone with the most beautiful coloring and grains. The blocks are then cut into smaller pieces and transformed into items ranging in size from an apple to a lamp. Pakistan is also known for its intricately carved pieces cut from shesham wood.

Bombolulu — Handicapped

The government of Kenya offers no aid or welfare for the disabled. They are left to fend for themselves. For the handicapped, life is hard. They are an extra mouth to feed, sometimes passed from family member to family member, always unwanted, always a liability.

Bombolulu is an organization that has been operating for several years, trying to change the situation and lift these people to a position of being able to support themselves. Working particularly with the handicapped, they provide the training and the equipment for several hundred individuals to work on craft production. These crafts are sold around the world and the money goes back to provide salaries for the workers. For the first time in their lives, they are self-sufficient. The Pampered goddess is privileged to be a part of this work by selling crafts and helping to create a wider market for this organization.

Asha Handicrafts — Urban Poor

ASHA in Sanskrit means "Hope" and Asha brought hope into what was largely a "hopeless" situation by providing a marketing outlet to the actual craftsperson. From the beginning, Asha's thrust has been the development of the craftsperson in his natural environment through various development projects designed to meet the needs and standards of overseas markets. Asha today assists directly and indirectly over 103 producer groups and 5,000 crafts persons. 

Asha Handicrafts Association is an association of voluntary professional men dedicated to helping craftsmen physically, financially, spiritually and ecologically through its Resource Center and interrelated programs. The Team of Asha Welfare Workers stationed at different Producer Groups and cooperatives move closely along with the craftsmen and their families sharing skills and extending medical help and education gratis irrespective of caste and creed. Asha also imparts technical training to craftsmen to increase their efficiency and productivity and encourage the growth and development of cottage industries. 

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