Learning Hub — Artisan

Your compassion creates champions like Sunitha. Sunitha has been living in a leprosy community in India all her life. Both of Sunitha’s parents had leprosy and she still lives with them. Her husband abandoned her many years ago leaving Sunitha to raise their children on her own. Sunitha was unable to complete high school but has trained in handloom weaving and leather technology through her leprosy community association. The piece items and bags she makes are sold for you to buy! Sunitha has supported her daughters through high school and higher studies. One of them is now a beautician, the other,...

Your warm heart gives a hand up to artisans like Tirtha. Tirtha was a really shy, timid woman. She and her husband are both hearing impaired and non-verbal. This has impacted her confidence, but she has worked hard to raise her two children. Both are excelling in school, and she is very proud. Her husband works, but his income was not enough to take care of their family.    Even though she had no handicraft skills, and felt very nervous, Tirtha came to work at Manushi (Nepal) because she wanted to learn. Manushi were inviting and gave Tirtha the chance...

Your shopping helps Sabita care for her family! Sabita works hard, hand-stitching textiles to earn money for her family. Her husband used to work in another country but came back to Nepal for his family. He has struggled to find work since then, so they take care of their 10-year-old son with just one income. They saved up money and took out a loan to buy a taxi. Now Sabita’s husband could work! But then — COVID lockdowns hit. A caring mother wants to do anything she can to help her family — but sometimes, it’s hard to see what she...

Your love is transforming dreams into reality for artisans like Radhika Radhika Basnet lives in Chabahil, an ancient neighbourhood in north-east Kathmandu, Nepal.   Radhika grew up in a family of seven, with two brothers and two sisters. She now manages her household alone, with her son and daughter. Her husband is away a lot of the time with the Royal Guards. That’s left Radhika to support the family through her income.  Radhika is an artisan in the batik section of our Shop partner of New SADLE. Batik is a method of dyeing textiles using wax).New SADLE is a not-for-profit organisation...

Your shopping transforms artisan lives!  Nanu was just 12 years old when she learned that she had leprosy. Her brother Tek noticed the red marks on her body, and he took her to The Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. He had leprosy before, so he recognised the signs. Nanu was able to be treated before she developed any deformity, but the nerves in her fingers are damaged to the point she has lost feeling or her fingers are numb.  Before she contracted leprosy, Nanu already liked weaving. She is very skilled with her hands, despite the nerve damage she developed....