Mitra Bali
Empowering Village Handicraft Artisans
In Their Own Words
Country: Bali, Indonesia
Year Founded: 1993
Who do they help? Works to empower a large group of handicraft producers. Unfortunately only a small portion of the benefits of the industry are ever enjoyed by the village craft producers. Instead, it is the owners of the rows and rows of art shops lining the streets of certain tourist centers who profit from tourism in Bali. The hard work of the artisans is not recognised and it is only the middlemen who reap the benefits. Craft producers rarely receive a fair deposit before starting their work. The craftsmen had to wait for their payment for weeks or sometimes the buyer cheated them and they never got their money.
How do they help? The producers always receive fifty percent of the total payment up front; they are paid promptly, the payment being a percentage of the suitable and fair sale price, which is calculated together with the craft producers. Mitra Bali also has regular free training workshops on design and product development which disseminate educational and enlightening information, including ways to help producers develop their businesses. Mitra Bali has an environmental program replanting albesia (blalu) trees as a sign of our concern for the fate of Bali’s natural environment.
Special Thanks to: Hani for being so lovely!
“Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”
Retail Therapy With Heart
