Women on Wings has started collaborating with Craftmandi in Jaipur. Currently, 6,000 female artisans are shareholders of the Craftmandi Producer Company. The ambition is an annual doubling of this number in the next few years. Next to this, Craftmandi strives to preserve the rich Indian heritage of beautiful crafts that have been in rural families for many generations.
Last week, Women on Wings experts Robert Verhagen and Ronald van het Hof worked with the team of Craftmandi on the growth strategy for the next few years. Already last November managing co-founder Ellen Tacoma and Ronald agreed upon collaborating with Manish Kumar Meena and Maya Meena, founders of Craftmandi, after they had visited some of the artisan clusters near Jaipur.
Manish: “When I came across Women on Wings on the internet I immediately knew we should work together. I have worked with rural women for many years now, and have seen their power. They get more self-esteem when they have a job and they are the key to our success. Jointly with Women on Wings, we will work towards the empowerment of thousands of rural women.”
To realize sustainable income and livelihood to the artisans, Craftmandi – a for-profit company – will e.g. create demand through different sales channels to the target group through e-commerce, exhibitions and retail outlets.
Robert: “For many years I often travel to India and work closely with Indian colleagues to deliver e-commerce offshore services from India to customers around the world. Working closely with the people in India is really energizing. Manish, with his drive and mentality that anything is possible, truly inspires me! It is very rewarding to share my knowledge with the team of Craftmandi.”
