Project Name:
The type Craft InitiativeLocation:
Bhuj , Gujarat.CSR Initiative by:
Synergy Consulting India Pvt. Ltd.This project has been funded by Synergy Consulting Inc. as a part of their CSR initiative to help rural woman generate income and livelihood for skilled craftswomen of India, in collaboration with traditional artisans associated with Kala Raksha, Bhuj , Gujarat.
In 1993, KALA RAKSHA was established as a registered society and trust. Comprising of artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design, rural management and museums, KALA RAKSHA today works with nearly 1,000 embroidery artisans of seven ethnic communities http://www.kala-raksha.org/The Typecraft Initiative was started by Ishan Khosla and his vision for the project is to be more involved in creating Indic typefaces in scripts such as the devanagari and dravidian systems. https://ishankhosla.com/
The primary goal of this initiative is to help artisans sustain their livelihood through the creation and sale of the typefaces. The typefaces are meant to inspire, create awareness and generate further interest in the art, history, context and life of the people and the communities we work with. The typefaces are not only an archive of the IPR of communities that are on the brink of merging with mainstream society, but they are meant to be a celebration of their rich artistic heritage that through the creation of a digital typeface have converted to a contemporary medium.
http://www.typecraftinitiative.org/ Other areas where the Typecraft initaitive have been taken.
Project Name:
The Type Craft Soof Latin TypecraftLocation:
Kutch , Gujarat.CSR Initiative by:
Synergy Consulting India Pvt. Ltd.
The initiative is meant as a way for craftspeople and tribal artists to think in new ways in a world where they are no longer able to sustain themselves solely through traditional networks and systems.
Project Name:
Pastoral livelihoodsLocation:
Sadri, RajasthanCSR Initiative by:
Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS),The camel population is fast dwindling and several initiatives have been undertaken to focus on the preservation of camels. Along with this there is increasing awareness of using Camel wool, milk and dung from a livelihood and sustainability point of view.
With limited use for camels as a utility animal, there was a decline in the number of people who bred camels for a living. Recently the state of Rajasthan announced the camel as its state animal and this has seen a revival to an extent.
Camel wool is a sought after product internationally and is used in textiles. Camel milk and its by-products are sold for its medicinal value. Intake of camel milk is believed to have great benefits for autistic children and camel milk is also used in the manufacturing of soaps. Paper made from camel dung is made from living trees and shrubs that grow naturally in the desert and no tree has to be cut.
Mon Ami Foundation works closely with LPPS, using their expertise to make the project more marketable and commercially viable. We bring in our extensive network and strategic links to ensure the project is effective.
To build a marketing framework for the by-products such as camel wool, camel milk (soaps and packaged milk) and camel dung (to manufacture paper)
With limited use for camels as a utility animal, there was a decline in the number of people who bred camels for a living. Recently the state of Rajasthan announced the camel as its state animal and this has seen a revival to an extent.
Camel wool is a sought after product internationally and is used in textiles. Camel milk and its by-products are sold for its medicinal value. Intake of camel milk is believed to have great benefits for autistic children and camel milk is also used in the manufacturing of soaps. Paper made from camel dung is made from living trees and shrubs that grow naturally in the desert and no tree has to be cut.
Mon Ami Foundation works closely with LPPS, using their expertise to make the project more marketable and commercially viable. We bring in our extensive network and strategic links to ensure the project is effective.
Description of the Project
A sustainability project that involves a liaison with the NGO Lokhi Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS), based in Sadri, Rajasthan who work with the Raikas, a community of camel herders, to make paper made of the animals dung. Mon Ami Foundation plays the role of a facilitator or enabler bringing in strategic partners who help enhance the quality and increase the marketability of the paper. For instance, we have brought on board IIT Rourkee. Research students are currently working with on-ground field workers to explore utilising camel dung for other options such as paper mache. Mon Ami Foundation is also looking at improvising the processes for the soaps made with camel milk and the textile produced from camel wool. We are currently trying to see how best to make the coarse camel wool to fine wool products so that we can produce durries as well as fine baby stoles and shawls.Main Objective
To promote camel breeding as a means of livelihood while also encouraging environmental sustainability.To build a marketing framework for the by-products such as camel wool, camel milk (soaps and packaged milk) and camel dung (to manufacture paper)
Way Forward:
Include more people from the Raika community to partner with LPPS- To continue our efforts to improve product quality and marketability through our strategic linkages
- To find alternate uses of the camel wool, camel milk and camel dung and to extend the product line in future
Why You Should Fund:
Funding is required in order to expand the market for the products that are produced from the camel dung, camel wool and camel milk. Our effort at Mon Ami Foundation is to create quality products that contribute to the sustainability of the region. Quality control and marketing efforts are expensive and this is where we need your support.
Project Name:
Project EktaraLocation:
NCR RegionCSR Initiative by:
Monami FoundationProject Ektara, A craft revival project designed to generate income for marginalised income groups.
The project provides remunerative work to semi-skilled women, who craft crochet toys from their homes with the material provided. These toys are made from safe materials that are designed to enhance motor skills and cognitive skills in infants and young children.
Through Project Ektara, we identify women with basic knitting and crochet knowledge within Delhi. These individuals have the skill and enthusiasm, but lack the knowledge of combining these together to make an earning.Around 17 million people live in slums in mega cities and sadly, most migrant communities living in these pockets have limited avenues to work other than employing themselves as domestic helps or joining unorganised sectors.
Project Ektara provides these women with training in the craft of knitting and crochet. We guide them on various designs that they can experiment with and teache them to create hand crafted crochet toys. In addition, the project also fills the need for more hand-crafted Indian toys and crafts in vibrant colours in the market.
The project aims to provide appropriate skills and product development initiatives to semi-skilled women. It's missions is to create a value chain with a large consortium of semi-skilled women under one umbrella so as to allow them to create high quality products that can be linked with local NGOs or facilitate the formation of Self-Help Groups to sustain themselves and craft products in a conducive work environment.
Way Forward
- Include more and more women in the NCR region
- Engage with more NGOs who can work at training and guiding these women at the grassroot level
- Showcase the finished products in more bazaar and events to gain visibility and awareness
Why You Should Fund
Funding is required in order to train these women and make them self-sufficient. A large amount is spent on raw material as the work is labour and material intensive.Crochet as a craft can be done with many different types of yarn. Our endeavour is to give the toys a contemporary look and to make the end product child safe. That means we use natural fibres like cotton, dyed in free safe dyes and ensure that the product that is developed is absolutely safe for infants. The precautionary measures need to be explained to the women who craft the product as well as those who do the quality checks.
Creating a quality product cycle adds cost at every step of the way. From training, to crafting, researching, trials and finally producing the product. The process is tedious but we know the scale that this can reach and also provide employment to a large number of women.
The expenditure incurred in the project at this point cannot be recovered from the customer alone.
Impact:
- Provide additional income to over 200 families in the NCR region.
- Women continue with their regular employment avenues and do knitting and crochet work in their spare time
Project Name:
Dental Health CampLocation:
NCR RegionCSR Initiative by:
Mon Ami FoundationCelebrating Labour Day, 8th May 2017
Preventive Healthcare Programme. A Dental health check-up camp for all the staff members at The Shri Ram School, Aravalli Gurgaon.
The Bhaiyas and Didis at The Shri Ram School- Aravalli are an integral part of raising the next generation of citizens. The management at the school clearly understands and appreciate their untiring efforts in doing so.To ensure the wellbeing of all the housekeeping, catering and other staff, the school organized a Dental Camp along with Mon Ami Foundation, a not for profit, registered trust.
Dr. Neha Agarwal a practicing dental surgeon with over 18 years of experience led the camp, accompanied by Dr. Supreet Kaur and Dr. Shalini.
Each of the approx. 160 participants were checked thoroughly and were given prescriptions by the doctors as well as follow up treatment was advised in some cases.
Everyone of them carried back a toothpaste and a promise to keep dental hygiene!!
