LOCAL HANDICRAFTS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Wow! What an amazing year and it’s all thanks to you!

So what went on in 2019?....For a start with your support we shifted our focus from retailing to exports…Why?...After attending Ambiente, the leading international consumer goods trade fair that took place in Frankfurt during February 2019, orders starting flowing in. Export orders grew by 185% proving that it's far more beneficial for our artisans for us to focus our attention on exports. More orders mean volume, volume means regular work for the many women who rely on us to market the products they produce. You did this, with your help we create work for 200 women in vulnerable communities in six regions of Armenia.

So who's buying HDIF products?

27,800 mini crochet finger puppets for a Fair Trade Italian chocolate company, 1,640 crochet baby rattles for a German client and 406 crochet Christmas ornaments for clients in the US & New Zealand, provided work for 35 women in Gyumri.

1,100 egg warmers are being produced for a German client, providing work for 10 women in Talin. 

5,186 crochet products (hair bands, bookmarks and mini animals) provided work for 35 women in Berd. 

500 egg warmers are being produced by a new group in Martuni for a client in Germany…providing work for 7 women in the community.

These are just some of the orders that provide a much needed income for the women involved in our project. Not only an income but also help to build their moral and give them the confidence to feel that they too are capable of earning an income to help maintain and support their families. 

During October and early November you sent us on the road….

We travelled a total of 1,980km visiting our artisans to discuss plans on capacity building and what we foresee in 2020. Visits included to Berd, Goghovit, Goris, Gyumri, Kapan, Margahovit, Martuni, Sissian, Spitak, Talin, Vanadzor, Vartenis and Vazashen.

And what are we planning for 2020?.....

We’re going to Frankfurt again in February to bag more orders for our artisans! To fulfill these orders we need to focus on capacity building and provide trainings, particularly to the group leaders who manage the team of women, conduct quality checks and monitor the production process of orders. It will require frequent visits to the regions to encourage group leaders to empower more women in their communities.  

All the above cannot be possible without you! Your valuable support is our lifeline, without it we couldn’t achieve any of the above and for that we are truly grateful to you all!

As this will be the final report for 2019, we wish you all love and peace for the festive holidays and hope you will continue to support us to achieve much more in 2020.

What an amazing few months!…. Export sales have increased and new enquiries are pouring in. We’ve been sourcing new producers and at the same time relocated our operation to a fantastic new office & retail showroom…WHY? We wanted to shift our focus on our ever growing export orders….Yes exports! Since early 2018 HDIF producers have been busy crocheting orders for Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, USA, Australia New Zealand & Lebanon markets. Not just for Fair Trade distributors but also private businesses, museums and organizations

Gayane, one of our producer partners from Gyumri, who heads a team of 20 women recently announced the team has grown to 35…”women in Gyumri are approaching me to ask if they can join, word has got around in the community that there is a demand for women who know how to crochet” Why? “Simple, regular income and the fact that the women get together once a week to crochet together. It gives them an opportunity to talk amongst themselves, share problems, give support and encouragement to one another”….Now that’s what we call EMPOWERMENT! Earlier in June Gyumri managed to complete the second installment of one of HDIF’s largest order, 27,788 mini crochet finger puppet delivered to Italy….”amazing, lovingly crochet by a ladies in Gyumri and destined to please little children in Italy” said a very proud Gayane! The team is now working on 270 baby rattles for Germany and 350 Christmas ornaments to New Zealand.

IT DOESN’T END THERE….HDIF managed to deliver 1,250 Capricorn crochet mini animal keytags/finger puppets/pencil tops to Switzerland in April 2019. 300 Viking crochet finger puppets to Denmark in July 2019. All handmade by our producers in Berd. The 20 strong team of ladies are now working on 500 crochet mini animal bracelets and 500 mini hair bands to be delivered to a Fair Trade distributor in Germany by end of August.

Yes, HDIF is working hard to constantly expanding export sale….And what does this mean?…VOLUME! A much needed volume for the producers we work with. Not only does it sustain what we are trying to achieve - CREATING JOBS for women in rural regions of Armenia - it also opens up opportunities for further employment opportunities in the communities we work in.

And all this cannot be achieved without you. Your help and kind contributions gives us the opportunity and the life line to not only mentor women in vulnerable communities but also provides us the means to market products towards establishing sustainable and regular volume of export orders that contribute towards maintaining regular work and income for our producers …..YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING! THANK YOU!