We work very hard to find suppliers who share our beliefs and values - read on to find out where our products come from and what good they do in the communities which work so hard to produce them.

Social Welfare & Education in Bali: 

We have a close working relationship with our supplier in Bali. Since 2005, in an on going programme, the sale of products have helped to fund schools and orphanages in Bali that are in need of equipment and repairs. Help is also provided to pay school fees for children whose parents are unable to pay. Staff of our supplier volunteer to visit schools, orphanages and students´ homes to ensure fund are given where most needed and used as intended. In the last three years funds have been used to pay for school fees and books; to purchase sports equipment such as footballs and badminton equipment; to fix a leaking roof and to donate a much needed computer and printer to a school. In 2007 our supplier was made aware of the Kupu-Kupu Foundation in Bali. This is a small scale non-profit making organisation who aim to help improve the lives of physically & mentally disabled children, adolescents and adults living in Bali. The Kupu-Kupu Foundation provides wheelchairs (plus lessons how to use them) and transport to its centre in the town of Ubud that double as a school and community centre. There are very few facilities for disabled people in Bali. Some of the main problems facing disabled people are isolation and lack of mobility. With financial help from sales of our products the Kupu-Kupu Foundation has built a second Centre-cum-school in the town of Bangli to reach a wider number of people. To find out more visit their website www.kupukupufoundation.org

Education in China:

Most people still believe that there is no ethical trading in China; and unfortunately they are still largely right.  That\'s why we work extra hard to find good, honest suppliers in China - A few years ago, one such supplier helped in setting up a relief fund that provides scholarships to children in Koa Chau Primary School in rural North China. The fund also provides computer training for their 800 pupils, hoping to match the opportunities that children in urban schools would have. £5000 was donated to rebuild Gejiadeng Primary School, a very old mountain school in Yunnan, which was in a dangerous state of disrepair. Building work on the school was completed in March 2008 providing the children with a wonderful opportunity to develop in a safe happy environment. In addition, we support a project which supplies much needed relief teachers to schools within rural China, currently supporting eleven teachers .

Education in Guatemala:

Guatemala in Central America is where our worry dolls and other Mayan-inspired gifts come from. Since 2005, in partnership with our supplier sales of our products have helped fund three schools. This has enabled an increase in the number of pupils at these schools, which now totals 400 and is expected to increase. The first two schools were built for the communities in La Giralda and El Mirador. In  March 2008 a permanent school was built in the mountain village of Pacayal, which previously was a tin-roofed structure held up by four tree trunks!

Keeping tradition in India:

Over half of all our products are lovingly made in India and we could talk all day about theprojects which benefit there but to avoid boring you we'll focus on just one or two! One supplier employs 210 artisans to work in the factory at Noida just outside of Delhi, India. They provide all our fantastic mosaic products from tables to mirrors and hurricane lanterns - each is handmadeand unique. The company has a tradition of having a community lunch on Holi festival, (Hindu festival of colours, powder and coloured water are thrown, everybody gets very messy!) A cultural talent contest is organised and prizes are given for the best! In terms of environmental measures wet scrubber has been installed for cleaning fumes from the phosphating line, and an electrical treatment plant to treat effluent from this process. We are proud that this company has a temple on factory premises where all employees can offer their prayers. Every Tuesday Prasad (food and offerings) is given to Lord Hanuman and then the prasad is distributed to everyone in the factory.