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SHARE SHARE
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|  | SHARE, which stands for Self Help Association for Rural Education and Employment, is a community-based organization in Vellore, India, committed to artisan development. SHARE is focused on empowering women, and seeks to rectify gender inequality by giving women financial power within their own families. SHARE artisans produce a variety of woven fiber products, using palm leaf, sisal, banana bark and coconut leaf. |
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SHARE, which stands for Self Help Association for Rural Education and Employment, is a community-based organization committed to artisan development. SHARE is based in Vellore, India, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The organization is focused on empowering women, and seeks to rectify gender inequality by giving women financial power within their own families. SHARE artisans produce a variety of woven fiber products, using palm leaf, sisal, banana bark and coconut leaf. Artisans are all women, and come from disadvantaged landless families. SHARE is also proud of its advocacy work in encouraging women to be politically involved. In 1998, leaders within the organization ran for local office and were elected, which represented a shift in local thinking. Currently some 30 women leaders within SHARE hold local office, and the organization continues to encourage political and community involvement among its members.
SHARE was established in 1992 by Christian Medical College in Vellore. It holds membership in a variety of fair trade organizations, including the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), Fair Trade Federation India and South India Producers Association (SIPA). SHARE works with 7,500 rural poor women engaged in craft activities, farming and other income generation. The artisans are organized into 360 Self Help Groups (SHGs). Each SHG elects a leader who is responsible for communication with SHARE. SHG leaders meet at least once per month. These groups are also now helping to form youth self-help groups. Benefits for artisans include HIV prevention training and other empowerment programs, loan programs, a uniform and education fund, as well as government-sponsored life insurance. SHARE also supports programs for primary school children and focusing on environmental awareness.
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MY DESIGNS
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