1 hour out of Yogyakarta, in the Gunung Kidol province, is the Ngalang community where local artists Saijo and Saimo hand make recycled and organic material crafts. Kelompok Karya Muda has had mixed success since 1999 and has become an important source of income for the Ngalang community at large along with agriculture and animal husbandry. The 2006 earthquake affected the ‘Golden Era’ for this co
mmunity group who have not yet fully recovered. They continue to struggle maintaining sales and the ability to employ up to 25 local workers. The loss of income and meaningful daily activity has affected many areas of social life in this village. Initiatives by entrepreneurial thinkers like Saijo and Saimo are important to support as they contribute significantly to the community development of their own village. By using natural resources from their own environment and working to improve their situation they are exemplifying grass-roots and community based development in its purest form. Kelompok Karya Muda has been selling their crafts to Ten Thousand Villages and their products are also available on their website at http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/.
