It is a fair trade that began in February 1999 in order to giving low-income women the opportunity to acquire a basic income with which they can improve their living conditions as well as their families. Women aged 16 years and older are provided with vocational training in sewing, knitting and embroidery free of charge at the CHILDREN-Nepal Center. The Suryamukhi Handicrafts began on a very small
scale with only six women and a very small work space on the ground floor of the our building where it shared space with children's programs. Suryamukhi Handicraft's operations now command an entire floor at the CHILDREN-Nepal premises complete with workshop rooms, cutting facility, counter, office, store room, designing room and a sales room. Suryamukhi Handicrafts now employs 30 women and, since its inception, Suryamukhi Handicrafts has employed almost 300 women. More than 70% of the production nowadays is exportet especially to Europe and other industrialized countries. Since 2003, Suryamukhi Handicrafts of CHILDREN-Nepal is registered as a member of the “World Fair Trade Organisation” (WFTO) and the “Fair Trade Group Nepal” (FTGN). These networks provide a platform for trade connections all over the world as well as social support for our producers.
