Hope in India
Asha Handicrafts, (Asha means “hope” in Sanskrit), was established in 1975 by a group of Christian businessmen, and today is successfully marketing handcrafts for over 50 family workshops around India, representing 1500 artisans, irrespective of caste or creed. As a sign of its commitment to the artisans, Asha welfare workers work closely with their families, providing medical care and educational assistance, including scholarships for primary school children, school fees, uniforms and books. Other benefits the workshops receive include advances to purchase raw materials, interest-free loans, face masks for artisans working with dust or powders, and clean drinking water. Asha encourages and assists the workshops to find their own markets and to deal directly with customers eventually, instead of becoming dependent on Asha for work.

Anil Gala grew up in the harsh dry environment of the Kutch region in Gujurat and, with an entrepreneurial spirit, moved to Mumbai in 1985, where he found employment in a small shop in the heart of Mumbai. For the next eighteen years Anil worked long hours as he learned the business of steel utensils, and saved money till he could finally lease a shop in the market and launch his own enterprise, Anand Handicrafts, in 2003.

Anand Handicrafts now produces fine quality steel products, including the tea and coffee cups on this page. Asha has been working with Anand since 2003, helping them find markets for Anil’s growing range of kitchenware.