Meet the Artisans
Currently Crafting Change is working with five artisan groups in low-income communities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
COOTRABOM - One of the largest low-income communities of Rio de Janeiro, Mare, is home to the artisan cooperative COOTRABOM. The cooperative has approximately 20 members, mostly women, who use recycled paper and plastic to create necklaces, bracelets and handbags. The cooperative is divided into three parts (one to collect trash, another to recycle and reuse trash, and another to create crafts with the recycled materials). COOTRABOM is an ambitious group, working hard to form partnerships with non-profit organizations in Rio de Janeiro.
TRAMA E RAIZ - The artisan cooperative Trama e Raiz is located in the low-income community of Nova Iquacu, just north of Rio de Janeiro. The cooperative is made up of women, with approximately 22 permanent members. The group specializes in using banana fibers to create handbags, pillows and placemats. They have expanded their business profoundly in two years and are currently exporting backpacks to Italy. Besides running a small business, they also offer several beneficial social programs to their neighbors such as computer and theater classes for young adults in the community.
COOSTURART - In the low-income community of Santa Cruz, members from the artisan cooperative Coosturart specialize in sewn crafts. The group has approximately 20 permanent members who started the organization four years ago. Their hand-sewn products are currently gaining popularity in Rio de Janeiro with a recent magazine article praising the cooperative.
CRIOLA - Criola is a non-profit organization in Rio de Janeiro that focuses on spreading awareness on racial and sexual issues in the city. The organization recently opened a showroom for local artisans and give the artisan one hundred percent of the profits from each item sold. The organization contributes to the city, offering social programs that spread awareness on racism, sexism and homophobia. The organization has an office in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
ARTISANS OF MESQUITA - In Mesquita, a low-income community north of downtown Rio de Janeiro, four individual artisans started a showing room to market their crafts. The room displays various crafts from picture frames to beach bags. Crafting Change is working with three artisans from Mesquita including Maria, Vinicus and Lana. The artisans in Mesquita work closely with a social organization promoting economic solidarity.
COOTRABOM - One of the largest low-income communities of Rio de Janeiro, Mare, is home to the artisan cooperative COOTRABOM. The cooperative has approximately 20 members, mostly women, who use recycled paper and plastic to create necklaces, bracelets and handbags. The cooperative is divided into three parts (one to collect trash, another to recycle and reuse trash, and another to create crafts with the recycled materials). COOTRABOM is an ambitious group, working hard to form partnerships with non-profit organizations in Rio de Janeiro.
TRAMA E RAIZ - The artisan cooperative Trama e Raiz is located in the low-income community of Nova Iquacu, just north of Rio de Janeiro. The cooperative is made up of women, with approximately 22 permanent members. The group specializes in using banana fibers to create handbags, pillows and placemats. They have expanded their business profoundly in two years and are currently exporting backpacks to Italy. Besides running a small business, they also offer several beneficial social programs to their neighbors such as computer and theater classes for young adults in the community.
COOSTURART - In the low-income community of Santa Cruz, members from the artisan cooperative Coosturart specialize in sewn crafts. The group has approximately 20 permanent members who started the organization four years ago. Their hand-sewn products are currently gaining popularity in Rio de Janeiro with a recent magazine article praising the cooperative.
CRIOLA - Criola is a non-profit organization in Rio de Janeiro that focuses on spreading awareness on racial and sexual issues in the city. The organization recently opened a showroom for local artisans and give the artisan one hundred percent of the profits from each item sold. The organization contributes to the city, offering social programs that spread awareness on racism, sexism and homophobia. The organization has an office in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
ARTISANS OF MESQUITA - In Mesquita, a low-income community north of downtown Rio de Janeiro, four individual artisans started a showing room to market their crafts. The room displays various crafts from picture frames to beach bags. Crafting Change is working with three artisans from Mesquita including Maria, Vinicus and Lana. The artisans in Mesquita work closely with a social organization promoting economic solidarity.
