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- Artisan Profiles-

Noah's Ark International Exports

Noah's Ark is a fair trade handicraft marketing organization in Moradabad, India. Most of the jewelry artisans are women, who benefit from the fact that they can work from home and maintain their responsibilities for children and household.

Noah's Ark provides benefits such as education and medical treatment for artisans and their families. Noah’s Ark also works to empower artisans at the workshop level, and regularly provides low or no interest loans to help with infrastructure upgrades and other business needs. As artisan businesses become more self-sufficient, Noah's Ark takes on new families. Since the company's inception, about 20 artisan workshops have become independent. Recently, Noah’s Ark has also started a small school for artisans’ children who might otherwise have little opportunity for education.

Noah's Ark started in 1986, in one room of a family house in Moradabad. Businessman Samuel Masih observed that exporters and middlemen were taking advantage of handicraft artisans, exploiting them as if they were bonded laborers. He started Noah's Ark to promote these artisans and their crafts. Masih invested the earnings into infrastructure and equipment for underprivileged artisans, into training and into marketing their products. Noah’s Ark is a member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT). Ninety percent of their sales are to IFAT members.

Global Gifts purchases jewelry and metal items from Noah’s Ark through our wholesale partner Ten Thousand Villages.

  • Noah's Ark International Exports was founded in 1986.
  • Noah’s Ark markets products from almost 40 artisan groups, representing some 300 artisans.
  • Artisans with Noah’s Ark produce metal crafts, wood crafts, cutlery, handmade paper products, bone and horn products, glass, jewelry and textiles.
  • Most Noah’s Ark artisans are women, many working from their homes.
  • Benefits from Noah’s Ark include raw materials supply, education and medical services.
  • Noah’s Ark trains artisans for better management, product development and support.
  • Global Gifts currently carries jewelry and metal from Noah’s Ark.
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TV-BicycleChainProducts.

Recycled bicycle chain makes a unique picture frame or bottle opener - from $10

Noah's Ark Artisan.

Noah's Ark Artisan, Nane, creates frames and bottle openers from discarded bicycle chains.

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