WHO WE SUPPORT: ANCHAL [on-chal]
“The women we met became our sisters, sisters we had to fight for.”
Anchal is a group we just love to support. They are a non-profit organization that works to address global employment inequality. The group has developed design-driven programs that provide women options and alternatives to dangerous and exploitative work. Anchal offers education workshops in everything from leadership and entrepreneurship to self-defense, yoga, and stress management.
The organization has allowed 95% of their female artisans to leave the commercial sex trade or dramatically reduce their clients, paving the way to a more sustainable lifestyle for themselves and their families. They are paid fair and competitive wages, making 30-50% more than they would as a commercial sex worker. The artisans now have their own bank accounts, can afford healthcare, clean water, home improvements, and 100% of them are able to invest in their children’s education.
Their high-quality, handcrafted items are primarily made in Ajmer, India and also in Louisville KY, USA. They utilize time-honored techniques to create both traditional and modern home goods. The programs Anchal has developed offer women design and skills training to not just give them opportunities as seamstresses but to help them have a voice through their craft. The artisans’ work promotes self-expression, storytelling, healing power, and creativity. Their work is a true testament to the power of purpose, intention, and ethics in design.