The Concerned for Working Children

Artisans and craftspersons

CWC has been working to support traditional artisanal livelihoods since the early 1990s. Many working children migrate to the cities to work because of the decline of the traditional livelihoods that have support their families for generations. CWC believes that with the right marketing and the appropriate use of modern technology, these livelihoods can be revived and help stem the flow of children to the cities.

The vocational training provided by our educational institute, Namma Nalanda Vidyapeetha, includes textiles, woodwork and basket-making as well as beauty, electrics, computing and agriculture.

In 1993, we founded Namma Angadi (‘our shop’), a collective marketing platform for young artisans and craftpersons in Karnataka.

Namma Angadi

Namma Angadi began as an outlet for rural artisans where stalls were put up on local market days to help villagers sell their products.  CWC believed that there would be a renewed interest in ethnic products in the urban market and consequently opened a store in Bangalore.

The network now has two outlets – one at CWC’s office in Bangalore, and the other at our residential resource centre, Namma Bhoomi, in Kundapur.

But Namma Angadi is not just another shop. There are no middle-men and CWC makes no income from sales. The network’s profits are returned to producers, who are part-owners of the business. The product range includes those made by children in our vocational training centre.

Prices are deliberately kept reasonable to appeal to the widest possible section of the community. The goods sold at Namma Angadi are sustainable, eco-friendly and hand-crafted, but with new technology and modern designs by interns from institutions like the National Institute of Design. Selection of the product range is based on the needs of the rural consumer that might also have an urban use.  All product materials are sourced from natural and eco-friendly sources – usually from the forest, villages or plantations.

Over the years, hundreds of artisans and craftpersons have joined the Namma Angadi collective and found a new market for their goods.

Our range of products include:

• Clay and Terracotta products
• Garments
• Bamboo products
• Jute products
• Lavancha products
• Wooden products
• Accessories

See a brochure of some of Namma Angadi’s products. (Note: 20MB download)

Support sustainable livelihoods: visit Namma Angadi

E-mail: nammangadi@gmail.com