Before joining
Western Union and learning about our partnership with Ashoka and the Executive
in Residence program, I had never heard of Ashoka and the amazing
contribution it makes to social change in the world.
In case you hadn’t
either, here is a quick overview …
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| Ashoka |
Founded by Bill Drayton in 1980, Ashoka provides financial support and professional services to a global network of over 3,000 “Ashoka Fellows” and a platform for helping people become “change makers”.
What I love is their approach – Bill Drayton is quoted as saying “Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish, they will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.” They concentrate not just on the immediate cause or problem, but work to change the infrastructure and ecosystems that will bring about sustainable change … as an OD professional this is music to my ears!
I encourage you to go onto their website and read more about them as an organisation, have a look at some of the work the fellows have done and download some of their “Stories of Change” – simply inspirational!!
So, how did I get involved?
A few months ago I was nominated for the 2013 Executive in Residence program, which is an amazing partnership between the Western Union Foundation and Ashoka. Essentially it looks to connect us with an Ashoka fellow that is working on a critical social change initiative. The team at Ashoka go through a process of matching our experience, skills and interests with a project that best suits and then we go to that location for two weeks to work alongside the Fellow on a specific project that helps them accelerate their strategy into action.
My Assignment …
I am incredibly excited about my project which to help Judy Frater (the Ashoka fellow I have been partnered with) develop a business
course for graduating artisans of Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya in Kutch, India. Whilst these artisans are skilled in their
craft, they lack the necessary knowledge and skills to use their designs to run
a small business or become economically self-sufficient. This business course will be designed to
provide a practical education that will help them, and the village become more
economically viable while preserving their culture and traditional arts.
Cool, hey!
For those that want a bit more background, keep reading or
click here to go to the Kala Raksha Vidhalaya website …
Current Situation
In the last few decades, the traditional crafts sector in India has changed dramatically.
Craftspeople are compelled to find new markets as local villagers seek cheaper, mass-produced functional clothing & textile products. Fortunately there is a demand for traditional crafts in more sophisticated urban markets however they must be adapted to suit the new clientele.
Previously the craftsperson managed both the design and the production of their art, however artisans do not always have information about the tastes of new markets and it has been recognised that design intervention is required to bring more contemporary input and ensure the survival of the craft. It has been assumed that this intervention needs to take place in the form of trained designers giving new designs to the craftperson – the implication being that designers have knowledge and artisans have skills; however this separation essentially reduces the craftsperson to a labourer and risks the longevity of traditional craft.
In the last few decades, the traditional crafts sector in India has changed dramatically.
Craftspeople are compelled to find new markets as local villagers seek cheaper, mass-produced functional clothing & textile products. Fortunately there is a demand for traditional crafts in more sophisticated urban markets however they must be adapted to suit the new clientele.
Previously the craftsperson managed both the design and the production of their art, however artisans do not always have information about the tastes of new markets and it has been recognised that design intervention is required to bring more contemporary input and ensure the survival of the craft. It has been assumed that this intervention needs to take place in the form of trained designers giving new designs to the craftperson – the implication being that designers have knowledge and artisans have skills; however this separation essentially reduces the craftsperson to a labourer and risks the longevity of traditional craft.
Judy Frater
Judy Frater is an amazing inspirational woman! She is an American who first came to India in the 1970s as a college student on an India studies program and fell in love with the culture and the arts. For several years she studied and wrote about traditional crafts, curated at museums, and started a small business that sold Rabari artifacts and connected buyers with the artisans that made the products.
Judy believes it is far better to train traditional crafts
people in design principles than to train designers in traditional craft; providing
the artisan with a greater economic return on their work and a greater
sustainability of the craft traditions.
Judy has been living in Kutch, India since 1990 and together with a group of artisans established the Kala Raksha Trust in 1993 and Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya in 2005.
Kala Raksha
Kala Raksha means “art preservation”
In 1993, Judy and a group of artisans established the Kala Raksha Trust, aimed at preserving the traditional arts of the region by making them culturally and economically viable. Today, Kala Raksha works with over 1,000 artisans of seven ethnic communities in 25 villages to produce some of the most exquisitely hand embroidered and crafted products made in Kutch.
Judy has been living in Kutch, India since 1990 and together with a group of artisans established the Kala Raksha Trust in 1993 and Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya in 2005.
Kala Raksha
Kala Raksha means “art preservation”
In 1993, Judy and a group of artisans established the Kala Raksha Trust, aimed at preserving the traditional arts of the region by making them culturally and economically viable. Today, Kala Raksha works with over 1,000 artisans of seven ethnic communities in 25 villages to produce some of the most exquisitely hand embroidered and crafted products made in Kutch.
Kala Raksha
Vidhyalaya (KRV)
Judy established Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (KRV) in 2005 as a design school for working traditional artisans of Kutch. The focus of the design school is on enabling artisans to learn to innovate, diversify and improve their work to interlink their traditional crafts with contemporary design input and marketing.
Judy believes that the KRV has the potential to benefit (at a conservative estimate) 50,000 artisans in Kutch and if extended more broadly, 20 million in Gujarat and 41 million in India.
Judy established Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya (KRV) in 2005 as a design school for working traditional artisans of Kutch. The focus of the design school is on enabling artisans to learn to innovate, diversify and improve their work to interlink their traditional crafts with contemporary design input and marketing.
Judy believes that the KRV has the potential to benefit (at a conservative estimate) 50,000 artisans in Kutch and if extended more broadly, 20 million in Gujarat and 41 million in India.
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