Five percent of each purchase is donated to our charity of the month as well as an additional five percent to charities who have crafted the products you purchase.
We are pleased to work with the following charitable partners to offer support to a number of organisations in India and Nepal.
Our Partner Charities
Tara Homes
Tara is an NGO offering a residential service with an emphasis on education for street children and abandoned children. In their homes, Tara ensures quality education, security, complete health care, and an opportunity for a bright future. The homes are not institutions, and are meant to host no more than 20 children, to ensure a violence-free, family-like environment.
Courage Homes
Courage Homes exists to promote healing, transformation and wholeness for those affected by trafficking and prostitution. It is a project of New Generation Trust which is a non-profit charitable NGO in New Delhi, India.
Saheli
Saheli, located in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, is a local initiative which provides employment opportunities for low income women. They specialize in embroidery, patchwork, and other needlework crafts.
Mesh
MESH is an Indian organisation practicing Fair Trade with disabled and leprosy affected crafts artisans, for their rehabilitation.
Sheroes' Hangout
Sheroes’ Hangout is a coffee shop in Agra run by survivors of acid attacks. The coffee shop vibe allows for the recognition and social interaction of these (primarily) women survivors. Not only do they run the cafe, but the women work together to form a network of empowerment and social change.
Ladli
At Ladli children learn to make jewelry and handicrafts – valuable skills in Jaipur. The children are also taught Hindi, English, Art and Dance, and provided nutrition, medical check-ups and counselling. Most importantly of all they gain confidence, hope and self-esteem. We believe that in addition to providing children education and employability, Ladli is a place where emotional trauma and the stresses of poverty can in some way be healed.
Project Why
Project Why is a New Delhi, India based non-profit organisation engaged in education support and life skill enhancement of slum children and their families. They opened their first education center in 2000 and now, thanks to the generous support of friends and well wishers, have expanded their activities and reach out to over 1000 children, 160 women and their families. Project WHY set out to create a model whereby quality education support in underprivileged areas could be spearheaded by parents, even if they were illiterate. The idea was to empower the community to pool its resources and run a sound support program for its children.
Torch
Torch is an NGO working with children who live with their parents on the pavements of Delhi. These children are between 4 and 9 years old. Their goals are to give them a happy childhood and send them to school.
VSAI
Established in 1986, VSAI works with the disabled and underprivileged population in India to create a society in which all people with disabilities can come together to learn, participate in, and enjoy the arts. Using the arts as a tool for social, educational, emotional, and vocational rehabilitation, VSAI attempts to nurture talented artists, provide them with a platform to display their accomplishments, build self-esteem, and facilitate their transition into ‘mainstream’ society.
AAIDD
AAIDD (Adopt an Indian Desi Dog) is a small not for profit shelter which rescues puppies from the streets of New Delhi. The dogs are known locally as Desi Dogs. AAIDD works with two veterinarians in New Delhi who do up to 50 spay/neuters a month for street dogs as well as provide food and free vet care to Desis adopted by the poor. They also work to find homes for as many puppies as they can. Even if you can’t provide a home for a dog in need, your help can change the life of a puppy.
Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is a non-profit organization created in 2002 for the rehabilitation of slum and street children. It provides day care, education and food for around 157 underprivileged children. School attendance is mandatory with tuition covered by the Sunshine Project. The success of the Sunshine Project and its children stems not only from the right balance of a nurturing and encouraging educational environment, but also the people behind the project including the support of the volunteers, sponsors and generous donations. Project Sunshine provides the children preparation and registration in schools, before and after school care facilities with tutoring help, three meals a day, school uniforms and supplies, personal hygiene training, and emergency medical care.
Local Women's Handicrafts
Local Women’s Handicraft is a fair trade sewing collective based out of Kathmandu, Nepal. The business focuses on empowering and educating women with the intent to change the social and cultural norms in Nepal. The collective is comprised of women who are challenged by physical disability, come from abusive homes, are fleeing extreme poverty, or just looking to educate themselves to move forward in their lives. Many have escaped forced marriage and simply want to be independent human beings.
Meet the Artisans
All the treasures, art, and handicrafts in our shops are ethically made and hand selected by Francesca or Katrina – travelling throughout India, Nepal, and Turkey, working directly with the artists.
By doing so, not only does Sankara bring you the best we can find, but we also ensure safe working conditions, fair payment for the work, and maintain the ability to bring you fabulous treasures at the best prices.
Sign up to our Newsletter
Simply enter your email below for exclusive insights to the shop, information on our next Tours and Classes, as well as updates from our Artisans and Charitable Partners