In 1982, a group of economists, anthropologists and sociologists of the Universidad Católica of Lima created Allpa to improve living standards of handicrafts producers. Allpa began active work as an alternative trading organization in 1986.

Aspiration organise groups of semi skilled and skilled artisans and help bring them up from poverty to being able to stand on their own. Some groups have even become self-independent artisans in their own community.

 Here is an extract from Barefoot's statement of core values:

"Inspiring Creativity
Our books act as springboards for children’s hearts and minds, helping them to express themselves with confidence and integrity, and to explore the world in new ways.

Celebrating Diversity
We introduce children to cultures and traditions from all over the world, encouraging them to see life from different perspectives. 

Giving Back
We give back to society by aligning ourselves with charities that support our goals of global understanding, educating children through art and story, and preserving the earth’s resources for future generations.

The charity Ekta Trust was set up by EMA which provide scholarships for widows and unemployed people living in Kamarhati, donates text books to numerous students through its text book grant scheme and develop a centre for single mothers, widows and troubled wives. They also have an aim of planting 10,000 trees per year with the help of youth clubs in South Kolkata.

Gospel House Handicrafts was established in 1976. It grew out of the work of John and Noeline Karunaratne, Christians who began providing vocational training for impoverished youth in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, in 1976. From a business using two homemade lathes in the Karunaratne home, Gospel House grew. It purchased land in Madampe, 50 miles from Colombo, and built a workshop there. Gospel House is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.

TARA Projects (Trade Alternative Reform Action) were founded in 1973 to help poorly organised and struggling artisans in Delhi, find markets for their goods. By creating opportunities for these home-based craftsmen market and sell their goods, TARA projects helps to generate steady work and income. Based on the early success of this program, they have been able to expand to a 120-mile area surrounding Delhi.

TARA projects fund non-formal and vocational schools as well as literacy centres for adults and constantly campaigning and educating people about fair trade. Their goal is to end injustice and manipulation in the world mass trade system.

After 2 years, the production centre had proven a success, it was providing a route to reintegration for the girls through jobs and an income and the production centre itself was well on the way to becoming financially self- sufficient, so it was the right time for the Centre to become fully independent.

In June 2007, Hatti took on responsibility for the production centre and set up an independent private, but not for profit, company called Hatti Production Pvt Ltd. They still work in exactly the same way, providing training and jobs for young women rescued by The Esther Benjamins Trust and the charity is still close on hand to look out for the girls’ welfare, but the production centre is now an independent entity.

What wasn't anticipated at the time was the impact it would have on the girls who worked there; suddenly, they transitioned from being ‘charity cases’ to independent professional young women working for a foreign organisation. Their self esteem went through the roof; finally they could hold their head up high when asked what they do. At the same time there was a move to a new premises so the locals had no knowledge of what they had come from, and the girls could at last truly move on from their past.

Hatti started with 8 girls, there are now 17, plus Ritu, the Production Centre Manager, Shanti, the House Mother and two security guards. Some girls are now living with relatives locally and there has even been a wedding recently. The main difference now is that the girls are empowered to make their own choices and have the confidence to do so.

CIAP are a non-profit making association of handicraft producers in Peru, which aim to improve living conditions and support the development of artisans’ communities. They assist the artisans by helping with the production, export and marketing of goods. Their principles include defending and preserving the artisans’ cultured identity.

The women making Motif products are marginalised for reasons more than poverty. The women emplyed are experiencing discrimination in other ways too: some are former prostitutes; others have been affected by leprosy or other wasting diseases; some may have been divorced or abandoned - each situation scars women with a stigma that reduces their chance of decent employment. Employment at Motif daily provides a 'safe place' where they can share with other women and be earning at the same time. Many also take materials home, working when daily chores are put down. All enjoy the camaraderie together.

When standing up for your principles has caused you to be $10,000 in debt and without a job, it sounds like time to back down and give up. But for Samuel Masih it was the start of a journey of commitment to helping poor people.

In 1986 Samuel took the decision to leave the craft organisation that he worked for, as he believed its producers were not being treated as fairly as he would like. Financially, this move cost him dearly, as he had to inherit some of the debts from his employer. Undeterred, he took his first steps into an alternative way of trading with local craftspeople around his hometown of Moradabad, Northern India. From the beginning he was determined to ensure that artisans would be provided with the best rates available and with the support to enable them to be freed from the grip of exploitation.

The journey has been long and hard. Of those early days Samuel says, ‘My wife is a teacher and during those years I even paid salaries to my workers from her savings. They were hard days, but I never lost my hope and trust in God.’

With Samuel’s resourcefulness and God’s blessing, the business has prospered: it now directly employs 40 people and buys goods from more than 250 other craftspeople. And it is more than just fair wages;  Noah's Ark provides education classes for 50 local children who do not have the opportunity to go to school. Each worker is given provision for school expenses, loans for house repairs and healthcare insurance. A social worker is also employed to support the wider needs of the employees and their families and communities.

By Samuel’s own admission, the journey remains a tough one, but he says, ‘Everyone has problems in life and business, but I know that we have overcome every problem only through faith and prayers. I enjoy what I do, showing what it means to work as a Christian. It makes a difference.’