A responsible Experience in Kolkata
A responsible Experience in Kolkata
1 day (from 10 am till 4,00 pm)
Description
This unique itinerary takes you behind the scenes of a fair-trade cooperative where talented deaf and disabled artisans create beautiful handicrafts. From interactive workshops and jewelry making to a traditional homemade Bengali lunch, you will experience a day of true cultural connection. Ready to set off? Here is your complete journey.
Experiences
- Interact with disabled artisans of a fair-trade cooperative
- Work directly with artisans to create traditional souvenirs and handicrafts
- Learn some basic sign language
- Enjoy a local lunch
- Visit the shop where you can purchase handmade products
Itinerary
In the morning, you will meet your guide at your hotel and experience taking public transport to reach a fair-trade cooperative in south Kolkata. The main objective of this organization is to provide people with disabilities (mainly deaf individuals) with technical training so they can become economically independent. You will visit the main workshop where candles, incense, and postcards are produced, and interact with the artisans to discover the secrets of their craftsmanship. You will also have the opportunity to witness the jewelry-making process. Afterwards, you can enjoy a homemade lunch featuring traditional Bengali dishes and local sweets. As your final stop, you will visit the cooperative’s retail outlet, where you will have the chance to purchase these wonderful handicrafts as souvenirs to take home.
social impact
Throughout this day tour you will support disabled artisans of an Organisation partner of Altromercato experience. Cooperative’s most important objective is to let disabled people (mainly deaf people) get a technical education in order to work and to earn their own livings. Everything started in 1976 when a handful of deaf people formed a little informal group with their creative skill-sets and lots of dreams to achieve an economic and spiritual self-sufficiency. Their dedication and a bold initiative to create hand-painted greeting cards attracted a group of social activists. And together, they formed a society that registered as an NGO in 1979. For the first few years Silence depended on the well-wishers and the infrastructures investment agencies for the procurement of a workshop for the artisans), an emporium (a retail outlet) and investment in tools and equipment. Silence is now able to face its expenses for production, staff and property with its own steadily growing sales revenues. The cooperative has got its own education centre in cooperation with the University of Jadavpur (Training Institute), where artistic handicraft, trade and IT are taught so that many people can also find a job in other organizations and shares the profits with the artisans and providing them with a welfare system and health insurance.
Included
- Private transport
- Drinking water
- Activities as mentioned
- English-speaking guide
- Lunch
Excluded
- Any meals, transfers, or tours not mentioned in the itinerary
- Private round-trip transportation from your hotel to the meeting point
Recommended clothing
- Please dress modestly, suitable for local communities (avoid sheer clothing, vests, sleeveless shirts, miniskirts/shorts).
Cost of the experience
Calculated on a basis of 2 people: €140.00 / person
Calculated on a basis of 4 to 10 people: €110.00 / person