Craftizen was founded with the following key initiatives:
1) CSR funded programs for craft based livelihoods for marginalised communities
2) Customised and handcrafted gifting to suit a range of corporate needs from conference & events to work anniversaries, birthdays, wellness & self care ; festive occasions ; client gifting and so on
3) Craft Workshops for employee engagement
4) Donations to support the under-served and needy
A. world’s largest population of persons with intellectual disability (ID)
• there are limited opportunities for them to get mainstream jobs
• for those with moderate and severe levels of disability a daycare facility is the only option so their families can go out to work
• social stigma makes them even more vulnerable
Solution:
The Capacity Building project is Craftizen’s flagship livelihood program which was developed to address the needs of the above mentioned communities to earn dignified and sustainable incomes through craft skills: Project Initiated: February 2016

1.Craftizen plays the role of Craft Architects, building bridges that connect the crafts sector to newer possibilities.
2.Craftizen’s focus is on sustainable livelihoods for the communities we work with.
3.We customize handmade skills as per the beneficiary’s capability and work environment and are mindful of the fact that our artisans will be working mostly from their homes or daycare centres.
4.We envisaged a collaborative model in partnership with like minded organisations (NGOs and public institutions) so as not to reinvent the wheel, and build capacities for all partners to leverage their strengths in program management and implementation.

Appeal

Under our Capacity Building Program, we work with NGO s supporting adults with intellectual disability
a) Create marketable products from discarded materials such as Temple flowers, Paper waste, Fabric leftovers and newspapers.
b) Training to develop skills for Livelihood and capacity building like - Sourcing raw materials , Costing , Packaging and also marketing support and bridge gap with the end buyers
c) This Program builds dignified labour and regular incomes and has also proven to be rehabilitative by customizing skills to suit abilities, thereby providing meaningful work to our differently-abled artisans.
d) Therapeutic value for indirect beneficiaries proven through research from NIMHANS