Sunder Rang - a Basecamp Arts & Craft Project

Rajasthan India

This community development project builds on the larger Community Development Program mentioned earlier, but focuses on providing specific training, capacity building and local jobs linked with arts and crafts, preferably for women and youth in the Chandelao Village outside Jodphur, Rajasthan. By assisting the participating women and youth with marketing and sales, Basecamp aims to raise awareness of the advantages to the local community of cultivating and developing traditional skills and practices as a part of developing a viable eco-tourism business.

By linking this project with The Maasai Brand project in Kenya, Basecamp aims also to take advantage of possible synergies, and to use these actively in the teaching and training processes at both locations.

Sunder Rang was officially inaugurated on March 8th 2007, the International Women’s day. The villagers of Chandelao - women, youth, and elders - all participated together with Basecamp in the inauguration. As of July 2007, ten women have started producing crafts at the Arts & Crafts Centre adjacent to Basecamp Rajasthan. The product line includes embroidery, clothes, and cushions. By creating local jobs and providing a platform for nurturing and developing local cultural knowledge and traditional skills, the project has already rendered a good reputation in the village, and in surrounding areas.

Partners:
Basecamp Explorer Kenya
The Chandelao women community,
Basecamp Rajasthan
Project Assistant Manager - Bhuwaneshwar Rathore

Funding:
Basecamp Explorer Foundation
Private donations