Craft Link is a non profit organisation with the following objectives:

• to help craft producer groups, especially the poor, improve their livelihoods though craft production
• to revive and promote traditional culture and skills
• to find markets for craft producer groups
• to educate the public about these producers and their products
• to provide financial support for development activities of Craft Link Development

Craft Link has a development arm which helps disadvantaged producer groups by training them in management, book keeping and product development based on traditional designs.  The business arm is responsible for finding both export markets and managing the shop in Hanoi.  Its profits fund the development arm.

There are 47 producer groups in total, 70% of which belong to ethnic minority groups and are working with the development arm of Craft Link.  The other 30% are in “traditional villages” which provide more marketable goods to sustain Craft Link, while they are helped to gain access to the market.

Of the 5,000 producers involved, 80% are women, most of whom still have some land, but need an income from handcraft to survive.  Successful income from handcraft production means that the men now work more in the fields to allow their wives time for craft production.  Gender training is one of Craft Link’s development focuses.

There are 53 minority groups with their own language, customs and costumes living in Vietnam.  The revival of their craft and culture is seen as being extremely important, as is the income they can earn from sales.  These people are Craft Link’s main target group.

Ceramics

come from Bat Trang village, which is totally devoted to ceramics.  Craft Link’s group leader there employs 30 to 50 people under fair trading conditions, earning up to five times the wages they would earn in a big factory.

The ceramics are hand painted and have been tested by the health department here.

Lacquerware: again this is produced by a group working with the business arm.  It is a family group employing 20 to 30 of their neighbours on a permanent basis.  The income they earn has had a significant positive effect on the whole of Duyen Thai Village.