Friends of Tilonia, Inc. is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to provide marketing and business development assistance to the crafts section of the Barefoot College, in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. For more than 35 years, the Barefoot College has been working to address basic needs of the rural poor: water, health, education, energy and employment, while enrolling individuals in the processes that govern their lives.

In 1975, the lack of employment in the villages in Rajasthan forced many of the rural poor to migrate to the cities. While largely an agricultural area, many of the poor in the region were artisans engaged in various crafts. Lacking access to a broader market, these rural artisans abandoned, and still continue today to abandon their trades to seek other, more gainful means of livelihood.

The Barefoot College began promoting rural craft production to address this problem of under-employment. Assistance in improving designs and techniques, creation of marketing outlets, and access to credit have helped to restore and create new income opportunities for craftsmen and women. Training and materials provided by the College also enables women to work from home, helping them to generate income from their needlework or other handicrafts.

These rural artisans produce clothing and accessories, decorative home furnishings, furniture, rugs, textiles, handmade paper products, puppets and other toys, metalwork, and leather goods. The crafts are currently sold through retail shops and other outlets in India, Europe and Canada, generating $ 250,000 in income for more than 400 rural artisans in 50 villages who market their crafts inconjunction with the College. The College has participated in international trade shows and other market development efforts with support from national and international sponsors including Government of India, All India Handicrafts Board, UNESCO, Plan International, Bridgehead, Oxfam-Canada, and Traidcraft.

Friends of Tilonia is working with the College to develop direct sales and marketing channels for these crafts in the U.S. To support this effort, FOT has developed the online craftstore, www.tilonia.com, and is initiating sales promotion and direct marketing to wholesalers and distributors, and participating on behalf of the Barefoot College at selected US trade shows.

For more information, please contact:

Ellen Fish
Executive Director
Friends of Tilonia, Inc.
134 Lincoln Place, #2
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Tel: 888 759-8175
E-mail: shop@tilonia.com

You can help support the rural artisans of Tilonia in many ways:

• Buy Tilonia Crafts

Visit our online store and select items for your house, gifts for your friends and families, or start your holiday shopping early.

• Tell Your Friends

Let your friends know about our online store and tell them about the work of the Barefoot College.

• Become a Friend

You can help provide financial support to Friends of Tilonia. Your support will help FOT to train and support staff of the Barefoot College to manage the store via the Internet, and expand sales efforts in the U.S. through operation of the online store and other sales and marketing activities.

Contribute >>

• Volunteer

Volunteers and business interns work with FOT's board of directors in developing FOT initiatives. The board includes seasoned business professionals with expertise in non-profit management, new product development, marketing, sales management, accounting and finance, business start-ups, and public and private sector fundraising.

• Sell Tilonia Crafts