Friends of Tilonia, Inc. is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization which provides marketing and business development assistance to the artisan enterprises affiliated with the Barefoot College, in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. For more than 40 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.

Friends of Tilonia works with the Barefoot College to develop direct sales and marketing channels for the artisans of Tilonia® in the U.S and abroad. This online store, www.Tilonia.com is operated by a team of Barefoot e-commerce managers based in Tilonia in partnership with the Friends of Tilonia, Inc. These Barefoot e-commerce managers are all from the rural communities in India where the Barefoot College works and they are "graduates" of the Barefoot College Night Schools.

The Barefoot College promotes rural craft production to address the lack of employment in rural areas and provide an income for rural women whose husbands have migrated to the cities to seek work. Assistance in improving designs and production techniques, creation of marketing outlets, and access to credit have helped to restore and create new income opportunities for the artisans of Tilonia®. Training and materials provided by the College enable women from traditional communities to work from home, helping them to generate income from their needlework or other handicrafts.

The artisans of Tilonia® produce clothing and accessories, decorative home furnishings, furniture, rugs, textiles, handmade paper products, puppets and other toys, metalwork, and leather goods. Their products are sold in retail outlets in India, Europe and Canada, generating $ 250,000 in annual sales generating income for more than 400 rural artisans in 50 villages who market their crafts inconjunction with the Barefoot College.

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

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You can help support the sustainable development programs and the development of artisan enterprises by making a contribution to Friends of Tilonia, Inc. We appreciate your support.

A copy of the latest annual report may be obtained on request from Friends of TIlonia, Inc., or the New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10271 or from the Charities Bureau online registry www.charitiesnys.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.

• Become a Friend

You can help provide financial support to the artisans of Tilonia® to expand sales in the U.S. and abroad through the online store, trade shows and other sales channels.

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• Become A Fan

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

• Become a Retail or Design Affiliate