In Hindi ‘asha’ means ‘hope’ and this is what Asha Handicrafts brings to thousands of artisans throughout India. Asha was established in 1975 as a fair trade Christian organisation.
India, which is one of the largest handcraft-producing countries in the world, offers an almost unlimited range of crafts and products. However, these beautiful items can be produced in conditions of abject poverty, with craft workers in bondage to moneylenders.
Asha gives marketing support and technical assistance to groups of small producers and craftsmen and women. By purchasing directly from the workers  and giving generous advances, they increase income levels and help groups become self-sufficient. 
A team of Christian welfare workers are employed to help producers with business, concerns and issues