Traidcraft Meet the People Tours, Fair Trade Holidays

Basket Makers of Southern India

This holiday combines an exciting initiative developed in conjunction with an Indian cooperative, SHARE (The Self Help Association for Rural Education and Employment), with an exciting tour of Southern India, all run by Traidcraft Meet the People Tours.

After a couple of days at the coast acclimatising to southern India we travel to SHARE where we will be living with members of the cooperative providing us with a unique insight into life with an Indian family. Lots of time will be spent together at the centre where we will learn traditional and contemporary skills from the basket makers. As well as celebrating our visit with an evening of dance in the village, we will go with our hosts on a day-trip to Tiruvanamali Temple.

In our second week we visit palaces, gardens temples, museums and a non governmental organisation involved in integrated rural development which includes childcare, education building, income generation and a hand-weaving programme. Reaching the Unreached (www.rtu.org.uk) is an important project in the area which works with the poorest people in the commuinity according to the felt needs and priorities of the people