STREE Program- Social Transformation and Economic Empowerment of Women Artisans in India Program
The STREE Program, supported by the European Union, is a PAN India program implemented in collaboration with 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Member Organisations of the Fair Trade Forum-India (FTF-I).
The STREE Program envisions empowering and strengthening 10,000 women artisans by enabling them to achieve sustainable livelihoods while preserving traditional handicrafts and contributing to broader development goals. The project aims to increase the participation of CSOs, especially women-led CSOs, in advocating supportive economic and trade policies for traditional handicraft products.
There are two groups of participants involved in this project:
Community Facilitators/Master Trainers:
These individuals receive specialized training and in passing on their knowledge and skills to a broader group of artisans.
Women Artisans:
They are the direct beneficiaries of the project. They receive training and support from the community facilitators/master trainers.
The STREE Project is achieved through different program interventions
1. Capacity Building of Women Artisans
2. Empowering and Strengthening of CSOs
3. Last Mile Market Linkages for Artisans and CSOs
4. Policy and Advocacy Interventions for the Craft Sector
1.Capacity Building of Women Artisans
Under the STREE Program, the capacity building of the women artisans is done by providing them with training assistance on different subjects- Design Solutions, Creative Product Development, Digital Marketing, Branding, Computer and Financial Literacy, and Communication and Storytelling Skill development.
It is provided via Community Facilitators Training and Community Level Training.
A. Community Facilitators Training using a Cascade Model:
This training model involves a "Train the Trainer" approach, where master trainers receive training and further disseminate the knowledge and skills to a larger group of artisans. This cascade process helps empower artisans to participate in scaling up their enterprises by building their capacity is a strategic move toward sustainable development..
B. Community-Level Training:
The trained community facilitators conduct workshops at the grassroots level directly with the artisans to educate them on design thinking, digital marketing strategies, financial literacy, and effective marketing techniques. They help artisans to understand how to manage their internal systems efficiently and align production with market demands.
2. Empowering and Strengthening of CSOs
The FTF-I facilitates internship and fellowship programs for strengthening and empowering artisans associated with registered CSOs under the STREE Project.
A. Internships
FTF-I, under the STREE Program, collaborates with Design and Business Schools, including the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), MS University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) to provide interns to the CSOs.
The program aims to bridge the gap between academia and practical industry applications. This collaboration benefits the organizations by availing specialized skills and providing valuable real-time experience to the interns, allowing them to apply their knowledge in an organizational setup
B. Fellowship
FTF-I, under the STREE Program, is conducting the STREE VIKAS Fellowship Program 2023. It is a 6-8 months training program that focuses on building and deepening the leadership pipeline for the fair-trade craft sector. The fellows are emerging artisan leaders who work with craftsmen based on fair trade principles in CSOs
3. Last Mile Market Linkages for Artisans and CSOs
FTF-I, under the STREE Program, supports women artisans CSOs by facilitating access and participation in trade fairs and retail outlets.
A. Participation in Trade Fairs:
FTF-I enables participation in regional, national, and international trade fairs. This allows artisans to showcase and sell their products, gain exposure, and explore potential markets.
B. Display Places in Fair Trade and Craft Shops:
FTF-I assists CSOs in displaying places in fair trade shops and branded retail chains. This support involves bearing the commercial costs of securing space for artisans' products in these outlets.
C. Logistics Support:
FTF-I reimburses courier charges for the transportation of artisanal products to various trade fairs or retail outlets. This helps reduce the financial burden on artisans and CSOs.
D. Marketing Assistance:
FTF-I supports marketing efforts via promotional materials, branding, and marketing strategies to enhance the visibility of artisans' products in these display spaces.
D. Financial Support for Travel and Accommodation:
FTFI reimburses travel, boarding, and lodging expenses observed by artisans when participating in trade fairs or events. This assistance enables artisans to attend and showcase their crafts without financial obstacles.
4. Policy and Advocacy Interventions for the Craft Sector
FTFI supports policy research by distinguished Craft Sector scholars. The strategy is to communicate the research's policy outcomes through workshops at the state and national levels, with the participation of diverse stakeholders including the government, NGOs, CSOs, the FTFI member network, academia, and the artisan community.
The objective is to advocate for favorable economic and trade policies to promote traditional handicraft items. Through its reach in the craft sector, FTFI reduces the cost of policy research and the provision of research scholars and organizes dissemination workshops with the government and associated stakeholders.