Join us on a global adventure, as we take you from Las Vegas to Burkina Faso, sharing the latest updates from the month of July.

Aid to Artisans Mexico, in collaboration with export company Dos Tierras, were excited to have exhibited at the Las Vegas Market once again from July 30th-August 2nd! At the show, Dos Tierras showcased their new collection of beautifully handcrafted home decor products, textiles, fashion and accessories, all made in the Chiapas and Yucatán Peninsula regions of Mexico.

Guillermo Jester, the head of Dos Tierras, told us:

“It’s always great to meet with past customers at LVM (Las Vegas Market) and continue to nurture these amazing, professional buyer-seller relationships. It is equally amazing to meet new clients as always. It’s a different and new experience to learn from.”

Pictured: Top right – Dos Tierras booth image taken by a representative from Ikea, Bottom 3 images – Dos Tierras Fall Winter 2023 Collection. Photos by Juan Pablo García Ballinas

We are very excited to announce another project in West Africa. As of May 1st, 2023, Aid to Artisans began working on a one-year pilot initiative in Burkina Faso titled Resilience Through Craft, a powerful initiative that addresses the local governance of young people in Burkina Faso in two ways.

First, the at-risk youth will learn from two artisan enterprises about the potential of a career in the artisan sector. These enterprises are GAFREH in Bobo-Dioulasso and Centre d’Animation Féminin (CAF) in Koudougou. Second, they will learn leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and how to work as a team to better communicate their needs to local government representatives in their community, all to help strengthen the relationship between citizens, communities, and the government.

The first step in the project was to identify the at-risk youth from Koudougou and Bobo-Dioulasso to participate in the program. Last month, field coordinator Abdul visited both communities to meet with the Special Delegations of each and introduce this project to them. From here, 150 applications were submitted by the youth that were interested in participating!

Stay tuned to learn more about how many are selected and what the first activities will be with the selected participants from both communities.

This project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is in partnership with Creative Associates International (Creative) and their sub-partner, Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

Pictured: Abdul presenting the project to the Special Delegation in Bobo-Dioulasso

Have you heard of Tuzmo? Tuzmo is the world’s leading online platform that connects travelers with local artisans.

We were joined by Tuzmo’s Founder & CEO, Rana Saad, Co-Founder Nida Aslam, Head of Content & Operations, Amina Malik, and Technology Lead Ammar Ali for a webinar discussing the great opportunities that their unique platform has to offer.

Their app empowers artisans and gives them greater access to the global marketplace, while also enriching the tourists travel experience by connecting them to local crafts. One main takeaway from Rana Saad during the webinar was:

“Currently, the handicraft market around the world is $665 billion. It’s not a small or trivial part of the tourism industry. It’s (the handicraft market) often neglected or not emphasized (in the tourism market) because it is a complex marketplace, but it is huge. That’s where Tuzmo comes in. We are trying to make that connection between the tourists and the artisans which is lacking.”

Missed the webinar? Feel free to watch the replay HERE.

Image: Rana Saad of Tuzmo

Time is running out! Registration for this year’s eMarket Readiness Program (eMRP) closes at 5pm EST on August 29^th, 2023!

Conveying your unique artisan stories to consumers and exploring new markets for sharing these narratives can be a difficult and daunting task.

When you participate in the eMRP from September 19^th-22^nd, these feelings will be replaced with confidence and tools to help you grow your business. This unique opportunity to attend 6 presentations lead by artisan industry experts, a buyer panel, global cocktail networking event, and 4 optional small group coaching sessions is one that you do not want to miss!

Get a taste of what you can learn by accessing the LIMITED TIME webinar replay, Navigating US Market Shifts HERE. Want to go directly to the eMRP page? Click HERE.

Sign up for yourself or bring together a group of 5 or more interested entrepreneurs and sign up as a group to access a group discount! For more details on group pricing or any questions you have about the eMRP, please reach out to hannahk@creativelearning.org.

Pictured: 2022 eMRP alumni from Mexico – They joined the virtual program and went through it together

A fun part of the eMRP is the virtual Global Networking Cocktail Hour which is open to the public! This year, the online Zoom event will be held on September 21^st from 2:30-4pm EST. During this time, you will have the opportunity to connect and network with buyers, other artisan entrepreneurs, designers, eMRP participants, and others from around the world.

This is the perfect opportunity to grow your network and do so from the comforts of your own home.

Register for the free, live networking event HERE.

Pictured: 2021 eMRP Participants

What’s to Come in August

– Dos Tierras and Dancing Yak Handicrafts will be exhibiting at Shoppe Object in New York City from August 13-16

-ATA Training Director Lauren Barkume will be joining artisan entrepreneurs from Lesotho and Ethiopia for a Market Familiarization Trip sponsored by Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada in New York City

–Artisan Business Lab will host a webinar discussing the latest trends we’ve seen in US tradeshows today with experts in the industry. Register for the 2023 Tradeshow Snapshot webinar HERE today!

-We are launching a new project in Mexico! Stay tuned for more details.

Image: Huipil from Dos Tierras Fall/Winter collection – Photo by Juan Pablo García Ballinas