The inhabitants of Mauritius Island, established on the Indian Ocean, are used to surviving with their few natural resources disposal. First colonized by French people and afterwards, by British people, the islands preserve some sort of African environment, although the connection between both continents is almost insignificant. In addition, both the economy and existence in the islands are developped aisolately.
Craft Aid, which was founded almost 11 years ago, seeks for the breaking of this aisolation throughout formation aid for unemployee young craftsmen and, in a special way, for people with physical or mental handicaps. In total, 50 people work in Craft Aid with high participation. Craft Air, born in 1982 and member of IFAT, counts on 125 employees, 40% of whom are physically or mentally handicapped people. Thus, it collaborates actively in their reinstatement and social rehabilitation, as they usually have problems with its access to the labour market and live under a social exclusion situation.
Most of the sales' incomes are also enmarked for education centers which specialize in the development of physical capacities or the minumum abilities for a simple work. The Gonzague Pierre-Louis Special Learning Centre receives deaf and blind people who are supported by the organization.
The products are elaborated with natural resources from the islands, such as wasted paper which is being recycled, coconut imitation jewellery (a really plentiful fruit from both islands) and cotton products. There is also a building to carry out the packing of sugar cane, which is also abundant in the country. A part of it is sold in two different stores, one in each island, to European and North American turists, and the rest of it is exported to Fair Trade organizations.
Products: Cotton T-shirts, sugar 1kg, honey sweets, coffee sweets, Cola3, Lemon Fruit3, Orange Fruit3.