The Social Anthropologist

Brazil 

Rio De Janeiro

ASTA - sustainable artesanal groups in Brazil

Asta is a not for profit organization that manufactures and sells arts and crafts produced by small groups of women in low income communities (favelas) The production groups, consisting mainly of women, is not only a form of social therapy but also train women with key skills to enable themselves to sustain their families. Asta started six years originally as a garbage co-operative where women separated the garbage and then manufactured arts and crafts from found objects such as newspaper and sold it. One of the first sales was of 400 place mats made out of recycled newspaper. Asta currently supports 38 production groups and has 40 on their waiting list. I visited one of their production groups and saw first hand the difference it can make in the lives of women trying to improve their lot in life and that of their family. If you are interested in supporting Asta philanthropically or learning more about their arts and crafts and perhaps purchasing one of their producs you can contact Alice Freitas at alice@asta.org.br or visit their site at www.asta.org.br. It is truly a great organization empowering women to lift themselves above the poverty line through employment.