Back in May, Louise (development manager) and Kerry (shop manager) had the opportunity to hear Dalit’s Julia Hawthorne speak about their work with one of the most deprived, vulnerable and despised people groups in India. We were inspired by her story!
All Dalit candles are handmade by the Dalit people of India and the purchase of these candles supports the work of the Life Association with street children of this people group. They say:
In 2010 Life Association launched the Dalit Goods brand to raise awareness of the Dalits’ plight and also funds for the charity. The idea for Dalit Goods came about as a result from a trip to India by Life Associations director Simon Hawthorne. Whilst there he began to notice a large number of smashed clay pots around the slum areas of Mumbai. These clay pots turned out to be drinking pots which which for thousands of years the Dalit people have often been forced to drink from and then smash on the ground as a sign of their supposed untouchability. It is this powerful symbol of oppression that inspired Simon to launch our range of Dalit branded products.
It is our goal to cover as much of the overheads of the charity through trade as possible so that the maximum amount of your donation goes direct to our work in India. Our range of hand crafted candle pots are made in Dharavi, Indias’ largest slum and provides valuable work for the potters there. We also produce a beautiful range of Indian spices, hand made soaps, and other high quality gift items, all of which are made to the highest ethical and environmental standards we can achieve.