At  E.Y.H.O., we are humbled by the huge privilege artisanal communities extend in welcoming us into their midst.  We express appreciation by supporting critical development goals of these communities. Most of our group tours include activities that add a social or environmental justice component.

For a start, we only engage ground tour operators who have locally based banking. This ensures money flows into the local economy. Then we craft our itineraries to visit with a range of artisanal communities. Money from workshops and travellers' shopping goes directly to the community. 

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Additionally, we have realised the best way to uplift communities is by supporting conscientious and dedicated non-profits. Due to their deep local knowledge, the best non-profits reach beyond surface-level impact to identify and deliver holistic benefit to a community. During our travels, we regularly monitor non-profits' impact on the communities we support through them. 

We support: 

• Women Weave: Creates a community of weavers and connecting them with potential customers, while providing craft skills, training, organisational and design assistance

• Bolpur Manab Jamin: supports underprivileged farmers living in Birbhum, West Bengal by recognising that food production is the first step in improving the wellbeing of these communities. Bolpur Manab Jamin promotes sustainable agricultural practice with innovative crop and resource management systems, supplemented by an array of initiatives to advance education, health, and awareness of government assistance schemes focused on women and children. 

• Shrujan: An award-winning women’s co-op in rural Gujarat and Kutch, Shrujan is dedicated to reviving and sustaining desert textile traditions. They provide materials and support to women in rural communities to create a sustainable social enterprise and foster entrepreneurial empowerment.

• The Kager Self-Help Project: on Lake Nyanza, Tanzania, a village which boasts an unusual community-run model, with zero govt or NGO funding. Yet every year we see progress: a dispensary, a school, a video hall. Homes, schools, healthcare, and food are provided to the high numbers of AIDS and malaria orphans in the area.

• Yuva Parivartan: provides vocational training to underpriviledged youth living in Mumbai’s slums skills.  Training incudes skills such as hairdressing, cooking, and travel guiding, and also provides mentorship and job placement services. E.Y.H.O.’s slum tour is led by Yuva’s students.

• Orphanages: E.Y.H.O. guests can volunteer at orphanages in New Delhi and Kiambu, Kenya. 

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We'd be happy to arrange for our guests to volunteer with any of the above. Please enquire. 

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Annual Textile Sale

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A wildly popular annual tradition! Based in Toronto and sells out in hours. During her travels, Shila gathers donations from artisanal co-ops and offers them for sale to channel proceeds back to rural artisans. Follow us on facebook and subscribe to our mailing list to bag the most beautiful handweaves and help rural artisans. Shipping available to Canada, U.S. and U.K. 

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