This is Nopriani, or Mama Opan as she is usually called after. She is a kindergarten teacher in Muara Mea Village. In her spare time, she weaves rattan bags as a hobby. She said the income from weaving has helped her fund her education in the open university. "I never thought that weaving can be so promising like these days"

Meet our weaver, Inai Sarmiah, she is the one behind the beautiful products you are viewing now! She is from Tamba Village, North Barito district, Central Kalimantan. Her husband is a wild honey hunter. There is only one honey season per year, so in between, Inai Surmiah's husband usually helps her forage and clean rattan for her weaving crafts. She has a sister-in-law from another province whom she has taught how to weave rattan. Both of them are part of HANDEP now.

Inai Marinang is one of our weavers from Muara Mea Village, North Barito, Central Kalimantan. She has two children but they are living away due to their jobs. Inai Marinang now lives with her mute grandson who needs special care, hence why she cannot go anywhere for long. She uses her free time to weave products. Inai Marinang is now able to generate more income.

"I'm grateful for HANDEP for doing fair trade with us. I hope we can work together for as long as time allows us”

We'd like to introduce you to Bu Suntip, of of weavers in the North Barito District, Central Kalimantan. Ibu Suntip, is the leader of her weaving group in Tambaba Village that HANDEP helped establish.

Meet Ibu Arnila, a mother of two from Payang Village. She has one son and one daughter. Her husband is a farmer and iften helps her forage rattan in the forest. In order to help her family survive, Ibu Arnila uses her weaving skills and sells the bags she makes. "Since my daughters births, I became a stay-home mama. HANDEPs presence in our village is like a blessing for me, and i think it's the same for other mothers who have small kids like mine. We could not go anywhere, but we have to earn money to help our families. HANDEP provides us a chance to earn regular income, which is something we really need."

Who's behind your pretty weaving? It's Ibu Delwati from Payang village. She is in her early 50's now and still motivated to do weavings. She started weaving after she got married. "Well, i think i had always known the basic techniques of weaving back then but never took it seriously. After i got married, I realised that i could not only rely on my husband to provide for our family. So i decided to learn how to weave all over again and i haven't stopped since" Ibu Delwati uses her income from weaving mainly to buy her family's daily needs and putting some of her money into saving.