One World Projects
Coconut Turtle Bobble-Head Sculpture
Coconut Turtle Bobble-Head Sculpture
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These bobble-head turtles are a great conversation piece that adds a bit of wimzie to any home.
Bobble heads make a wonderful gift for kids big and small. We invite you to browse through our new Philippine Artisan products.
- Coconut Turtle Measures - 2" high x 4" wide x 5-1/4" deep
Handmade in the Philippines and Fair Trade imported
Lolo Bobby is located in the Bagongbayan Bat Leyte Visayas Region of the Philippines; near the coast. The artisans include both men and women who have been with the company since its inception; nearly 10 years. The artisans comprise both family groups and individuals ranging between 25 and 55 years of age.
Lolo Bobby has grown to become the major source of income for these artisans, their families, and for the community. Some of the artisans work in the factory producing products, but others work in their homes; especially women who are caring for their children.
Lolo Bobby operates according to Fair Trade principles; encouraging their artisans to participate in decision making in the workplace with regards to production decisions, management, and pay issues. Their objective is to ensure the safety and productivity of their artisans by providing them with their needs, safe equipment, materials, and technical training. The company also provides shelter for some of the artisans who would not otherwise have it.
To help the environment, Lolo Bobby has been planting coconut trees which not only helps them to sustain production, but to protect the environment as well.
Purchasing these products is a great benefit to the artisans as this is their major source of income. Through selling these handcrafts they are able to give their children a good education and provide their families with their basic needs.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
