The story of GRAMA happened in Poochackal, a sleepy village near Cochin, Kerala where we live.
It all started in 2007 when we got a new farm helper- Asokan. He has been working well in our farm but, due to the inconsistency in climate and prices of produce, the farming activity has slowed down. Our farm helper no longer has regular work in the farm. But on seeing his plight to live, we wanted to support him and his family.
After considering lot of projects, we hit upon the idea of introducing GRAMA range of earth friendly products through which we wanted to provide better living conditions for his family.
Now project GRAMA is emerging as a bread earner, not only for Asokan and family,but also for many more families like him.
In the year 2008, we decided that the primary beneficiaries of the project through direct or indirect employment should be women since they are the pillar of the household. Since then, we were able to support a good number of families through employment and Women SHGs
GRAMA is a project initiated by Earthcare , a locally-run, enterprise that works to support the village community through initiatives in crafts, tourism & agriculture and is being run by Seema Soby Kurian & Soby Jose Kurian , a passionate social enterprenuer couple. In addition to GRAMA range of earth friendly products, she manages a farmstay – Grama Farmstay.
All our products are crafted in villages. Some of them are produced in our village while some others are sourced from other similar organizations/ individuals/ Women SHGs across the state.
We support rural community by producing & marketing village/ hand crafted products and thereby
· Provide natural products to our customers to ensure a better living
· Produce environmentally friendly products
· Employ and empower women of the local community and provide them a better living
· Pay fair wages and provide better living and working conditions
