Please Meet The Artisans
of Madura Handicrafts:

The Madurese families of Madura Handicrafts are the rescued remnant survivors of a 1999 Indonesian ethnic clash. They had been aliened for years by their neighbors on Borneo because of their race and religion. Within a mater of days that March, Madurese residents in the Sambas region were systematically and ritualistically killed and their homes burned. Some did escape into the jungle with nothing but the clothes on their backs. To quiet the uprising, government officials packed the rescued Madurese families into cargo ships and relocated them back to their ancestrial island Madura, Indonesia.

A community development plan was developed by an international team of relief workers for the village. The refugee women, now marginalized by society, started crocheting hats and handbages to provide income for their families.

The renewable palm fiber used to make these hand crafted items is called Pesser. Pesser is cut palm frond that is hand rolled into fiber that was traditionally used for fishing nets. This renewable fiber craft, perfectly represents their heritage, while offering hope for the future. Each bag and hat carries to you one women's story of tragedy and her effort for self confident survival.

Your response to each bag and hat returns to her income to supplement their family's food beyond the government issue of rice, resources to repair termite damaged huts, choices for her children's education, salaries for two village health care workers, office manager, a village water purification system, leadership skill opportunities and community well being. The Kelbung women say "Terima Kasih! Receive with love, thank you!"

A-Mark On The World appreciates your partnership to commit sustainable development in Kelbung and stamp a lasting "Mark on the World"!