In Bhadohi, a region in the so-called carpet belt of India, the illiteracy rate is high. In the past three years, about 200 women, who work in the carpet industry, have learnt how to read, write and calculate in Label STEP projects. Now they are supported to also use those qualifications in everyday life: Among others, reading material is brought in their villages by a rickshaw. Now the library system is being developed... more

Varanasi is situated in the middle of the Indian carpet belt. The illiteracy rate in the villages of the region is considerable. In an adult education programme parents have learned how to read and write and are now aware of how valuable school education is for the life of their children... more

In Bihar, one of the poorest states of India, bonded labour of children is particularly widespread. Far away from home the children often work as cheap employees in the brick or carpet production. Workshops are supposed to help the village community to find a way out of poverty and to protect their children against bonded labour... more

In the so-called Indian carpet belt many women can neither read nor write and have hardly any chances to earn money. Label STEP organised courses in which the women learned to weave carpets and to organise themselves in production teams. Thus they can prepare the grounds for a better future for themselves and their children... more

As in many other carpet production areas carpet production in Pakistan is to a great extent a home based industry. On the basis of an innovative project Label STEP has developed methods that support weavers to profit from the benefits of fair trade in their homes and help them to improve their situation on their own. Although the project is still in its pilot phase it already reaches 4000 people – most of them are women... more