In developed countries, being an artisan is a career choice and in many cases the artisan has a degree from a college or university. 

In developing countries it’s a very different story: here artisans are regarded as a lower-status social group, learning their skills in the family or community in which they live, or through government-funded initiatives. They are part of the informal sector, with no rights, no protection and no access to credit.

However they are an integral part of Malawi’s heritage and cultural identity, passing on knowledge and skills from one generation to the next. 

At People of the Sun we work with 9 groups, or “clubs”, of artisans,  celebrating their uniqueness and skill! Here’s how…