Welcome to our global maker-to-market movement where, together with 20,000 artisans, we ignite social change. We create opportunities for individuals, families, and communities in developing countries to thrive through strong relationships, fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable practices.

Wish someone you like a latte the peace of a sweet morning with this hand-painted greeting card, made of authentic papyrus paper. Durable, lightweight papyrus paper was the most significant writing material in the ancient world. Used first around 4000 B.C., Egyptians developed paper from the papyrus reed, which grew plentifully along the banks of the Nile. Today, women in Egypt working with artisan partner Jirmit Papyrus, hand-paint cards to provide for their families.
HANDCRAFTED IN EGYPT
SKU: 2502240
THE MAKERS
Jirmit Papyrus Group is a registered fair trade organization that aims to generate work for unemployed young people in the Egyptian town of Mallawi. In this regional capital in Upper Egypt, about 300 kilometers south of Cairo, employment opportunities are hard to find. Artisans with this family-owned workshop make hand-painted cards, bookmarks and other art on authentic Egyptian papyrus. Handmade papyrus is an ancient form of paper first known to have been used in Egypt 5,000 years ago. Emad Ekram Attia started Jirmit Papyrus in 1990, as a way to earn an income while finding a creative outlet for his artistic talents. Papyrus art preserves an Egyptian artistic tradition, while honoring the Coptic Church’s practice of commemorating saints through use of painted icons. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from Jirmit Papyrus Group since 1993 (through MCC Egypt initially, directly since 2003).

Tenthousandvillages.com