Refugee Crafts Debut at Festival

Bishnu (right) brought her experience as a vendor in Bhutan to the refugee women’s crafts co-op’s table at Charlottesville’s Festival of Cultures in May. Pictured here with IRC Economic Empowerment Coordinator Daniella deFranco, she showed customers an array of newly handmade crafts from local refugee women. From Iraqi doilies to Burmese backstrap-woven scarves and Bhutanese hand-knit scarves, the co-op represented four countries, twenty-two women, and hours of business training and craftwork by the artisans. Watch the IRC’s Facebook page for information about future sales sites!