Having lived in China for over ten years, NORBOO’s founder has always been captivated by the creativity of different ethnic groups. Despite living in extremely harsh environments with limited resources, they manage to remain creative, hospitable, and joyful. During her travels to these remote areas, she enjoys collecting locally handmade products and learning about their traditional materials and production methods. NORBOO strives to make a holistic impact in these communities by allocating a portion of our profits and utilizing our expertise.
Since then, the founder visited several villages within a 2-4 hour driving distance from NORBOO’s main location, leading group and in-house trainings for women who are unable to travel. Her ultimate goal is to establish a permanent center in one of these villages to provide stable income for all the women they have trained thus far. Additionally, NORBOO is focusing on training a young mother to teach other women in the future, ensuring a sustainable and empowering impact for generations to come.
Purpose
At NORBOO Tibetan Handicrafts, their purpose is to create holistic transformation within communities by empowering single mothers and underprivileged women. They believe that every woman deserves the opportunity to build a sustainable income while taking care of her family and household. Their vision is to use their limited resources to make a significant impact within these communities, while creating high-quality products that showcase a fusion between Western and Tibetan styles.
Their values are rooted in their commitment to providing training, resources, and support to these women. They strive to create a supportive environment that fosters personal and professional growth. They believe in transparency, ethical practices, and using mostly local materials to ensure their impact is long-lasting and environmentally friendly.
NORBOO believes that by investing in the potential of these women, they can create positive social and economic change, not just for individuals, but for entire communities. They are committed to creating opportunities for these women to thrive and contribute to society, while preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetan people through their products.
People
NORBOO’s business empowers underprivileged Tibetan women, many of whom are single mothers. Unfortunately, it's a common occurrence in Tibetan society, particularly in rural areas, for women to be raising 1-3 children on their own. Often, each child is from a different marriage. Without a male figure to provide for their families, these women must find alternative ways to generate income while still managing their household duties and caring for their children. Although minimum hourly payments are available for heavy labor (e.g., construction, carrying), there are few options available to them.
NORBOO offers an intensive sewing training program that can be conducted in their homes or in a location easily accessible to them. For those who show an aptitude for learning these skills and are willing to work with the company, they provide a sewing machine and ongoing training to teach them how to create basic products.
During training, NORBOO provides daycare services for their children. They also strive to establish positive relationships with the entire community and address any other needs they observe, such as providing food and assistance to older members of the community or clothing for children.
Planet
This small handicrafts business is committed to creating high-quality, handmade products that are not only beautiful but also eco-friendly and sustainable. By utilizing locally available materials as much as possible, small sewing machines are energy-efficient and consume less electricity, and avoiding plastic packaging, NORBOO is able to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its impact on the planet.
