Saffy Handicrafts

Saffy stands for Social Action for Filipino Youth. Saffy Handicrafts is the business export arm of SAFRUDI, the Social Action Foundation for Rural and Urban Development, a social services organization. (SAFRUDI markets crafts domestically through its ManoMano fair trade store.) SAFRUDI markets products for many small artisan workshops, and runs its own production unit specializing in capiz shell items. Artisans benefit from educational seminars, vocational training, financial and medical assistance. An in–house Product Designer assists artisan groups in the development of new product lines.

Saffy was founded in 1966 by Sr. Juliaan Mullie, a Belgian nun, to create alternative sources of livelihood for impoverished women and youth in marginalized areas of Manila. It expanded to serve communities in need by launching social development programs. The organization legally incorporated in 1970 as SAFRUDI, retaining Saffy as its trade name for export items. SAFRUDI is a member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), and is affiliated with Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc., Asia Fair Trade Forum and Philippine Fair Trade Forum.

Ten Thousand Villages purchases capiz ornaments and crafts, handmade paper cards, angels, frames, boxes, candleholders, painted wood mobiles, baskets and trays from Saffy Handicrafts. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from Saffy Handicrafts since 1986.