An exciting new project is taking off in Malta. The beneficiaries are the artisans and crafts people in Malta who make and sell handicrafts and handmade products.

Zen D'Amato Gautam, the founder of Thrivers Malta, explains, “our focus is to help talented artisans to be able to earn a living doing what they love. We do this in two ways:

“First ,we are working to introduce more markets around Malta, particularly in popular tourist areas. Tourists are good customers because they want something unique and innovative to take home as mementos. We are looking at having markets at locations such as Valletta, Sliema and Bugibba on a regular basis. We are currently negotiating with the authorities to create several street markets that will also serve as an attraction to the locality.

“The second goal of Thrivers Malta is to provide training covering the entire handmade entrepreneurship spectrum. Most artisans are very talented but have no idea how to manage a business, do marketing, create an online shop, use social platforms for business, price their products effectively, set up policies, and so on. Thrivers Malta will offer an academy offering physical and online courses to help artisans start and grow a successful business. We are collaborating with subject experts and local agencies to design our courses.”

Thrivers Malta is enhancing the lives of creatives by providing the necessary opportunities, tools and resources to enable them to work on their craft on a full-time basis and build a successful business. It is meeting the needs of these people by giving them a fair chance. 

In addition, the handmade fairs organized by Thrivers Malta also aim to boost Malta as a shopping destination, which has become a new trend. The range of local handmade items is immense; there are products in jewellery, home décor, wellness, beauty, kids, food and drinks, wedding and occasions and myriad gift ideas and souvenirs, including traditional Maltese lace and the popular Maltese cross in silver filigree.

"We give particular attention to the ethics involved in the process of creating the products. We aim to also educate customers and consumers about the sad reality of mass produced products, particularly child labour, and make them understand that they have the power to change reality with each and every purchase that they make.”

"We also want to help differently abled and unemployed people by focusing on their strengths and teach them not only a craft, but a way to build their own sustainable business or find employment within our community of artisans."

Zen has over ten years’ experience in Event Management and Organisation and E-Commerce, and is an artisan herself.

“The idea sprouted when circumstances led me to leave my job, and I became determined to work from home by selling my creations online to the world and at local markets. I decided to invest in myself and enrolled at online academies from the USA and Canada to learn about e-commerce and how to run a handmade business. After some time, I saw excellent results and began to share tips with some of my artisan friends, who also experienced more sales. At that point, I realised that many more can benefit, just as I have.”

In April 2018, the project was submitted to the prestigious Malta Social Impact Awards, which every year donates financial and non-financial support to bring to life projects that will make a positive social impact on Malta. Thrivers Malta has been short-listed for the finals, which will take place in November.

Thrivers Malta is a Social Enterprise working solely in the interest of its beneficiaries and will officially launch in early 2019. It is currently undertaking nationwide market research to establish different scenarios by understanding the needs and wants of sellers and buyers in general.

“Our primary mission is to promote the handmade arts, from the artisans to the product."

Thrivers Malta is out to empower local creative entrepreneurs to thrive in their artistic handmade business and cultivate a supportive community around them by providing the right resources, training, coaching, visibility and opportunities. In addition, the project will educate consumers and create a networking opportunity between artisans, supporting collaborative relationships within a market scenario that offers abundance for all.

Local artisans may get more information by visiting www.thriversmalta.com or contacting Zen on [email protected].