Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a workshop that was set up in 1986 by Samuel Masih, whose goal was to ensure good healthcare, education and housing for the local people. Noah's pays its artisans 20% more than the government's minimum wage. It also provides basic nutritional health, education and housing for the artisans and their families. A major goal of the workshop is to give its artisans independence - every year two or three of its members split off and form their own workshops. Since 1986, about 20 artisans have split from Noah's Ark and formed their own workshop.
Noah's Ark is based in Moradabad, a city renowned for its brassware. Here generations have passed down their skills and designs for beautiful handicrafts. Noah's Ark uses recycled metals as its raw material - old car radiators, copper wire and broken brassware all go into the melting pot. Because of all the goods it produces, India imports much of this scrap metal - so you never know, your old car radiator may be melted into one of Noah's Ark's beautiful bowls!
Harswaroon Singh has been working with Noah's Ark for thirteen years. He started as a repairing person and is now the Assistant Manager and also has the liberty to design his own products and supply to Noah's Ark. Harswaroon says, "The kind of facility and self-respect we are getting here is nowhere to see. I left Noah's Ark for a year and tried to find a job or even tried to do my own work, but I wasn't successful and I was at the point of ruin. So I came back to Noah's Ark and started at the same position where I left and they gave me the same treatment. So now the whole family is very thankful to them."
