Not too long ago, I was shown a video of an elephant painting (see the second video I have posted here).  This video was extremely moving and I felt the desire to get more information.

My search brought me to Exotic World Gifts.  They sell gifts, jewelry, and home decor while they are supporting a cause.  Not only do they seek out people in villages around the world who make jewelry and other beautiful items to sell (to help them sell their items so they can support their families), but they support Fair Trade practices and provide Fair Trade wages to the artists, provide good working conditions and no child labor. In addition to fair wages, they also contribute to humanitarian projects that directly help the people.  Depending on the cost of the labor, materials, import/export fees, tariffs, and necessary expenses, 25% to 50% of the selling price of each item is given to the artist and related humanitarian projects.

Their mission is to empower consumers to connect with small scale artisans around the world and by purchasing their products through ExoticWorldGifts.com to participate in providing them with sustainable income.

In fact, in reading about them on their website, I ran across an article about a group of women artisans in the Himalayan mountains in India who were victims of child marriage, but rescued and now living in the Short Stay Home ran by the cooperative.  They earn a living by making jewelry and other items and are learning weaving, cutting, tailoring, etc.

While the founders of Exotic World Gifts were seeking out new artisans, they came across a refuge camp for elephants in Northern Thailand and not only witnessed, but videotaped, an elephant painting.  The camp is Maetaman Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  You can purchase prints of these paintings as well.  Their goal is to raise money not only for the artisans to support themselves, but to help conservation efforts in these developing countries.

From their website:

There are a select group of elephants who have artistic talent and are easily engaged in painting. The Mahouts and owners of the Conservation camps get a good indicator when elephants are not interested in painting – as they eat their paint brush and other things. Elephants who are not interested in painting – don’t paint. The elephant art that we represent is done by talented elephants who are well cared for. The elephants seem pleased with the applause of the audience and of course the bundles of sugarcane and bananas after the paintings are completed. The painting process actually provides needed stimulation for the elephants.

As part of the training process, the trainer shows the elephant basic brush strokes. The trainer loads the brush with the desired color and the elephant proceeds to make the learned stroke. Each piece of art is unique as the elephant has total control of the brush.

Hong is 7 years old and she has been painting for 4 years.

Hong moved from Surin Province (Northeast Thailand)
to Maetaman Camp when she was about 2 years old
and nobody knew Hong’s parents. Hong met Noi (her mahout)
who was assigned to take care of her.
Noi was her first and only person who trained Hong to
live with humans and listen to all human communication.
Later on, Hong was trained to paint and show visitors her painting abilities.
She is the only elephant in the world who can
paint the realistic elephant with a flower or Thai flag.
Hong is able to paint a lovely elephant.

How Can Everyone Support Saving the Asian Elephant?
Please purchase elephant art through www.ExoticWorldGifts.com. Part of the money for the art is donated to two causes. When Exotic World Gifts purchases the art, some of the proceeds are used for feeding and medical care of the domesticated elephants. Part of your purchase the elephant art from www.ExoticWorldGifts.com,  is sent to the conservation project for an Artificial Insemination program in Thailand.  At least 30% of your purchase is committed to maintaining and conserving these elephants.