Our Artisans

"For me, peace means being independent without living under the oppression of someone else. Nobody forces you to live a certain way, or to do certain things. Peace means being able to live the life that you want." 
-Artisan M

 

Our refugee artisans are from the Hazara people group, an ethnic minority from Afghanistan. The Hazaras have faced longstanding persecution in their home country. Besides mass genocide in the 1890s, the Hazaras have also experienced targeted killings, public bombings, and destruction of cultural heritage since the 1990s. The Hazaras continue to face oppression especially under the current Taliban rule since 2021.

 

As a result of their longstanding persecution, there is a large Hazara diaspora around the world. Malaysia has become a temporary home for many Hazara refugees and asylum seekers. 

Each of our artisans have their own unique life stories and journeys. From diverse backgrounds in their home country such as tailoring, business, student, NGO worker, etc, they have all come together to learn the art of gemstone polishing. 

 

Every single piece made by Peacemakers Studio is uniquely polished and handcrafted by our refugee artisans. Just as each gemstone piece is distinct, so is the story of each artisan. Thank you for your support in enabling livelihoods and celebrating their talent and resilience!