The Community Crafts Association of the Philippines, Inc. was formally organized  in May 1973 with Mr. Antonio R. Infante as founding President together with 21 members representing the religious and socio-civic.

The purpose then was to contribute to the social and economic progress of the country’s urban and rural poor, with a particular focus on the community craft workers nationwide.

In May 1998, CCAP Fairtrade for Development Inc. was officially established as an intermediary marketing arm of CCAP.  Thus, it shares the same purpose with CCAP, the NGO,  but focuses and specializes in export trading of the handicraft products made by the community-based marginal producers.

The new set up was a move of CCAP to promote and strengthen the practice of fair trade standards to its partner producers, buyers and supporters.

After 35 years, CCAP stakeholders reaffirmed the  purpose of CCAP driven by a Vision:

"An empowered community-based craft producers' organization engaged in Fair Trade."

and clearly defined its simple Goal:

"To improve the quality of life of handicraft producers through sustainable development."

...based on the following Mission Statements:

I.  Unify craft producers into an effective Fair Trade Organization working together in developing local and global market access;

II. Promote the cultural heritage of the Filipino people through the development of the craft industry; and

III. Establish a relationship of partnership between GOs and NGOs in developing a community-based craft industry

The Core Values  were also defined to serve as inspiration in the development work of both CCAP and CCAP Fairtrade for Development:

• Community-based
• Fair Trade
• Empowerment of producers
• Quality Craftsmanship
• Culture Sensitive
• Respect for relationship of partnership
• Social Responsibility
• Organizational capability building

The Objectives became the framework of the organization in the formulation of its program plans as follows:

1. To develop member producers to become sustainable through organizational, entrepreneurial development and value formation programs;
2. To create opportunities for information exchange and market access to marginalized community-based craft producers;
3. To advocate Fair Trade Principles with focus on:
   • Gender Equity
   • Environmental Sustainablity
   • Child Protection, and
   • Cultural Sensitivity
4. To strengthen its human resources through value formation and organizational capability-building; and
5. To promote CCAP as a leader in the craft industry

CCAP former partner producers who eventually got empowered to market their crafts to buyers locally and globally are SAFFY, PREDA and BMPCI to name a few.

CCAP is registered under the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and operating under Philippine laws.

The CCAP and CCAP Fairtrade for Development are governed by its respective Board of Trustees and Board of Directors composed of 7 members elected every 2 years by the general membership.  It is noteworthy to mention that there are 2 seats for direct partner-producers.

At present, CCAP is working with about 25  community-based producer groups representing around 800 producer-workers who are direct recipients of its 2-pronged program services namely, Social Development and FT Advocacy Program (SDAP) and the Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP).

CCAP looks forward to its 40th anniversary celebration in May 2013 with thanksgiving to all its stakeholders coupled with unwavering commitment to pursue its vision.

Creation and provision of relevant, responsive and appropriate  human-social-economic-environmental development programs that capacitate the marginalized producers  to achieve an improved quality of life remains a battlecry of the CCAP.