Craftworks Cambodia.
Artisan Story.
With the support of groups such as Craftworks Cambodia, and the sales of hand crafted products such as bags, and wallets, an income that offers families and communities the chance at a better future can be provided to artisans . Craftworks Cambodia works to support these artisans, it ensures that the artisans are fairly rewarded for their work and provides support for education and training in the communities in Cambodia.
Ms. Srey Mach
SREY MACH is 34 years old, she lives in, Kom Pong Cham province. She has six brothers and sisters and is the third daughter of her family . She finished only grade 8. She lives with Ms Socheat who has helped Srey Mach by allowing her to live in her flat paying only for the basics such as water and electricity.
Ms Srey Mach worked in a factory until 2002. It was sweated labour and very difficult at this factory. In 2002 she went to attend a ceremony at a temple and tragically on the way she stepped on a mine . The explosion left her badly injured and she lost one of her legs. Srey Mach lost her job and her hope after the accident but with the support of friends and family she found the strength to continue on.
In 2004, she learned to sew bags and wallets. Initially she sewed some bags as piece work for Peace NGOs then in 2005 she began working as as a teacher teaching children at a health care centre how to sew. In 2009 she found employment training amputees to sew bags and wallets. Finally she found Craftworks Cambodia and then she started her own small business producing eco-friendly silk bags, wallets and other items for Craftworks Cambodia. She is delighted to work with Craftworks Cambodia. Craftworks Cambodia is able to offer her enough work to get by day by day but Srey Mach loves to work hard and would like to earn enough money to be able to provide well for herself and her family. Whenever she has free time she sews more beautiful ikat silk bags or wallets
The support of the customers, those people who support fair trade or are conscious consumers, those that buy her products through Craftworks Cambodia help change the life of Srey Mach and all the others like her.
