Craftworks Cambodia

 

Craftworks Cambodia is an organization working to provide vocational training and marketing skills to home based producers through the sale of contemporary arts and crafts items. Our partnership with this organization allows us to help employ 4 workers to create a line of accessories and jewelry based on the finest aesthetic and artistic traditional workmanship of Cambodia.

 

MEET THE MAKERS:

Name: Mr. Chenla Chan

Mr. Chenla is a very inspirational man who lives on the outskirts of Phnom Penh City with his wife and two daughters. He was born and raised in a refugee camp in Thailand where his family raised him along with his 6 brothers and sisters after escaping the Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot regime in Cambodia. He and his family lived in the refugee camp for 14 years.

Overcoming some very difficult years through his adolescence, he grew into his adult life becoming a very skilled craftsman and working with Craftworks Cambodia for over 10 years. He is delighted to have a decent job and happy to create pieces that help Craftworks expand globally with brands like Chic Made Consciously. Cassandra got the chance to meet Chenla in person and work on the designs in 2018-2019.

Learn more from Chenla himself!

 

Name: Alyta Chea 

Alyta was born in 1992 in a small Cambodian village called Kien Sway, in Kandal province. It is about 35 minutes from Phnom Penh city. She is the oldest daughter of two in her family. She got married recently, and would love to have children but has none yet. Coming from a low-income family with little education, she finds such joy with her job at Craftworks and enjoys jewelry making very much! She is pursuing her ability to stay creative and the fair pay assists her and her husband tremendously.
Name: Kosal Lim
Mr. Kosal Lim was born in 1985 in Kandal province. He has very big family with 3 sisters and 4 brothers. He got married two years ago and has happily had one daughter. His daughter is nearly 1 year old now. He loves producing jewelry as it allows him to be creative and enjoys receiving a sustainable income for his family and his daughter.

Name: Sonita

Each of our orders are packaged in a handmade gift bag that is made from repurposed fabrics and sewn by Sonita. She is a master sewer and does an amazing job of handcrafting our gift bags. She loves to make jewelry gift bags for Cassandra at Chic Made Consciously, as this job helps bring income for herself and her daughter and support her school education. 

Sonita has been sewing now for over 8 years since Craftworks helped invest in her classes. She was born in 1991 in Phnom Penh city. She is now a widow and lives with her daughter who is 7 years old.

 

Name: Sokha

Sokha works as an administrative assistant to the Craftworks Cambodia team. Her roles include preparing and packaging all orders for export, and any other relevant office duties. She is a single mom and has been enjoying her time working at Craftworks since 2017. She used to work for admin staff a large garment factory, but got quite sick because of toxic fumes and had to leave that position. Luckily she found Craftworks and has been happily employed under more safe working conditions ever since.

Cassandra met her in 2018 on her travels to Cambodia!