GlobalGiving.org: Lao Weaving Artisans - Micro Credit Project

Sample In Prepares To Sent Out

Soul QuachAngkham — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:25:09 GMT

SEDA's women weaving members has been produces over 30 different type of patents and colors. Currently, we are in processing with Lao government to request this sample to be sent out for promotion in Europe and USA. 200 meters of samples will be shipped by air cargo. We are hoping that more order will comes through soon. We are hoping these samples will help generate income for women and recycle microfinancing within their own community so, we would not request for any further assistance. In this way, SEDA's women member can become sustainable within their program as well as their community.

SEDA has trained women members to work together in a friendly environment, to help each other within their own community and to become sustainable not just for themselves, but for next generations. SEDA has accepted the members’ children to join the youth program which receives training in the head quarter offices; so, they can give back to their own community and many other communities too.

How can this women’s group continue to grow and support the community? We will need your support and more donations to help SEDA continue to offer support to new members during these holidays and year 2011.

We are still shorts of funds for administration, loans to women, testing the quality of products that can market demands, etc.. These women have created new designs based on their own ideas. Women who participated in this program participated in a workshop, exchanged knowledge, shared ideas and lessons and learned from their own experience through microfinancing. These women have seen great results and have requested that SEDA continue to raise awareness and funds that are needed to supports 20 other women who are new to the group and need help to achieves similar goals.

Example: Currently women who have been tested for pilot project. This is their result, as one women reply back to SEDA. Ms Thong said, “If we continue working together as similar program as what we done today, I believes we will continue have more women who will join SEDA as members as well as microfinance program is growing to outreach all of our women in our community. The program does help my family as I get enough money to help buy food for my family, school supplies for my children. I also want to help be a role model for my community and hope that everyone can adopt me as a good example. Last, I want to thank you to SEDA and many donors who support us and hope that they can continue to supports program to outreach to help other women too.”

Today, SEDA has more than 20 new members joining the women’s program, but SEDA is still short of funds to cover for new members. SEDA is urge all donors, supporters and fans if you can contribute in dollar to help the program continue for next year in 2011. Many thanks for your generosity and kindness during these holidays.

For more photos of textile visit on facebook or website links:
www.seda-laos.org
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186741&id=93076021515
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136198&id=93076021515

Weavers' community is born

Ingrid Leinus — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:44:42 GMT

10th of September took place a workshop in Ban Hay Village, 790 camp, where 23 participants formed their community policy and steering committee. Women are divided to 4 groups, each has a leader, an assistant and a secretary. Each group will manage the micro credit and assure the quality of products. Steering committee will do the overall coordination.

This workshop was a big step towards independent women cooperative. Women had to realize that it’s their responsibility to organize their work together to produce high quality fabrics. Participants had many questions, like when they can sell their products. Souly QuachAngkham, SEDA’s Director replied: “When you have stable cooperative members and you are ready to deliver high quality products and to respond to large orders, then I would say that the marketing won't be the problem”.

It was a big day for women, their motivation and self-confidence raised and they are optimistic about the future. Common cooking and festive lunch helped to build the strong team.

Women were very inspired to design their own logo. Their sketch of logo will be finalized and selected by the end of this year.

SEDA will continue with trainings about technical and business skills, quality control and marketing. For sustainability SEDA is training young trainers and leaders in youth training program, who will implement these trainings with supervision of Souly QuachAngkham.

Women need help with micro credit more than ever, please help to continue the project.

Links:

Photos of the workshop

Weavers’ Micro-credit Project Takes Flight

Ingrid Leinus — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:57:19 GMT

The female weavers participating in our micro-credit pilot project recently dropped off their latest batch of handmade fabrics http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186741&id=93076021515&l=0eab129fd6. The project is now morphing into a long-term one, with the participants currently developing small groups and group policies. After the success of the pilot project in Ban Hay Village, Vientiane province, 20 more women will join the weavers group. In September they will form their own policy and steering committees. SEDA will provide training of technical skills, management, marketing and accounting skills. The aim is to develop sustainable community of weavers and to train them to function independently. SEDA will be consultant and assist in micro credit and marketing. It will also apply for additional funding for investments in production and marketing. Continually SEDA facilitates involvement of new members and creation of new weaving communities. Please help us to continue this important project: http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/lao-weaving-artisans-micro-credit-project/

The Weavers in 790 Disabled Veterans Village Receive a Visit from the UNDP

Alex Stott — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:46:27 GMT

Despite being long forgotten to many in the West, the Lao victims of the Indochina War still struggle with their daily lives. Often with debilitating injuries and unable to work, veterans and their families survive mostly off of a government pension and whatever the women can bring home.

Women in Laos suffer more inequality than women in most other countries, but this doesn’t stop those with talent and drive to break through the gender barriers. The women of the 790 Disabled Veterans Village are doing just that, and SEDA is by their side in their battle against economic and gender inequality. SEDA is continuing with its support for the weaver women through a microfinance project to inject capital and training into their community. The unique weaving of Laos is revered internationally, but often village-bound weavers lack the marketing skills to access markets beyond their local trading centres.

SEDA empowers the weavers with small capital loans to invest in their village industry, while also giving them valuable access to international markets for their products. The project is showing increased success, and February 12 saw the visit of Denis Nkala, chief of the South-South Unit (Asia and Pacific) of the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. Denis was given a tour of the village to see firsthand the spinning and dying techniques of these resourceful villagers. Using 100% organic methods, the cloths go through a cycle from dying and warping, to threading, to weaving—all by hand on traditional looms.

“Community-level projects worldwide are all finding their own ways to address sustainability, and we have seen one such story today,” said Denis.

Denis was joined on his visit by SEDA’s Lao and international volunteers, alongside founder Souly QuachAngkham. Once the display was over, the whole party was treated to a village feast of Lao sticky rice and fish, and none were left unsatisfied.

“We are so glad of SEDA’s support, and we hope UNDP’s presence can lead to further success in the future,” the head of the weavers’ cooperative, Vilay Thong, said.

The women and SEDA were keen to stress that this was not a celebratory visit. With the recent expansion of the cooperative group by 25 members, there was still work to be done, but the mood was nonetheless upbeat and optimistic about the future.

In many ways, it is up to the women now to continue with these early successes, but the support of SEDA and partners, along with the UNDP will surely give them the best possible shot at building a sustainable model of community-level income generation for their daughters and granddaughters.

SEDA welcomes new members into micro-credit weaving program

Kelly Stevenson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:05:42 GMT

“SEDA has provided me with such a great opportunity to gain not only knowledge and marketing, but also to help my family by producing my own income”- micro-credit weaving member.

We are pleased to announce that we have welcomed four more women into our textile weaving micro-credit program in recent months. This program provides disadvantaged women with the technical support, training and marketing of woven skirts, in the hope that they will generate their own income in the future.

SEDA’s Chief Executive Souly QuachAngkham spoke with these women on a recent visit, and asked if they were happy with the project.

“We are very happy! Thank you for giving is this opportunity to help our own communities”- Leader of weaving group.

Please help us to continue this important project in the future by donating at:

http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/lao-weaving-artisans-micro-credit-project/

A Postcard from Lao Weaving Artisans - Micro Credit Project

Clare Rutz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:24:20 GMT

SEDA

This is Clare Rutz reporting from Vientiane in Laos.

As an In-The-Field traveler I was able to see a side of Laos that most backpackers wouldn’t. I was able to talk to the people, visit their homes, and catch a glimpse of their daily lives. SEDA, a small non-profit that reaches out to many different communities with a thoughtful approach to each, gave me the opportunity to ask what it was the people of Vientiane and the surrounding villages needed. Their response was often exactly what SEDA was determined to help them with.

Some projects help thousands of people, while others help just one, but when given the chance to see the smile that comes from that one person in thanks for what was given to them, you do not question the importance of such philanthropy. Andee is a twelve-year-old girl who was completely paralyzed until six months ago. With physical therapy and medicine that helps rejuvenate her nerve cells given to her by SEDA she is able to show some movement. When asked to move her arms she did with a proud smile immediately following her accomplishment. I was fortunate enough to come on a day where Souly, the founder of SEDA, was delivering a surprise to Andee. We had brought a full set of sheets and a bright pink blanket for her bare mattress. Her simple joy for such simple amenities could easily ground anyone. With the right funding another surprise will hopefully make its way to Andee. Souly is currently looking for a hospital bed that will help her with physiotherapy and exercise!

Jumping back into the car we head towards another project of SEDA’s. We are visiting a woman who is apart of the microfinance opportunity that SEDA provides. When we arrive the first thing I notice is the spinning wheel. It’s the main attraction of the tiny building the family resides in. “Without the spinning wheel there would be no building”, was what I was told after I asked how their lives changed since the microfinance program. It provides them with a job that pays for the necessities. The microfinance project gives three to four hundred women loans in order to start spinning. The women collect old collars and bits of cloth from the factories and spin it back to useable string. SEDA provides the loans and helps the women with marketing. They are required to set up a group of five to ten women with one accountant and one secretary, and as a team they are responsible for repaying their loans. The interest rates compared to the local banks are extremely low, which allow the women to take the risk and begin working. The program provides a sustainable income for these women, and sustainability is a large component to the path towards self-reliance, the greatest goal of SEDA.

Our last stop is a once abandoned house that was previously owned by a USAID worker. The swimming pool is empty and weeds burst from the cracks, but something remarkable is going on in the backyard. A greenhouse full of potted plants is the beginning of a huge step forward for the farmers of Laos. SEDA is researching the most effective farming techniques that can be taught to farmers to increase the quality and quantity of their agricultural goods. They are also researching “cash crops”, which are the crops that are in high demand. Agarwood is the leading product in this field, and SEDA is making long strides to grow this special wood used for medicine and cosmetics, distribute the seedlings, and train farmers on how to tend to the crop. The difficulties of the process include the transportation of the seedlings, which is very costly and the training. Agarwood needs to be grown in a very specific way in order for the quality to be adequate enough to use, therefore, the training process will need to be long and thorough. With each great idea come obstacles! Follow the progress of SEDA on their page on GlobalGiving at: www.globalgiving.com/2219 to check up on Andee and to support the women in the microfinance program go to www.globalgiving.com/2504. To read about the agricultural program that completed its funding goal go to www.globalgiving.com/2012.

When asked what she would tell her friends about this project, Clare said: "Great: They are making a difference."

Project continues to grow

Charlotte Halligan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:46:35 GMT

SEDA’s micro finance project is going from strength to strength, but we still need your help to help as many women as possible work their way out of poverty.

Interest has been shown by international buyers to purchase the textiles produced by the women of Ban Hai – potentially doubling their traditional earnings. One buyer is traveling to Singapore to personally meet the women behind the beautiful fabrics. The women are very excited at the prospect of a big deal, and are working hard, but they need the micro-credit loans to buy the materials and tools to create textiles in large quantities.

SEDA’s innovative project has been in the media recently, including an article in Micro-Finance Insights magazine.

Please keep supporting this socially responsible and innovative scheme – the money you donate makes a real difference, and with your help, SEDA can expand the project to include more women.

As always, we want to hear your feedback and suggestions. Please email your comments to info@seda-laos.org. And if you want to get the latest updates on SEDA activities, you can follow us on twitter, http://twitter.com/sedalaos.

SEDA responds to Micro-credit critics

Charlotte Halligan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:39:36 GMT

Recent media coverage has shed light on the negative aspects of some micro-credit schemes.

SEDA runs a socially responsible program and employs many measures to avoid the pitfalls that have been highlighted.

Please read the August 2009 report, “A response to micro-credit critics” for more information about the key differences between SEDA’s projects and those that have been subject to criticism.

The report shows that SEDA relies on your donations to make a difference. Please keep supporting SEDA and the women of Laos.

We would love to hear your feedback on the report - please email info@seda-laos.org

In the media

SEDA's micro-credit program has been covered in Go Nomad Magazine. Read the article to discover just how much of a difference your money is making to the lives of women in Laos.

Links:

Go Nomad Magazine - Laos' Forgotten Women

Attachments:

A response to micro-credit critics (PDF)

Helping hand for women in Vientiane

Charlotte Halligan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:48:57 GMT

The husband of one of the spinners lends a helping hand.

SEDA’s microfinance project continues to grow, helping women from the Vientiane province develop small businesses and generate regular income. Thank you yo everyone who has donated so far to this very worthwhile cause.

So far 30 women have signed up to receive the small loans and business training, and SEDA is busy expanding to double those numbers.

SEDA is trying to raise the $3000 needed to help these women achieve financial independence.

Why Microfinance?

For women in Laos, making enough money to run a home can be a struggle. Often they rely on occasional work, helping with laundry, sewing or cleaning, which leaves them with little financial security from month to month. And in vulnerable families, or where the woman is the sole earner, this is a huge problem.

Spinning for success:

For 30 women in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, microfinance is making a difference. Showing the resourcefulness of the Lao people, the women have been using discarded material from a nearby clothing factory to spin cotton that they can sell for a small profit.

With the help of small loans, ranging from $50 - $175, the women have been able to get their businesses off the ground. They use the small loans to buy the material, and with the help of SEDA, are able to sell the cotton at a fair price, either at the local markets, or to a nearby village that can weave the cotton into fabrics.

The women pay back the loans at a rate that they agree that they can afford – with a minimum payment of just $0.50 per day.

The microfinance program also teaches business skills and financial management, so that the women can eventually achieve financial independence.

Helping women throughout Laos

SEDA’s microfinance project is not limited to the city. Small loans and micro-credit are also be given out in rural and remote areas, with a goal of helping between 300-400 women in vulnerable families obtain a secure income and learn the skills necessary to run a business and a home.

Please consider donating to this project. Every penny donated helps to alleviate short term poverty, and also to create long term financial stability for women and their families.

Please donate through global giving. For more information please contact SEDA at info@seda-laos.org.

Spinning cotton recycled from a clothes factory

Spinner

Funds Still Needed for Artisan Women

Souly QuachAngkham — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:31:00 GMT

A Laos women weaver hard at work

SEDA’s partner organizations are reporting that many women in Sungthong District, Vientiane Province are still in need of funding to get their textiles and waving businesses up and running. The Village Bank is short of the funds needed to provide grants. The Village Bank cannot secure loans from commercial banks and have therefore turned to SEDA-Laos for help. SEDA has been trying to raise fund, but we are having very limited success.. We are urging our reader, supporters, and donors to help support this program. These funds will be used to help women in remote areas become independent and self-sustaining business owners.

SEDA’s goal is to raise enough funds to provide support to over 350 women in remote areas. Every dollar donated counts toward helping these women develop stable and self-sustaining income. Given the current economic climate, we at SEDA know how difficult it is to find extra money. However, even a $5.00 contribution can help rural Laotian women develop their businesses. To view more photographs of this project and other SEDA undertaking please visit www.picasaweb.google.com/souly2008.

Taking a break to smile for our photographer

The finished product!!