Artisans Associations of Cambodia

Dear friends of AAC,

Warmest wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!  We at the Artisans Association of Cambodia (AAC) look forward to a year that brings peace, dignity and greater economic independence to all, especially for the vulnerable artisans with whom we work in Cambodia.  As we look ahead to 2016, we also want to share some accomplishments from the last quarter of 2015.

• AAC welcomed two new members: Daughters of Cambodia and Lotus silk are officially members of AAC.  In addition, two handicraft organizations have applied for AAC membership (1) Shalom Fashion Design based in Phnom Penh consists of over ten producers and staff, seven of them are people with hearing disabilities; and (2) an organization called the Codeaukhmer based in Svay Rieng province. The total active members as of the end of December 2015 were 45.
• Sales: The income generated through trade facilitation was $6,387.24. 
• International Buyers: AAC works with two buyers who placed sample order and repeated order from Peace, Ta Prohm, Craft Village, CYK. Home Based Worker, Lady Penh and Lotus Silk. AAC has at least three buyers who will visit AAC and its members in January, February and May 2016. 
• Regional Networking: AAC continues its network with WFTO Global, WFTO Asia, HomeNet South East Asia (HNSEA) and line ministries mainly the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft. 
• Regional Networking: Together with IKTT (one of AAC members based in Siem Reap that produces high end products and preserve culture of Cambodia) met with the Deputy General Secretary of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia government in December 2015 to discuss displaying products at the Naypyitaw National Museum based in Myanmar.
• AAC volunteers: One Marketing Volunteer is in place and one Marketing Assistance Volunteer will join AAC in February 2016 for 3 months. AAC signed an agreement with the Development Without Border, the volunteer organization based in France in order to get a third volunteer who will work with AAC for eight months begin in March 2016.

We also continued our AAC trainings in order to help build the capacity of our members.

Two major training workshops were conducted and prepared during this quarter.

1. Facebook Page Workshops: 

In Phnom Penh: AAC conducted a half-day workshop about “Improving Your Ability to Manage Face Book Oage” on November 20^th, 2015 at AAC training room for 20 participants. 

Siem Reap: Again AAC conducted workshop about “Facebook Page Creation” on December 9^th, 2015 at a restaurant in Siem Reap province for 5 participants. Our volunteer from DSF was the facilitator.

2. Enterprise Development:

In collaboration with Mr. Cecil Benjamin Business Development Expert, AAC was able to hold a seminar on Business Start-up and Expansion on December 9, 2015 at AAC meeting room for its member organizations.

AAC plans to conduct three training in the coming months: 

1. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): AAC plans together with the Ministry of Labor to conduct OSH training in the next quarter.
2. Color Trend: AAC has identified a facilitator to provide a color trend training for AAC members.   
3. Costing and Pricing: AAC also plans to conduct costing training for its new members next quarter.

Thank you for your continued support!  We look forward to sharing the 2016 AAC Catalog with you soon!  Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your generous support.  Happy New Year!

Warmest regards,

The WRF Team

This quarter brought more state-of-the-art trainings and more artisan members to the AAC! By increasing our membership, AAC is able able to improve the lives of more artisans and their families, including persons with disabilities and vulnerable women.  We are pleased to report that two handicraft organizations applied for AAC membership: (1) Daughter of Cambodia, Phnom Penh-based, consists of over 100 producers and staff, most of whom are formers sex workers and (2) Lotus Silk, which is based in Phnom Penh, and weavers are based in nearby provinces. With the addition of two new member, the total number active AAC members as of the end of September 2015 is 44 organizations!  In addition, one organization is on the waiting list.

We are also happy to share that more buyers came to Cambodia and met with AAC members this quarter, most of the buyers were from the Asia Pacific region. Some of the AAC members were busy with sample orders and repeat orders from their current and new buyers. These repeat orders are critical for sustainable growth and the AAC supports the members in cultivating long-term buyer relationships. 

Here's more about how we are making progress and increasing sales!

• Sales through AAC during the quarter were $7,921.88. 
• AAC successfully consolidated shipments for buyers who placed orders from the members through AAC.
• Seven international buyers used AAC services this quarter: three from the US, two from Japan and two from Hong Kong.
• Those buyers purchased products such as silk scarves, silk placemats and coaters, silk jewelry, cardholder, cattle horn jewelry, recycled paper journals and plastic bags, organic soap, and wood products.
• The countries that all AAC members have been exporting to include: USA, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, South Korea, France and Singapore etc. 

What about our training programs?

Three major training workshops were conducted during this quarter: Design Training, Technic Photo taking for catalog, and Fair Trade Principles & Fair Trade Guarantee System.

• Fair Trade Principles & Fair Trade Guarantee System Training: On August 6^th, 2015 AAC together with WFTO Asia were successfully promoted the principle of Fair Trade and Fair Trade Guaranty System to ten AAC members and non-AAC members based in Siem Reap province.

• Photography Training: AAC conducted a full day photo class for 17 participants represented 15 member organizations aiming to enable photographers or catalog developers to take high quality photos for catalog. AAC hired an educated and professional photographer and cinematographer, Mr. Roberto Traina – French; to facilitate the class, please see photos attached. Feedback: The workshop run smoothly and the student asking many questions and appeared very involved on the process of taking the product pictures. Maybe not everybody got a deep understanding of the photographic rules, just because we had not very long time. One day was not enough to master the light. Anyway, we got our target the student improved the quality of their Iphone photography and they where happy to cooperate together and get the pictures. Participants suggest AAC to create studio so that members could just bring their products to the studio and take photos there.

• Design Training: AAC conducted morning training on September 11^th, 2015 at AAC meeting room for 20 participants from 15 member organizations. The training was facilitated by Lena, Textile Designer, AAC volunteer.  

In terms of networking and advocacy, the AAC continues its collaboration with WFTO Global, WFTO Asia, HomeNet South East Asia (HNSEA) and the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft to ensure that AAC is fully engaged in dialogue regarding fair trade and handicrafts.

AAC said thank you and good-bye to three marketing volunteers who completed their mission. We are profoundly grateful for this technical assistance support and the AAC continues to seek for more volunteer from Development Sans Frontier, Japan, and the US.

AAC Goals for Next Quarter

• Follow up on the strategic design training to figure out whether trainees using their skills 
• Conduct Marketing training for members based in Siem Reap province
• Update AAC website 
• Ongoing export of AAC members’ products
• Continue to finalize AAC members’ catalog profile for 2015-2016
• Continue to distribute AAC flyers
• Continue to work on AAC showroom
• Continue to prepare for AHF 2016, a 
• Together with WRF develop a proposal and three-year financial projection for AAC

Thank you for your continued support!  We look forward to sharing the 2015-2015 AAC Catalog with you soon!  Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your generous support.

Warmest regards, 

The WRF Team

Artisan's Association of Cambodia (AAC) Summary

In keeping with the previous quarter, the Artisans' Association of Cambodia is undergoing a strategic planning process to identify the needs of the member organizations in order to plan for the next three years of work. The AAC's main goals are to facilitate the creation of fully sustainable social enterprises among member organizations through continued technical assistance, training, networking opportunities, and advocacy; to increase the amount of sales by AAC and member organizations, which will ultimately raise the compensations and, therefore, living standards of the workers; and to plan for AAC's own full future sustainability.

During the last quarter, there were notable achievements. To begin, AAC admitted two new members after conducting orientation visits.  The new members are Colour of Life and Pour un Sourire d' Enfant - Cambodia (PSE). This brings the total number active members as of the end of June 2015 to 43 member organizations, which consist of 2,041 producers and staff. Among those, 81% were producers, 56% were women, and 16% were people with disabilities. Moreover, 63% of the AAC member organizations were led by women.

With annual membership fees and income from shipping consolidation services for exports to buyers, AAC was able to cover part of our operational costs. Even though last quarter was a lean time and fewer buyers came to AAC members’ shops, some of the members were busy with sample orders and orders.  In terms of building our relationships with key stakeholders, AAC continued its networking with WFTO Global, WFTO Asia, HomeNet South East Asia (HNSEA) and line ministries mainly the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft etc.  AAC held a number of training sessions, which are outlined below. Lastly, three marketing volunteers from France have been working with AAC and its member organizations and AAC continues to seek additional volunteers from Development Sans Frontier.    

Highlights from April to June 2015

• International buyers from the United States, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong used AAC's services. For example, the AAC Director introduced one of the Hong Kong buyers to four of its members (Craftworks Cambodia, Rajana Association, Goel Community and A.N.D) based in Phnom Penh on June 18. During the visit the buyer bought samples and plans to place more order through AAC.  
• Those buyers have been importing products such as silk scarves, recycled jewelry, silk jewelry, name cardholder, dolls/toys, cattle horn jewelry, recycled paper journal, recycled plastic bag, organic soap, wood products, silk picture frame, silk journal, and silk bags.
• Many buyers worked directly with members. The countries that AAC members have been exporting to include: USA, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, UK, Singapore, Germany and France.
• AAC together with more that 150 people including buyers, international buyers, foreign guests, non-AAC members and 50 cyclo-drivers celebrated World Fair Trade Day on Saturday May 9^th, 2015 at Watthan Artisans Cambodia. The Theme for the day was “Be an Agent for Prosperity” for Cambodia. Almost 200 people participated the Fair Trade Day, including 19 AAC members. AAC plans to celebrate World Fair Trade Day in Siem Reap city next year.
• In terms of collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), AAC gained support for four standard booths and six kiosks for its members and Home Based Workers to exhibit the products at the Sankranta Fair in Siem Reap city from April 14 to 16, 2015. The ASEAN Design Center selected A.N.D to present its selective products at the Chieng Mai Exhibition Center, Thailand since May 2015.
• AAC Director led a delegation of four AAC member organizations to attend the Asian Women Social Entrepreneurs Network Conference, organized by the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW), from May 20 - 22 at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women, in Don Muang, Bangkok. On behalf of the group, AAC submitted a small project proposal to APSW, which granted AAC in the amount of USD2,000 for the project on "Upgrading the skills of women social entrepreneurs in design and product development for market penetration”.  It is a four-month project begins from now until September 2015.
• AAC has collaborated with an organizer of the Cambodian Pavilion at the Milano World Expo in Italy. The collaboration has enabled a selection of AAC members to sell their products at the Expo through the organizer; the AAC members are Peace Handicraft and Silks, Ta Prohm, Watthan Artisans Cambodia, Rajana Association, Krawan, Artisans of Silver. The Milano World Expo began on May 1, 2015 and will end on October 31, 2015.
• The Ministry of Commerce Cambodia nominated AAC and Cambodian Living Arts as the "Boot Camp" co-organizers on Creative industry for the MOC Incubator Projects. It is Cambodia’s first state-sponsored incubator, entitled the MOC 101. This incubator comprises Cambodia’s best ideas, start-ups, micro and small enterprises that demonstrate the capacity to generate positive, scalable and sustainable economic impact, leveraging an e-commerce platform. AAC nominated five of its members to be part of the working committee/judges of the incubator project (Watthan Artisans Cambodia and Villageworks Songkhem Co., Ltd, Rajana Association, A.N.D, AFESIP Fair Fashion). The program includes showcase of MOC 101 entrepreneurs in Phnom Penh and introduces ten of those MOC 101 participants to banks, donors etc.      

Additional Accomplishments towards Reaching AAC's Goals and Objectives

• The total amount that buyers imported through AAC during the last quarter was $5,386.85 and AAC earned $269.34 for its services.
• AAC and a selection of its members discussed on the Country Fair Trade Network as the World Fair Trade Global requires each country has to formally established. As of today there are 3 standing members of WFTO Global and Asia. At least 5 AAC members (Watthan Artisans Cambodia, Rajana Association, A.N.D., Women For Women, AFESIP Fair Fashion) are willing to become the member of WFTO. The minimum requirement for forming Country Fair Trade Network is 5 WFTO members.
• AAC has been working on the WFTO Self Assessment Report. AAC has submitted the application and the next steps will be a peer visit and audit.
• The collaboration with Ministry of Industry and Handicraft were two AAC members selected for Jewelry competition in Bangkok, Thailand.
• AAC has collaborated with an organizer of the Cambodian Pavilion at the Milano World Expo in Italy from May 1^st to October 30^th, 2015. As of June, the organizer of the Pavilion had directly selected the products from Peace Handicrafts and Silks, Ta Prohm, Kravan House, Rajana Association, Watthan Artisans Cambodia, Artisans of Silver.
• In collaboration with MOC (1) AAC gained support six Home Based Worker Groups and four AAC members for attending the Sankranta in Siem Reap from April 14-16, 2015 (2) The Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia Government has nominated AAC Director as one of the Executive Committee members and together with another Executive Committee member to host the boot camp. This boot camp is specially geared toward start-ups and micro/small-enterprises in the handicrafts, design and performance industries.
• Angkor Handicraft Fair: AAC continues to prepare for the Angkor Handicraft Fair (AHF) in January 2016.
• Angkor Handicraft Market: AAC has been looking for a common place to open market for its member organizations to sell their products in Siem Reap city.
• AAC is ongoing its networks in the region and international such as World Fair Trade Organization Global and Asia, HomeNet South East Asia etc.

Trainings and Workshops

Three major training workshops were conducted during the last quarter, Design and Product Development, Design Color and Communication.

• Design and Product Development Training: The two-day session, held in Phnom Penhn on April 27^th - 28^th 2015, provided in-depth design and product development training for 23 persons from 13 AAC member organizations.
• Design Color Training: AAC conducted two-day trainings on Design Color from June 4^th to June 5^th, 2015 24 participants came from 17 AAC member organizations. The aim of the training was to enable participants to understand the color, color inspiration, color combination and apply, utilize of the color technology to apply color on the papers and new concept on applying color with new products.  The trainer, from the Royal School of Fine Art, also teaches design students at SETEC Institute in Phnom Penh city.AAC issued Certificate to all trainees at the end of day two; please access to AAC Facebook at Artisan Association of Cambodia.
• Communication Training: 28 participants from 21 AAC member organizations attended one-day training about “Communication” on June 16^th, 2015. A Communication and Web Marketing Volunteer provided this training with the aim of enabling members to (1) understand what is communication and its characteristics 2) create your own communication strategy 3) know how to do a communication planning 4) use specific tools for each action of communication. More photos in AAC Facebook at at Artisan Association of Cambodia.

Overseas Conferences

As mentioned above, the AAC Director and four women entrepreneurs (AAC members) participated in the Asian Women Social Entrepreneurs Network Conference that held from May 20^th - 22^nd, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand. Two notable outcomes of the conference were: 1). KIVA: Kiva is very interested in AAC and its member organizations’ work and offers free-interest loan to AAC members for expanding their business or supporting their producers; and 2). ARUN, LLC: ARUN is the organization that provides capital to enterprise or business, also is interested in lending money to AAC members with low interest rate.

Local Media Exposure

AAC Director was interviewed by The Phnom Post Newspaper on June 22^nd, 2015 and publicized on the Phnom Penh Post Newspaper and its website on June 23rd, 2015.   

Goals for Next Quarter

• Work with a representative from the World rehabilitation Fund (WRF) to develop a three year Business Plan in July 2015
• Document AAC success stories
• Conduct Training on Social Media
• Implement the project with Asian Women Social entrepreneurs Network
• Conduct marketing training
• Seek training support from the Ministry of Commerce or Industry and Handicraft for training on Intellectual Property/Copyrights
• Co-organize Creative Boot Camp with Cambodian Living Arts
• Maintain the AAC website for all members
• Update AAC’s common product catalogue of all AAC members
• Sustain the ongoing export of AAC members’ products
• Continue to work on its market place and Angkor Handicraft Fair
• Look for more design and marketing volunteers from volunteer organizations

• AAC Design Color and Communication Training Photos (PDF)
  

Summary

Artisans' Association of Cambodia is undergoing a newly designed program evaluation to further identify the needs of the member organizations in order to plan for the next three years of work. The organization's main goals are to facilitate the creation of fully sustainable social enterprises among member organizations through continued technical assistance, training, networking opportunities, and advocacy; to increase the amount of sales by AAC and member organizations, which will ultimately raise the compensations and, therefore, living standarts of the the workers; and to plan for AAC's own full future sustainability. The last quarter of the year 2014 data showed that the total amount that buyers imported through AAC was $33,881.45 and AAC earned $2,975.70 for its services. AAC received a strong media coverage from the last trade fair and is positioning itself solidly to lead the development efforts of fair trade social enterprise in Cambodia.

Accomplishments towards reaching AAC Goals and Objectives

- 10 of the AAC member organizations have been transformed from NGOs to independent social enterprises operations. 

- Over 80% of all member organizations are managed and directed by women.

- Approximate 2,000 producers/support staff employed at member organizations

- Minimum wage of all AAC members is $80 to $120, but many AAC members have paid staff beyond that

- AAC has empowered women in leading and decision making in a democratic manner. Those women gained a high reputation both in Cambodia and outside Cambodia

- AAC members maintain at least 11% of people with disabilities working as producers, support staff or General Manager among the members. Member organizations who mostly employ persons with disability such as Beyond that Peace Handicrafts and Silks, Woman for Woman, Wathan Artisans Cambodia (WAC) have grown significantly and Rehab Craft still continues as a viable enterprise.   Both RCC and WAC are led by persons with disabilities.

- Many of AAC members open shops in Phnom Penh capital and Siem Reap city, and some have more than one shop. WAC has four shops as of today.

Sales information

• AAC consolidated shipments for buyers who placed orders from the following members: VillageWorks Co., Ltd, Ta Prohm Souvenir, Peace Handicrafts and Silks, AFESIP Fair Fashion, Snadai Ek, Khmer Life, Rehab Craft Cambodia, Rajana Association of Cambodia, Woman for Woman, Cambodia Soap, IronWorks.
• International buyers using AAC services are from USA, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK.
• Products buyers seem to prefer include: silk scarves, silk jewelry, recycled plastic bag products, bracelets made of grass, silk book covers, organic soap, furniture made of water hyacinth and metal.
• The countries that AAC members have been exporting to include: USA, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Italy.

Trainings and Workshops: Two major training workshops were conducted during the last quarter: New trend & product development/practical design training and Production line & quality control & lead time, and Production Line & Quality Control & Lead time training.

7 TV programs fetured stories about AAC and its members' work: Australian Radio and three Cambodian newspapers which conducted interviews with the AAC Director, Manager of Khmer Golden Silk, General Manager of VillageWorks Co., Ltd, weavers, spinners, color dyers etc. The event greatly strengthened the relationship between AAC and the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry expressed their desire to repeat the event next year.  

Overseas Fairs: With a cost-sharing method involving the International Trade Centre (ITC) and AAC members, a selection of AAC members were able to attend international trade fairs in France and Germany.  Members participating included Craft Village, VillageWorks Co., Ltd, Woman for Woman, AFESIP, Wathan Artisans’ Cambodia, Stung Treng and the Women’s Development Center.

New Members: AAC Director sent the application forms to several organizations who have indicated their interest in joining AAC.  These include five Phnom Penh based organizations:  Craftworks CAMBODIA, Kravan House, Caring for Young Khmer (CYK), Treasures from the Heart and Iron Works and one from Banteay Manchey: Khmer Golden Silk. 

Goals for Next Quarter

• Conduct AAC member survey to gather statistical data on member organizations, annual sales figures, statistics on producers/support staff, geographic coverage, and need of the members are collected.
• Conduct artisans survey (April –June 2015)
• Follow up on the design and marketing training would yield a number of trainees using their skills and having them develop an action plan to further strengthen their skills.
• Follow up on the Being Exporter training
• Conduct 3^rd stage of production line training
• Conduct Training on Color Theory and Direct Stock
• Conduct training on Intellectual Property/Copyrights –in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce or Industry and Handicraft
• Update AAC website – New members
• Provide direct training on Stock Management
• Ongoing: export of AAC members’ products
• Design/Product Development brainstorming
• Attend Global Workshop on Homebased Workers in February 2015, New Delhi
• Celebration of World Fair Trade Day –May 10, 2015
• World Fair Trade Week: schedule from May 23^rd to 31^st, 2015 in Milan, Italy.
• Develop three-year financial projection for AAC

Artisans Association of Cambodia has had a busy end of the year 2014.

The ministry of commerce has organised the import and export fair and One Province One Product fair from December 15 to 18, 2014 at Koh Pich (Diamond Island) in conjunction with Seminar at Sunway Hote, Phnom Penh. AAC was an official collaborator with the Ministry of Commerce in these activities: 

Trade Fair:

The Ministry of Commerce has provided AAC with 6 adjusted booths free of charge to promote High Value Silk. 

Media coverage of AAC at the trade fair: There were 7 TV interviews by AAC Director Men Sinoeun, Bunnak, weavers, spinners, colour dyers and other members of the AAC team. 3 local newspapers and a radio station interviewed Men Sinoeun. (TV: TVK/CTC/CNC/Bayon/Southeast Asia/APSARA/Hang Meas. Radio: Australian Radio. News Papers: The Cambodia Daily/Phnom Penh Post/ Reaksmey Kampuchea)

The minister of Industry and Handicraft visited the AAC booth and shared the ministry's plans to organise a workshop about silk. They will seek collaboration with AAC to invite people who work in silk production.

AAC booths were also popular at the fair with sales, and in addition to promotiona media coverage to AAC and its member artisan organizations. 

Seminar: 

AAC held three presentations on December 16th:

- HIstory of Silk (by Morimoto Kikou- IKTT/MEN Sinoeun-AAC/Tep Rotha-AFESIP)

- Design and Product Development (Alan Flux-A.N.D/Try Supherac-WAC)

- Market Development (Awen DALAWAL-Samatoa/Norm Bunnak-Villageworks)

The Ministry of Commerce asked AAC to invite 29 silk weavers, producers, farmers from 7 provinces (Stung Treng, Kg Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Takeo, Prey Veng. Also 23 AAC members based in Phnom Pneh participated.

AAC selected two members from the provinces to participate in the Design Corner based in Phnom Penh on December 17, 2014.

Trainings and other activities:

- AAC conducted two trainings on occupational health and safety for its member organizations in the last reporting period: in Siem Reap and in Phnom Penh.

- AAC has been researching and advocating with health care providers for Health Insurance for informal workers. Health cost is high for informal workers within AAC members/producers.

- AAC is searching for a Marketing and a Design and Product Development volunteers. For more information visit: http://www.worldrehabfund.org/volunteer.htm.

Good Design Award: 

AAC Members Villageworks, Sentosa, and WAC received award in Japan in November 2014 and other two organizations who are currently considered as potential AAC members. 

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Links:

• AAC featured in Equity Weekly - UNDP/TVK Television Show

• AAC featured in Cambodia Daily (PDF)
  
• 2014 Catalog of AAC member products (PDF)