Artisans Associations of Cambodia

Artisans’ Association of Cambodia (AAC), Quarterly Report April-June 2014

Assistance Provided to AAC Members:

• On April 28^th, 2014, AAC Director assisted Peace Handicrafts and Silks in exporting to a buyer in Germany, with obtaining a Certificate of Origin. An NGO cannot officially export and even cannot apply for Certificate of origin for export. Only registered company can apply for CO for export.
• Marketing Assistant has been working with Fileo organization in marketing, with Craft Village in business development.

Training and Technical Assistance

• 20-21 May 2014: Training course on Product Development and Merchandising by ITC
• 26 May 2014: Training course on Market Development/Marketing focusing on Communication with Buyers, Order Handling and Trade Fair preparation for members who work with silk.
• Occupational Health and Safety, ongoing
• Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training: AAC in collaboration with Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, visited trainees with an aim to follow up the implementation of their work plan developed during the training, help them to proper set up their production place as well as to respond all question that they may have. The team had worked with two participated groups in Phnom Penh. AAC and HomeNet Cambodia will follow up on this specific activity and voluntarily assistance.  

Promoting Fair Trade Principles

• Organized a celebration of the World Fair Trade Day on May 10, 2014. Media: The National TV (TVK) and Bayon TV came to the event and took the video and TVK televised in the evening of the same day. As for Bayon televised twice within the week.
• Assisted Rajana Association to become a provisional member
• Assist WFTO in Asia to assess new membership

3. Volunteers

• A Strategic Designer supported by Development Sans Frontier (DSF) completed her volunteer term from November 13 to January 2014, but was requested to extend her stay for another three months. During the time, the volunteer stayed and worked with AAC as a Strategic Designer. They provided services to WAC, Sentosa Silk, Rajana Associaiton, Sonas, Sak Saum, Nyemo. AAC raised funds from those members to support the extended mission of the Strategic Designer. Her extended mission was completed by April 26^th, 2014. Every member responded positively and were content with her services. However, AAC Director and the Strategic Designer met and discussed the possibilities for her to come back to work with AAC and its member organizations for three months twice a year. This opportunity may be implemented by the end of the year.
• 6 months Marketing Volunteer from middle of April to September of 2014. Mr. Thimas Maydat has begun his work before Khmer New Year; he followed a work plan developed together with AAC’s Director. He began by visiting a selection of AAC members who are in most need of marketing support and those were: Rajana Association, Craft Village, Cambodia Children Fund, KSPA, Saves the Nature Cambodia, WAC, Fileo, Villageworks Songkehem Co., ltd and AFESIP Fair Fashion. AAC facilitated meetings with those members to introduce a new volunteer and his qualification as well to identify what part of the market development and market linkage needs that the volunteer can address. The volunteer also presented the outcomes from his previous visit.
• AAC director also has assigned the volunteer to work on the showroom, improve AAC website and link it to AAC members’ website, revise AAC’s brochure and flier and create a new catalogue to represent a selection of AAC members for sending to AAC’s current and potential buyers.
• AAC continues seeking volunteers to work with AAC and its members from September 2014 onward.

Marketing and Communication Activities

• AAC brochure developed and distributed to public place
• AAC email-able product catalogue developed
• AAC Website being updated
• Developed promotional flyer featuring AAC members for potential buyers
• AAC Social Media developed
• Met with Carpet for Community to discuss about their project in Poi Pet

Links:

• Artisans' Association of Cambodia