Artisans Associations of Cambodia

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