Artisans Associations of Cambodia

Dear old friends and new friends of the Artisans Association of Cambodia,

Some 15 years ago, the World Rehabilitation Fund (WRF) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated the Artisans Association of Cambodia (AAC) to help those affected by landmines and other persons with disabilities to develop quality artisan products which we had determined would be attractive for international sales.   After a few years, AAC was able to develop as an independent Cambodian association completely managed by Cambodian personnel.   WRF has continued to provide financial support and technical assistance to AAC.

We have found over the years that the Artisans Association of Cambodia (AAC) has made a tremendous difference in the lives of Cambodian artisans with disabilities.   In order to help more people in need, the mission of the Association was changed to include other Cambodians who experienced disadvantage due to factors other than disability such as, widowhood, escape from human trafficking and other factors creating poverty.  We hope that you will continue to support this effort and that new persons just becoming aware of this program will be moved to help us continue this effort.  

Having begun the AAC with four member organizations employing nearly 100 persons with disabilities, the Association now has 48 members who employ over 4000 persons, the overwhelming majority of whom have come from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Over ¾ of the workers supported by the project are women, and women direct nearly 2/3 of the member organizations of AAC.  

Member organizations of AAC have presences in 10 different provincial areas of Cambodia.  These organizations strive to become social enterprises, having missions that involve both entrepreneurship and the promotion of social and economic benefit.  Another major focus of members is to promote the use of ecologically friendly methods in creating products.  Many of the groups have a strong focus on meeting the needs of women from vulnerable backgrounds and many members also have a major focus on the betterment of youth from impoverished backgrounds.

In our first year, AAC's four members showed sales of $250,000.  This year sales are over $4 million, far higher than the $3 million predicted for this year.

Through support from donors like yourselves, AAC will continue to provide training and technical assistance to further the design, production and marketing of member products.

Significant events of the period between January through March 2017 include the following:

• Admittance of 6 new organizations as members of AAC including two groups from Siem Reap and four organizations from

Phnom Penh

• Conduct of a training workshop on export marketing in collaboration with CBI Netherlands and Vietcraft
• Training in the importance and development of specification sheets as a tool.
• Provision of training in international marketing provided by a volunteer recruited from Delegation Catholique pour la Cooperation of France.
• Provision of technical assistance in strategic communication for selected member organizations provided by a volunteer from GINKGO, the Frence volunteer organization.
• Participation in trade shows in Thailand and Vietnam
• Participation in local trade shows in Cambodia through cooperation with the Cambodia Ministry of Commerce
• Interviews of the AAC Director, both on the subject of production and marketing of silk made products were held by two Cambodian newspapers-Reaksmey Kampuchea and the Khmer Times

Please check out the World Rehabilitation Fund website and examine the AAC catalog (link below) to learn more about the project and see the extraordinary handicrafts created by AAC artisans. 

Thank you once more for your continued support!  We look forward to sharing more about AAC's activities in the coming quarter.  Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your generous support.

Warmest regards,

The WRF Team