Empower At-Risk Girls in Cambodia

Our 2013 Impact Report is now available, and we would like to share it with you as well as this letter from our Executive Director, Lisa TD Nguyen:

Thanks to increased funding by our coporate partner, Normerica, Inc., and its inspirational CEO, Mr. John Kimmel, we doubled service users in our early intervention program in 2013. A playground was added to our Lotus Kids' Club by the team at Solera, Inc., for the children to further build their motor skills. To prepare for the opening of a second LKC, we underwent monitoring and evaluation of our program model by partner agency This Life Cambodia.

2013 also saw the Senhoa jewelry program continuing to blossom. Senhoa jewelry graced the stages of Freedom and Fashion and Orange County Fashion Week. We ended the year with Senhoa jewelry receiving the prestigious SOURCE Award at the House of Lords in London conferred by the Ethical Fashion Forum, a global award for sustainable and ethical fashion.

At Headquarters, 2013 was also a transformative year. We tightened our reporting and financial policies and procedures. TDL International Law Firm came on board as Senhoa's corporate counsel, and Harper & Harper Tax and Accounting Services was engaged to manage our bookkeeping. With the support of these two valuable partners, our goal at Senhoa Foundation is complete transparency and meticulous management of our supporters' donations.

The hard work of our staff, volunteers and donors was rewarded when the Girl Effect selected Senhoa as one of twelve fantastic girl-centered projects to support. Of the twelve organizations, Senhoa was chosen as one of three to receive the Crystal of Hope award and a share of the €100,000 endowment. This was presented in Vienna, Austria on May 25, 2013 at the Life Ball. The lavish ceremony took place in front of 40,000 people and was broadcasted live on television in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, as well as live-streamed on the Internet. I had the privilege of representing Senhoa Foundation to accept the award, which was presented by Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank and before notable guests such as Bill Clinton, Elton John, Fergie and Aishwarya Rai.

There were some amazing accolades in 2013, and we are humbled by the recognition. However, the challenges have also been the greatest that we have faced so far in the organization. I want to personaly take this opportunity to thank the people who have stood behind this organization and its mission during its highs and especially during its lows. I am grateful and indebted for your friendship and loyalty.

• Senhoa 2013 Impact Report (PDF)
  

YES! WE CAN!

YES! WE CAN!

YEEESS! WEEEE CAAANN!!

33 young Cambodian girls screamed these words over and over as a mantra to start a new day at our new “EmDidi” Vocational Training Program, to learn the art of threading and the art of Mehndi, becoming the first generation of trainees to provide both services in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Senhoa and Shinta Mani Foundation interviewed and recruited the girls--young women who have experienced exploitation or are vulnerable to exploitation—to see if they were fit for our new program and to be able to offer them the opportunity to have a safe and secure route to generate income and economic independence.

Ziba Beauty, one of the top academies in the world for threading and Mehndi training (body artistry with Henna), with the energetic impulse and admirable passion of the CEO Sumita Batra and her sister, Suman Patel, came to Cambodia with a team of experts to give the girls the opportunity to be trained to a U.S.-standard of beauty and customer service.

The results were marvelous! Scared and quiet faces were turned into friendly and professional attitudes. The trainers expressed enthusiasm every second, wanting to capture on every scene the hunger to learn from the girls while the trainees were absorbing every step of the courses, learning every level of these unique skills.

Of the recruitment process, most of the girls’ thoughts were “It looks so difficult, I’m not going to make it” and “…mmm… I… could… try…”… but what they didn’t realize is that every learning process happens slowly if your heart is in it, step by step. Suddenly, after five hard working days full of laugher, practice, extra courses of make-up, grooming, customer service, etc., they were agile on the techniques with the thread and the henna cones. From their own hands, amazing designs were created, touching other people’s lives. “Yes! We can!” the shouts echoed during our one big group hug on graduation day.

33 girls received not just their training certificates, but also a sister, a family, a support system. “Em” in Vietnamese means “young sister” and “Didi” in Hindi means “older sister.” Every girl chose their Em or their Didi in order to keep practicing, to help each other… to share skills and experience, which later on, they will share, passing down the knowledge to their sisters as Ziba did with them.

To start a new market in a country where these skills are unknown is not a piece of cake. It required a lot of preparation, logistics and understanding of the culture, addressed with loads of courage and passion from the three partners: Senhoa, Shinta Mani Foundation and Ziba Beauty. Mehndi designs were adapted to Khmer culture and a course was taught on the historical background of where these two artisanal skills came from and their meaning. The best part of the whole experience, however, was to encourage the girls to believe that they are able to learn, they are able to do it well and are able to start down a professional path on their own.

“Yes! We can!” was shouted with tears in their eyes and a big smile on their faces. “Yes! We can” was a declaration to the world to demonstrate that the art of beauty is not superficial; the art of beauty is a deep understanding of our own roots, how deep they will expand to find the water to keep growing. The art of beauty is embracing ourselves, transcending with long and strong branches. The art of beauty communicates your true soul.

To empower is the big challenge in Cambodia, especially in a conservative culture where a woman has to fight hard for her spot and own voice in her society. Senhoa is working every day to give them a chance to demonstrate how skillful they are and how brave they have become. We have continued to provide technical English courses, social work follow-ups, online trainings with Ziba’s team in California, advertising amongst local hotels and spas on their services and encouraging the daily practice of their skills, as well as acknowledge their inner strength.

We invite you to learn more about Senhoa’s new and exciting adventure and to support our mission to Employ, to Empower and to Emancipate young Cambodian girls in their new paths as entrepreneurs because “YES! WE CAN!”