The Molaka Weaving Cooperative began in late 2005 to employ poor residents of the village of Molaka in Western Thailand. The weavers use traditional handwoven techniques to produce shirts, shoulder bags, purses, change purses, and wallets while the men weavers produce large and small handwoven baskets, mini-takraw key chains, and table decorations from locally-sourced bamboo. Proceeds return to the weavers directly, with 10% going to support Baan Dada and the 40 children who live here.The Molaka Weaving Cooperative currently employs Karen ethnic minority weavers from Molaka village. The Cooperative employs fair-trade practices in that the workers receive a fair price for their labour, they work in safe, clean conditions, and they use democratic, participatory strategies in maintaining the enterprise. No children are involved in this work.
We are currently building a Weaving Center on the land next to Baan Dada Children's Home, which will allow us to expand the enterprise by inviting more weavers to live and work here.
The objective is to raise the standard of living of Molaka village, and in the future, other villages in this area. As well, it seeks to raise awareness about the plight of Karen and other ethnic minorities living in rural areas of Thailand.
You can support or volunteer for the Molaka Weaving Cooperative in the following ways:
Our products are colourful, inexpensive, and come in many sizes and designs. They make wonderful birthday and Christmas gifts. Please consider buying them for your family, friends, teachers, students, classmates, or co-workers today! You will be directly helping to improve the quality of life of some needy families in this impoverished area of Thailand.
- Do you know of a shop near your home that sells ethnic, fairly traded handicrafts from developing countries? If so, would you be willing to approach the shop manager about the details of this project yourself and ask them to consider importing these products. This type of volunteering will help the project tremendously.
- As well, by promoting our woven products to clubs, religious groups, sports teams, or other associations you may belong to, you will helping us to reach new markets, directly benefiting both our weavers and our Children's Home.
For more information, or to view and/or purchase these items please visit our blog:
http://thaiweavingenterprise.blogspot.com/
