TABITHA PROGRAMME

COTTAGE INDUSTRY

Preserving Traditional Crafts

PASSING ON SKILLS TO FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH THE COTTAGE INDUSTRY

HOW DOES IT WORK?

- Over the period 2020/21, Tabitha was able to assist 150 families with 750 dependents and raise their income from an average of US$50 per month to an average of US$200 per month -

Cambodia historically had many indigenous crafts, most notably silk weaving. During the Pol Pot years, important traditional skills and techniques were almost completely lost as families and lives were torn apart.

Early on, Tabitha embarked on a programme of working with surviving weavers and dyers in key silk producing provinces with the goal of passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

This has grown into a Cottage Industry Programme that trains and employs women and families to produce beautiful silk products and other unique crafts that are sold in the Tabitha shop in Phnom Penh and by Tabitha volunteer networks throughout the world.

Tabitha Singapore is the largest seller of Tabitha silk products outside of Cambodia.

Tabitha silk products can be purchased on our website or at a number of events throughout the year, including community fairs, home sales, pop-up shops and school fairs.

Highlights

- JOB SECURITY & DIGNITY -

Most people who sew Tabitha crafts are ex-street women who were sold into the sex trade when they were young. Crafting beautiful silk products gives them a new sense of pride.

- FAIR WAGES & A STEADY INCOME -

Each worker chooses how many pieces she would like to make and is paid regularly for finished goods.

- A CARING ENVIRONMENT -

Workers can come to the Tabitha headquarters to work, or can choose to work from home, allowing them to be with their children while still earning income.

- SUSTAINABLE SKILLS -

Workers learn both production and business skills that can be carried to other careers.

Tabitha Cottage Industry

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