This is Sak Saum: Meet Serey

Some of you may know Sak Saum as a bag or a scarf. Some may see it as a ministry. Others as an avenue to have a voice against human trafficking. You would be right on all counts. Sak Saum does represent all of these things. But at the end of the day, Sak Saum is about people. Women. Individuals with memories, hurts, abuses, futures, hopes and dreams. 

We are thankful to introduce one of these women to you here. Meet Serey.

Age: 23

Length of time in Sak Saum: 3 years

Family: 1 sister, 3 brothers (I am the youngest!)

What was life like before Sak Saum? When I was younger, I stayed at home but I had a lot of problems with my parents. Every day I was fighting with my parents because they wanted me to work and earn money for the family. I really wanted to study English but studying does not make money. So I looked for a job. First I tried to find a job in the garment factory but I did not know how to sew and did not like to sew. My parents told me that I must not be smart enough to find a job. I kept looking because I did not like having problems with my family every day. 

Then I got a job working at a karoake bar. I thought if I found a job that made money then my parents would love me and care about me. But soon I realized that they only cared about the money I could make for my family, not about my heart or my dreams.

How did you find out about Sak Saum? My sister, Theavy (now Sak Saum's national director), was working with Mom (Ginny Hanson, international director). Theavy had been helped a lot by Mom and wanted me to come and work at Sak Saum so that I could have a job and be helped too. I didn't want to, though, because I really hated God. My dad had been involved with the Mormon church when I was young and it made him very mean. Because of that, I hated anyone who believed in God.

So why did you come to Sak Saum? My father told me he didn't want me to work in karoake anymore but that I still needed a job. This seemed like a good plan. When I came, I was surprised that Mom and Dad (Eric and Ginny Hanson) spoke so kindly to me. No one had ever talked to me like that. Even my own parents were not nice to me.

What changed your heart toward God? Mom's love to me. I wanted to make Mom hate me so that she would fire me. I did everything I could to make her angry. Then one day, she came to me and said, "Serey, no matter what you do, I will always keep loving you more and more. I will never hate you." I will never forget that day. It changed something in my heart.

After a year and a half, I opened my heart to God.

How has Sak Saum changed your life? Sak Saum has changed everything for me. I have a skill for my work -- and now I love to sew! I have been given opportunities to grow in my job and learn more about business. But most important, I have learned about forgiveness and love. I see God changing me every day. And Mom has helped and encouraged me to believe that I can learn more and become stronger in God when I trust Him.

How is your relationship with your parents today? It is better all the time. My parents say that I have changed a lot. I don't speak with anger towards them. And I see God helping my parents to love me more.

What gives you hope for the future? When I was a little girl, I watched a children's show on the TV. It was about Jesus. I didn't know anything about Jesus and I didn't really understand who He was or what He did for me. Then that night, I had a dream. In my dream, a man in a white robe came to me and called me to come with Him. I knew it was the same man from the TV show. Now I know it was Jesus. When I feel discouraged about my life, I remember that dream and I know God is with me and has plans for my future.

Empowering Women Through Land

How do you prepare for the future? Perhaps you save for a down payment on a house, open an investment portfolio, or give a certain amount of your paycheck to your retirement fund. If you aren't able to do those things now, you are likely planning how to get to a point where you can.

Here in Cambodia it is not quite that easy. Empowerment is not simply telling someone to get out there, make money and invest in their future. Young people bear the financial pressure of caring for the parents and, sometimes, the entire family. Girls are used by parents as financial bargaining chips to make money. And corruption within neighborhoods, families and the government can make it difficult to know what the future will hold. These are real struggles that our girls face on a regular basis.

Several months ago, director Ginny Hanson began thinking and praying -- "How can Sak Saum provide a future for the girls?" Yes, we are doing that through inner healing, education and vocational training. But we longed to do something more. Simply giving money didn't seem like the answer -- too much family pressure and temptation involved. We wanted a lasting investment that would gain in value and provide purpose, meaning and hope.

Land. 

And not just any land - a beautiful piece right along the river across from Saang (where IHSI does most of their work). It is absolutely incredible, lush and green with bananas trees and the occasional stray cow. Each girl will receive a piece that they will co-own with national director, Theavy Kong. The land is theirs to farm, build or live on. The only restriction is that they cannot sell it for the first five years to allow it to grow in value. Our hope is that they will eventually raise families there and make a difference for God's kingdom in that community. (More on that in next week's blog!) 

We are grateful to God and to you (as it is your support of Sak Saum and our work that helps make this possible) for opening doors in this way. Let us all continue to not only speak up for those who have no voice but to also act on behalf of those who have no hope.

Until next time...

Fair Trade with Coconuts

So...we know we promised a sneak peak of fall colors this blog. However, we then realized that it is only mid-May. In the design world, you have to think about six months ahead which means we are up to our ears in gorgeous tweeds and robust corduroys. But the rest of you are just getting ready to sip some iced tea and head to the pool for the first time! Needless to say, we decided to postpone our fall preview for a few more weeks.

Instead, we want to introduce you to someone very special. His name is Bang and this is his story. Ginny, Sak Saum's director, first met Bang several years ago. He was quite a different man then. His wife was the primary bread-winner with her job as a police woman. Unfortunately, Cambodia's police are paid very poorly, contributing to a lot of corruption. You can imagine the loss of dignity and purpose Bang experienced as a man unable to provide for his family. What could be done to help him and his family? The answer? Coconuts.

Sak Saum was able to help Bang establish a business carving coconuts into beautiful buttons, ornaments and even musical instruments. Now Sak Saum practices fair trade with Bang, buying his incredible handicraft to use on our bags and other products. As you can see from the photos below, Bang no longer lives with despair and low-self esteem. His eyes shine with the hope and purpose he has found. What a great God we serve!

Meet Bang...

Hard at work cutting the coconut shell...

 Some necessary tools and uncut buttons.

Sanding coconuts. Did you know they are a natural Cambodian resource?

Hard at work...

And the fruit? Key chains, ornaments, buttons, musical instruments AND hope and dignity.

We use Bang's buttons and rings on our bags quite often.

See you next time!