Launch!

This week marked the culmination of several months of discussions, picture-taking, shipments and design. We are excited to announce the launch of our web store! We have been preparing for this next step for some time and are glad to answer those of you who have asked where you can buy Sak Saum products online.

Please take a few minutes to peruse the site and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear feedback!

Also, if you haven't found us already, Sak Saum is on Facebook. You can visit our page for regular updates, prayer requests, and more.

Until next time!

Introducing Sak Saum's New Catalog!

As you know, Sak Saum is not primarily about purses, tote bags, wallets and scarves (though we do all love those things!). We live to see young women healed and transformed. A part of that process is finding a way for our girls to begin building a future for themselves. Enter the business side of Sak Saum.

Many ministries like Sak Saum are funded primarily through donations, grants, etc. Certainly there is nothing wrong with this approach. However, we felt that the truest way to empower was to build something that could sustain itself over time. It is to this end that we create products, advertise home parties, sell to organizations and contemplate how to grow. One day, hopefully in the not-so-distant future, our girls will run every aspect of Sak Saum and out of it will flow opportunities for other Cambodian women, children and families who need a loving hand to help them.

So with the big picture in mind, enjoy perusing our new catalog. It is not only an overview of Sak Saum's product but the ministry as well. We'd love to hear from you which items are your favorite! If you are interested in hosting a party or purchasing items, you can fill out the advocate form on this page or email Noelle Goodlin at noelleg@ihsionline.org.

Click here to go to the catalog.

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!