Living in an underprivileged community approximately 30 minutes from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, artisans make jewelry from recycled bomb shells and bullets. These artisans use bomb casings left over from Cambodia's wartime three decades ago and skillfully mold the bombshells into beautiful jewelry pieces. With the support of Craftworks Cambodia, the artisans generate an income that will provide their families and their communities the chance at a better future. Through Craftworks Cambodia, the artisans make a fair wage for their work and receive support for education and training in the communities in Cambodia. Craftworks Cambodia maintains, and practices, a strong commitment to environmental awareness with many of the products being made from recycled and sustainable materials.
Source: http://www.craftworkscambodia.com/about-us.html
Cambodia and Cambodians have suffered for decades as a result of war. It is still recovering from the atrocities of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970’s . About a third of Cambodia’s population lives below the national poverty level as a result of this turmoil. Craftworks Cambodia was established to provide market access for Cambodian artisans.The sale of these goods will help keep families together with food on their table. A liveable and reliable income is especially important for women as it allows them to raise healthy babies and children and provide for their future. These Cambodian craft items are skillfully made, beautiful and clever. The materials used vary with silk being the most common material, it is spun and woven in the villages, and made into superb golden organic cocoon silk scarves and pure soft silk scarves, shawls, purses and other accessories. Also popular are the Eco-friendly items. Recycled paper and recycled brass bomb casings are used for jewellery and stationery and even discarded rice bags are recycled into wallets and bags.
There are six jewelry artisans, living in an underprivileged community approximately 30 minutes from Phnom Penh, Cambodia who make pure silver, recycled bomb shell and bullet jewelry. These artisans have been trained by a professional in their skill. Bomb casings are left over from Cambodia's wartime three decades ago. These artisans skillfully mold bomb shells into beautiful jewellery pieces, providing a small income to underprivileged communities.
With the support of groups such as Craftworks Cambodia, the artisans are hoping that the sales of these jewelry products and eco-bags, wallets, and more will generate an income that will provide their families and their communities the chance at a better future. This project (Craftworks Cambodia) ensures that the artisans are fairly rewarded for their work and provide support for education and training in the communities in Cambodia
In keeping with the spirit of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, here are eight reasons we feel so strongly about, and are happy to be offering, Fair Trade products to our Yoga and Meditation communities: