Helping low-income women gain financial independence

Despite being long forgotten to many in the West, the Lao victims of the Indochina War still struggle with their daily lives. Often with debilitating injuries and unable to work, veterans and their families survive mostly off of a government pension and whatever the women can bring home.

Women in Laos suffer more inequality than women in most other countries, but this doesn’t stop those with talent and drive to break through the gender barriers. The women of the 790 Disabled Veterans Village are doing just that, and SEDA is by their side in their battle against economic and gender inequality.

SEDA supports the weaver women through a microfinance project to inject capital and training into their community. The unique weaving of Laos is revered internationally, but often village-bound weavers lack the marketing skills to access markets beyond their local trading centres.

SEDA empowers the weavers with small capital loans to invest in their village industry, while also giving them valuable access to international markets for their products.

Using 100% organic methods, the cloths go through a cycle from dying and warping, to threading, to weaving—all by hand on traditional looms. SEDA has sourced quality natural raw materials for weaving, trained women in weaving techniques, use of organic dyes, design and quality control methods and support women to produce quality hand woven textiles using traditional and Lao/western fusion designs. Through this, women are producing high quality clothing and home decoration items.

The project is showing increased success, weavers recently dropped off their latest batch of handmade fabrics http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186741&id=93076021515&l=0eab129fd6.

After the success of the pilot project, 20 more women will join the weavers group. In September 2010 they will form their own policy and steering committees. SEDA will provide training of technical skills, management, marketing and accounting skills. The aim is to develop sustainable community of weavers and to train them to function independently. SEDA will be consultant and assist in micro credit and marketing. It will also apply for additional funding for investments in production and marketing. Continually SEDA facilitates involvement of new members and creation of new weaving communities.

Please support the project http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/lao-weaving-artisans-micro-credit-project/