Project Update: SE Asia Foundation supports the sewing program

Human and Hope Association would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the SE Asia Foundation for their ongoing support for our sewing program. Thanks to their generosity, we have been able to provide sewing training to women in Cambodia, helping them to gain the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and support their families.

We are thrilled to announce that eight students, including two government teachers, have successfully graduated from our courses, and all of them are now confident in their ability to use their new skills. Three of them have even secured jobs at ethical factories, while five have set up their own home sewing businesses. This is a fantastic outcome, and we are proud of each and every one of our graduates.

We would also like to congratulate the six women who have completed their courses, with three of them securing jobs at tailor shops and two setting up their own businesses at home. Additionally, six women are continuing to learn in our advanced class, and we are excited to see what they will achieve in the future.

At Human and Hope Association, we have faced some challenges, such as recruiting new students and teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have always found ways to overcome these obstacles and run our program effectively. Our attendance rate in the classes is consistently high, with an average of 93%. Furthermore, 100% of our students have gained a skill that enables them to generate a stable income, leading to self-reliance.

It is heartening to know that 92% of our students have generated additional income from sewing, improving their financial stability and quality of life. Moreover, all of our students have improved their knowledge of necessary life skills, leading to increased self-confidence and leadership skills. This, in turn, has improved family relationships, learning outcomes, and future goals for our students.

We are proud to report that 100% of our students and teachers passed our assessment survey, with many students sharing their success stories. For example, Malis shared how her participation in our sewing program at Human and Hope Association helped her become more patient, confident, and stronger, while also enabling her to set up her own home sewing business. Similarly, Seak expressed her happiness at securing a job at a tailor shop, allowing her to support her family financially.

Finally, we would like to highlight the story of Pkay Prek, who faced significant challenges in her life but persevered and completed our sewing courses. As the first child in her family, Pkay was forced to stop studying in grade eight to help her parents with farming and take care of her younger siblings. After getting married and then divorcing at the age of 18, she was determined to gain a skill that would enable her to support her family.

Now, Pkay is working at a tailor shop, earning a good income to support her family. She is confident in her abilities and believes that she can use her new skills and knowledge to help her family live a better life.

We have also provided 77 machine loans to our sewing students to date, with 50 paid back by our students. Currently, 26 students are paying for their sewing machines, and this year we provided an additional five machine loans to our students to practice their sewing lessons at home and earn some income. We plan to provide seven more machine loans to our new students, enabling them to develop their skills and build a sustainable income for themselves and their families.

In conclusion, Human and Hope Association is grateful for the SE Asia Foundation's continued support, which has helped us to transform the lives of many women in Cambodia through our sewing program. We look forward to continuing our work and making a positive impact on the lives of even more women in the future.