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A Khue Village - Mae Yao
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In June 2007, three staff from MMF and a staff member from the New Life Centre in Chiang Rai, visited the Akha village of A khue, in Mae Yao. Earlier that week the MMF agriculture team had bought and delivered three treadle sewing machines to the village. The machines were donated to the village to provide an alternate source of income. Until recently the village had relied solely on farming. The visit was part of a training day for the villagers, with staff teaching the community how to use and maintain the machines. |
VILLAGE LIFE: Scenes from A Khue Village in Chiang Rai Province . |
The village, with a population of 125, has about 25 homes. On average there are five people per house. The sewing machines will be used in the village to produce traditional Akha handicrafts. These products will be sold at a fair price, providing a profitable and alternate income source. The village ‘cottage industry' will fill orders from city-based traders. Many villages choose to send people to cities such as Chiang Mai or Bangkok to sell the villager's handicrafts but there are often too many traders in the city to make this practice viable. By filling orders and basing the operation in the village, the villagers are able to stay closer to their homes and families as well as generate regular and sustainable income.
The staff unveiled the new machines on a platform under a house in the center of the village. After a quick briefing MMF staff put the villagers to work; practicing first on paper without thread. The staff provided scrap paper to practice with and gave advice on using the machines. As the villagers took turns practicing and learning together, the people laughed and teased each other, excited by the possibilities of what they could do with the sewing machines.
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The training was not specifically aimed towards women and, in fact, several men showed up to learn as well. By the end of the day several people had produced marketable handicraft products from the material brought to the village by MMF staff. Akha handicrafts are sought after textiles in the tourist areas of Thailand and feature intricate stitching. |
On the day the villagers helped each and offered advice and assistance to each other, rather than relying on solely on the trainers.
SEW RIGHT: Men and women were involved in the sewing training day at A Khue Village. |
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