AsiaLIFE

Quality, creativity, and conscientiousness converge at the National Centre of Disabled Persons shop. Supervisor Ven Kanha gives Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen a tour.

A wonderland of Cambodian handicrafts sits on the corner of Norodom and Russian Boulevards. The colourful medley of wares, including silk handbags, coconut bowls, and animal-shaped ornaments, makes for some of the city’s finest gift shopping.

Beads covered in vibrant-hued silk (US$5.55) for your sister? An ornately carved wooden lamp (US$18.50) for your parents? Some items may be classic designs found throughout Cambodia. Others are unique, such as a green silk purse with a pink rosette (US$11) and a red striped bag (US$13.28), which are among the store’s most popular items.

“There are two reasons why people buy from our shop,” observes Ven Kenha, shop supervisor. “First, these are handmade handicrafts, using very good Cambodian silk. Second, it is helping persons with disabilities.”

All goods sold in the shop are created by people living with disabilities. Part of the National Centre of Disabled Persons (NCDP), the shop is among several projects aimed at providing opportunities and services for handicapped people.

Created in 1995 under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Affairs, with the support of international donors, the Cambodian-run NGO’s mission is to enable persons with disabilities with the means to achieve their potential, participate in Cambodian society, and better their standard of living.

According to a 2004 survey, approximately 4.7 percent of Cambodians are disabled. Landmines are one cause, as well as polio, birth disorders, and traffic accidents. People with disabilities commonly encounter discrimination and become isolated from their communities, particularly in rural areas. In Phnom Penh, where awareness-raising efforts are greater, disabilities are becoming more accepted.

“People are changing their minds,” Kanha remarks.

With the Retail Outlet Project, NCDP promotes skill building and personal initiative. The shop functions as a retail outlet for the goods made by their producers. NCDP pays fair remuneration for their merchandise that allows producers to support themselves and their families.

One of Kanha’s responsibilities is quality control. She makes frequent visits to the NCDP workshop, located near Pochentong airport, to inspect the newly assembled goods. Only approved handicrafts are brought to the shop, exported to buyers abroad, or sent to the ten consignment shops throughout the country.

The workshop outside of Phnom Penh is the main base, with additional manufacturers throughout the country also supplying goods. Producers are selected from a database of disabled persons and, if interested in learning craftwork, participate in counselling and discussion before training in handicraft production. Inclusion of women and landmine victims is emphasised.

“We are helping disabled people,” explains Kanha. “We want to make sure they can support themselves.”

Most products utilise silk, which is purchased from weavers with disabilities. Patterns and styles are overseen by a designer at the workshop, though the producers can also contribute artistic input and submit their own compositions. Clients also have the possibility to place custom orders.

Kanha has been working with NCDP since 2006. After a traffic accident left her leg disabled, an NCDP job referral program placed her as a volunteer in its finance department. She was eventually promoted to a seller role, and then obtained her current position. Outside of the shop, she is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

An average day for Kanha begins with attacking her e-mail correspondence. She is in charge of communicating with customers and handling item requests. The shop exports a significant quantity of its output, counting stores in the U.S. and Australia among its regular clientele.

As purchases start to pick up, the shop moves toward its goal of complete self-financing. The plan is for income from sales to eventually sustain some of the NCDP’s other initiatives. For the people with disabilities who have learned the skills to produce and currently earn their livelihoods from sales, the shop is already making a difference.

“I am very proud of the work of people with disabilities,” says Kanha. Credit should certainly also be given to Kanha for all her vital contributions to the project.

National Centre of Disabled Persons Gift Shop, 3 Norodom Blvd, Tel. 023 210 140, Open daily from 8am to 7pm.