Since 2009, the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) has been working with the social enterprise to meet its key training needs in the areas of product development, marketing and business decision-making, under the SIF’s Garment-Making Project.

Last December, the foundation fielded two LASALLE design lecturers - Mrs Circe Henestrosa and Ms Ling Wu - who spent three days sharing their expertise with the Cambodian women, in bag design and branding.

Through a series of brainstorming and creativity workshops, the Cambodian participants were asked to draw and discuss about their favourite bag shapes as well as Cambodian cultural symbols and motifs.

Mrs Henestrosa explains, “What we hope to achieve through these activities is to inspire these women to bring a personal touch to their work. The message we want to bring across is that every one of them is a fashion and design expert in their own right. Because no two individuals are alike, by incorporating design elements which are special to them, they too can produce bags that are both unique and popular."

Indeed, the Cambodians found the workshops to be a breath of fresh air, expressing that this was the first time they had been given the confidence and freedom in the creative process.

In addition to the workshops, Mrs Henestrosa and Ms Wu also brought the women on site visits to neighbouring tourist shopping areas to survey the types of bags and materials used in the market.

“We were impressed by their good eye for detail and quality, even though many of them said that they do not frequent such shops,” Ms Wu reflected. “Next up, we hope to teach them technical skills like fabric manipulation and drafting, so that they will be able to refine their craft.”

For some of these Cambodian women, their work at the social enterprise is not only a source of income, but it is also a place where they find comfort and solidarity.

Ms Sok Navy, 45, who has kept her health condition a secret for seven years, says, “I am afraid of telling people that I am HIV-positive because I am not sure how they will perceive me. In the enterprise, I feel empowered because I can share my problems freely with others like me.”

“When I first found out that I had contracted HIV, I was very discouraged and stayed at home all the time,“ MDSF's manager Ms Srim, 30, shares. “But my friends and family encouraged me to continue with my life. Before joining MDSF, I was an ordinary housewife who knew little about the society. Now, I have learnt more about the world and the skills necessary to survive and lead a fruitful life. I want to continue to improve my English and the way I manage the enterprise.”

To find out more about MDSF and how you can support their cause, please click here. Join their Facebook page here!