Sunday, 7 November 2010

How She Did It: Lena Ward's business "re" helps people in Cambodia

http://www.indystar.com/

via CAAI

Nov 6, 2010

Lena Ward's online store carries products made in Cambodia from recycled materials. Here, she shows a selection of her inventory. The products are made by women -- and some men -- who have come from difficult circumstances. / Michelle Pemberton / The Star

via CAAI

Written by
Barb Berggoetz

It was almost happenstance. Or perhaps it was fate.

Lena Ward and her family were vacationing in Hong Kong, China and Cambodia when she happened to see a simple shopping bag made out of a rice bag in a small shop in Cambodia.

Trained as a fashion designer, Ward found the bag compelling. In fact, at 4 a.m. the next day, she awakened her husband, Pete, chief operating officer for the Indianapolis Colts, to tell him she wanted to use rice bags as material for products of her own.


Lena Ward shows her necklace, which is made of melted-down land mines and bombshells. "Re" is the name of the business she has founded. / Michelle Pemberton / The Star

Her mind started clicking with other product ideas -- from jewelry made of recycled land mines and bombshells to placemats made of woven reeds. The sight of such a devastated Third World country with many needs and poverty-stricken people also stuck with her as her plans developed.

A year later, Ward is launching her new web-based business, called "re." It means "again" or "anew" in Latin. The name reflects the recycled and repurposed materials used to make products, as well as new jobs for Cambodian workers.

Ward, 46, took the leap to create her own business after having stayed home to raise her daughter Mady, now 16, and son Sam, 14. During that time, she was a freelance designer. Along the way, she found time to earn a black belt in karate and to run in the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon.

Earlier in life, she earned a political science degree at Florida State University, studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and in Paris, and worked on Seventh Avenue in New York and for Logo Athletics, now Reebok.

Now, she's concentrating on her own business. But her NFL ties have led her to design Colts cheerleaders' uniforms and to be among several spouses of NFL players or officials who modeled a new line of fashionable NFL apparel (www.nfl.com/women).

What motivated you to create a business in Cambodia?I wanted to start a business, but it needed to be more than a paycheck. I was very inspired by the woman I met who used old rice bags to create shopping bags and other items. She left a career, moved to Cambodia and started a workshop employing homeless women.

How is your business helping people in Cambodia?It is a profit-making venture, but a percentage of the proceeds is going to a Cambodian charity, which helps families avoid the problems of drugs, sex trafficking and slave trade. The charity provides children with health care in schools and meals and helps families set up micro-businesses.

The four workshops I've found to make the products are fair-trade shops that employ local woman and men who are homeless, poor or without jobs. They pay $70 per month, compared to the average wage of $45 to $50, plus overtime, when needed, and provide better working conditions. In addition, I pay bonuses to workers who meet production deadlines. Also, I intend to donate proceeds to a U.S. education charity.

What products will be sold?I created 12 designs of pendants, bracelets and earrings being made from recycled metal. Some have rubies mined in Cambodia. Workers also weave reeds to make placemats, napkin holders, coasters, wine carriers, laptop computer cases and small notebooks. Rice bags, made from a durable but malleable fabric, are being used to make messenger, duffle and beach bags, over-the-shoulder purses and pet leashes and collars.

What has been a key to your success?To do business in Cambodia and probably in a lot of Third World countries, you need a lot of patience and a good sense of humor because of language barriers. You also have to be creative and flexible. You have to keep in mind the heritage and culture.

What advice would you give others following in your footsteps?As I've gotten older, having two teenagers and a career before, I've learned it's better to take your time and not rush. Being very involved in every stage is important.

How is your business helping people in Cambodia?
It is a profit-making venture, but a percentage of the proceeds is going to a Cambodian charity, which helps families avoid the problems of drugs, sex trafficking and slave trade. The charity provides children with health care in schools and meals and helps families set up micro-businesses.

The four workshops I've found to make the products are fair-trade shops that employ local woman and men who are homeless, poor or without jobs. They pay $70 per month, compared to the average wage of $45 to $50, plus overtime, when needed, and provide better working conditions. In addition, I pay bonuses to workers who meet production deadlines. Also, I intend to donate proceeds to a U.S. education charity.

What products will be sold?I created 12 designs of pendants, bracelets and earrings being made from recycled metal. Some have rubies mined in Cambodia. Workers also weave reeds to make placemats, napkin holders, coasters, wine carriers, laptop computer cases and small notebooks. Rice bags, made from a durable but malleable fabric, are being used to make messenger, duffle and beach bags, over-the-shoulder purses and pet leashes and collars.

What has been a key to your success?To do business in Cambodia and probably in a lot of Third World countries, you need a lot of patience and a good sense of humor because of language barriers. You also have to be creative and flexible. You have to keep in mind the heritage and culture.

What advice would you give others following in your footsteps?As I've gotten older, having two teenagers and a career before, I've learned it's better to take your time and not rush. Being very involved in every stage is important.

Boat Racers Prepare Themself For The Upcoming Water Festival

Vietnamese trade fair held in Cambodia

 via CAAI

11/06/2010

Vietnamese trade fair under the theme “Friendship, Cooperation and Development” opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 6.

The event featured about 270 booths from 240 businesses, displaying clothes, household goods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, mechanical items, tea and coffee.

One of a series of exhibitions of Vietnamese goods, the fair was highly appreciated and the high-quality goods, attracted many Cambodian guests.

Vietnamese businesses carried out many acitivites during the fair, such as arts performances, providing free eye treatment and surgeries for poor people, presenting gifts for students, and opening a new waterway between the two countries.

Lodi’s Heidi Benjestorf will travel to, raise money for Cambodian orphanage

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel
Heidi Benjestorf will be traveling to Cambodia for humanitarian work. Benjestorf has created custom jewelry tat she sells to raise money for orphans in the impoverished country.

http://www.lodinews.com/

via CAAI

Saturday, November 6, 2010

By Jordan Guinn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

It's a ravaged country that's been subjected to mass murders, political instability and international indifference, but one Lodian wants to try to help. Heidi Benjestorf is traveling to the largely destitute Cambodia for several weeks to assist an orphanage and work to give those housed there better lives.

Benjestorf first became aware of atrocities in the Southeast Asia nation when her brother, Josh, befriended a Cambodian immigrant at a San Joaquin Delta Community College class.

After hearing stories about people being hacked into pieces by machetes and dumped in unmarked mass graves by militiants led by Pol Pot, she read more about the region's history to educate herself.

"I was sick to my stomach," she said after learning how Pot tortured educators and artists. An estimated 1.7 million people died during the communist Khmer Rouge's period in power in the late 1970s. "Physically sick to my stomach."

The hangover from decades of oppression and international mismanagement are still felt as children are left parentless, diseases like malaria are commonplace and landmines litter the countryside.

"Fifty percent of the population is under 21 years old," she said. Highlighting how the country basically lost a generation to violence and survivors fleeing to other nations. Noghd, the man who inspired Heidi and her brother, was in his early 30s when he met the family several years ago.

But Benjestorf wants to bring dignity during her humanitarian trip to Battambang, Cambodia from Nov. 17 to Dec. 6. The orphanage in Cambodia, operated by Sunbeam Kids International, offers roughly 30 children the ammenities Americans can take for granted, like an education or a dry place to sleep, she said.

Besides donating her time, Benjestorf uses her hands and artistic abilities to donate money. She supplements her efforts through heidisparkle.com, a website through which she sells handmade jewelry like crystal pendants and aqua marine earrings. Creating pieces has been a hobby of Benjestorf's since junior high and she only recently began selling her work.

She will buy materials or break down her own jewelry to create new pieces. Through trial and error, she learned how to soder and uses that skill in her work.

Benjestorf also resells designer handbags on heidi sparkle. While all of the proceeds from jewelry sales go directly to the orphanage, sales of handbags supplement the travel costs. During her trip, there will be regular updates to the blog on www.heidi sparkle.com.

"I want to create awareness for the orphanage and help them raise money," she said. "And I want to get to know the kids and tell their story."

Contact reporter Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com .

Cambodia’s Independence Day celebrated in HCM City

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11/06/2010

The 57th anniversary of Cambodia’s Independence Day, November 9 was celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City on November 5.

Addressing the function, President of the HCM City’s Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association Truong Minh Nhut and Cambodian Consul General Sam Samouth shared the same view that Vietnam and Cambodia have seen constantly-developed solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

Nhut said that along with relations between the two countries, cooperation between HCM City and Cambodian localities has been continually developed in many areas. Cooperation projects between the city and Phnom Penh have been carried out in favourable conditions.

Nhut congratulated the Cambodian people on their achievements in socio-economic development, national defense and foreign affairs over the past years and expressed his wish that under the leadership of the Royal Government, Cambodia would continue gain greater achievements and raise its position in international arena.

VNA/VOVNews

Vietnam, Cambodia’s provinces cooperate in flood control

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11/06/2010

A cross-border cooperation plan between Vietnam’s An Giang province and Cambodia’s Kandal province on emergency flood prevention and control were discussed at a seminar in the Mekong delta province on November 5.

Manager of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) in Cambodia Chum Vuthy presented his plan on flood prevention and control and emergency management for the two provinces.

Vuthy’s plan focuses on building stone embankments along the common border and devising legal mechanism on humanitarian aid in emergency cases.

The two provinces agreed to share knowledge and experiences in search and rescue work in flooding season and cooperate in rescuing flood victims in the Mekong river.

In emergency cases, local authorities will allow humanitarian aid to be transported to their flood victims, they said.

The two provinces’ leaders will discuss measures to prevent river bank erosion and minimise its impacts on people living along the border.

Both An Giang and Kandal provinces will cooperate in preventing epidemics, particularly diarrhoea, and their health departments and medical clinics will provide vaccines to people along the border.

The two provinces also asked the ADPC for the Mekong River Commission’s financial assistance to their joint flood fighting exercises and rescue activities and the exchange of information on early storm and floods warning for both sides.

VNA/VOVNews

China's top legislator leaves Cambodia for Indonesia

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English.news.cn
2010-11-06

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo ended his four-day official visit to Cambodia and left on Saturday morning for Indonesia.

Wu and his party were seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by Nguon Hhel, Cambodia's first deputy president of the National Assembly and Pan Guangxue, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, as well as other officials.

Wu made his visit at the invitation of Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin. It is the first time in nearly 10 years that a Chinese top legislator has visited the country.

During his stay here, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, held talks with King Norodom Sihamoni, National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Senate President Chea Sim and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on issues of further developing the all-round cooperative partnership between the two countries and promoting bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, Wu also witnessed the signing of some cooperation agreements between the two countries.

Wu and his party will visit Indonesia and Thailand.

Editor: An