social enterprise partners - Thailand
WEAVE
About WEAVE
Motivated by the vision of a world where women and their children are free to exercise their human rights to live peacefully in a just, humane and equitable society, the Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) Foundation is committed to enabling women and their communities to become socially, economically and politically empowered. WEAVE was founded in 1990. The Foundation is committed to gender equality and in the empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized indigenous women, their children and communities in Thailand, Myanmar and some regions in Asia. It is an active member of the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT) and of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Refugee Artisan Group
WEAVE collaborates with Karenni refugees living in Thailand. Currently, the artisan group consists of 28 women based in Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp and Ban Mae Surin camp on the Thai-Myanmar border. These artisans create handwoven and dyed accessories, scarves, bags and blankets. The backstrap loom weaving techniques used to make these items is a heritage skill that has been used for generations to make fine textiles. Women also hand-dye and spin their threads using traditional techniques.
© UNHCR/Beatriz Huélamo
UNHCR
Thailand
Learn more about Karenni refugees and UNHCR’s work in Thailand
Partners
since:
2020
Artisan
origin:
Myanmar (Karenni)
Production
Locations:
Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Features
Artisan Voices
Heritage skills
Loom weaving
Features
"I want to support my community, especially to empower women. I want my children to have a good education and life. I want them to become knowledgeable educators and successful individuals. Their future is what matters most to me."
Ei Meh, refugee artisan from Myanmar
