This scarf has been produced by Saoban - a social business that works to create employment opportunities for villagers, especially women, and reduce poverty.
In 2005, a Lao non-government organization, PADETC (Participatory Development and Training Center) which specializes in rural and youth development, recognized the potential of Lao handcrafts to alleviate poverty and create employment for rural women.
It started working with small groups of weavers in a village of Vientiane Province, providing technical guidance for product improvement, small start-up loans, and advice for marketing and business development. Soon, other artisan groups approached PADETC for start-up capital and help with marketing and business development.
The result was Saoban, the Lao word for "village",and in 2011 Saoban is working with over 300 artisans in 14 producer groups across five provinces of Laos. Saoban follows fair trade principles to ensure that artisans receive a fair price for their products and that the whole community benefits.
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