Hosted by Dina Eastwood at Clint Eastwood's exclusive Tehama Golf Club.

Update

Thanks for all who joined us!  Here's some highlights:

Cambodia is a country recovering from the loss of nearly a third of its population. Thirty years ago, during a 4 year genocidal war conducted by the Khmer Rouge, an estimated 1.8 million Cambodians lost their lives.

Phaly, (pronounced Polly) a Cambodian woman, suffered horrific hardships and unimaginable cruelty. Of her family of five only she and her youngest son survived; before her eyes, her other children succumbed to beatings ,torture and starvation. Her husband was taken away in the regime's first days and was later found, but he had been beaten so severely he was mentally incapacitated. After the war ended, the family was herded into a Thai refugee border camp for 13 years. It was here in the midst of continued chaos, that Phaly began her work.

In the camp, she met many women who had suffered from similar brutalities. They seemed paralyzed - they were inactive and silent. They we're not feeding or caring for their own children. She saw that although they had survived the war, it was unlikely they would survive their depression. So she set up her hut in the camp as a sort of psychotherapy center.

Here she guided them through 3 steps

• I teach them to forget. I try to distract them with music or with embroidery or weaving, with concerts or an occasional hour of television.
• When they have learned to forget, I teach them to work.
• When they have mastered work, I teach them to love.

She rescued them from physical isolation. She built a steam bath so that they could become clean. She taught them how to give one another manicures and pedicures so they could feel beautiful again. While being together they began to talk, and over time they learned to trust and make friends with one another. It was Phaly's hope that they would realize they would never have to be so alone again.

When she repatriated to Cambodia after 13 years in the camp, she took with her 9 widows and 91 orphans and opened up F.L.O. (Future Light Orphanage). She has continued on the same path. She now houses 157 children and all told has 299 in her care. The orphans and widows are creating beautiful silk scarves and purses to sell to the western market at Fair Trade prices. RISING International is honored to offer these precious items at it's home parties.

It is said that if you save the women, they will in turn save the children, and so by tracing a chain of influence one can save the country.

 

- By Paula Kanoute, a fair trade advocate:
I had the honor of meeting Phaly and visiting the F.L.O early this year. This experience changed my life. Together we can support remarkable people like Phaly, by supporting the Fair Trade movement.