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of time on a daily basis to complete both farming and sewing work and they can adjust their pace of work accordingly.

The crafts have expanded to include products from smaller entrepreneurs. These include jewelry, pottery, paintings, woven reed bags and wood carving.

The business is managed on the local front by Ms Norm Bunnak and her assistant. They spend at least a day a week in Baray, a three hour taxi ride away, to oversee the production line there. On other days they are back at the shop to manage the paperwork and sales for the business both local and overseas.

Villageworks Songkhem is also continually seeking new plans for expansion into unknown territory into new fields of knowledge.

Ms Bunnak lends her artisan weaving mastery to other emerging businesses. In her partnership with the Goel Community, she teaches weaving to the workers at the Korean-run venture where clothes are made from natural dyes and cloth from soy fiber, the magical material which remains cool and smelling fresh on warm days, yet keeps you warm on cool days. Nobody would believe that this capable young lady is also a mother of a two year old, a wife, a daughter and a daughter-in-law, each role having its multiple obligations to fulfill.

This enterprising lady has foresight and dreams to fulfill - she does not live to meet existing needs alone. She has a vision for her life and company - she dreams of future plans and works towards them. She knows her priorities and does not allow rejections from others stand in the way of her work - she works round problems endlessly. One wonders what drives her determination to succeed in her unending problem-solving.

Ms Bunnak walks the mission statement of Songkhem, the Khmer word itself meaning 'hope' - hope for a better tomorrow despite dismal present circumstances. She portrays the resilience many of her fellow Cambodians have - to survive and forge on to a better future.

The 'never say die' attitude has been imbibed in this generation who survived the Pol Pot halocaust. It is difficult to knock them down no matter how many obstacles you throw in their face. They can work without off days in stretches and many pursue their higher education through night classes after a long day at work.

Villageworks Songkhem was born in the aftermath of the Pol Pot Regime. It seems an act of God that this vibrant shop is strategically opposite the Genocide Museum. There is hope in the midst of dread. There is sunshine after the monsoon rains. There is vibrant green growth after the cold grey shadow of death. There is laughter after tears. There is wealth after poverty. There is life after death.

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Villageworks Songkhem are two places you must never miss out when you are in Phnom Penh. First, go to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Be sure to have your lunch before your visit. When your mind has relived the torturous turmoil of the Pol Pot regime, turn left from the gate facing the road and walk the twenty metres to Villageworks Songkhem, the green building with the brown bamboo gate.

Participate in this life-building work by purchasing gifts for your friends at Villageworks Songkhem. For every piece of craft you buy, remember, you give songkhem - hope - to the owner of the hands that crafted the gift.

Learn more about this author, Lokemun Magar.
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