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Clothed in Dignity Center
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We began to produce masks when we restarted and now to date, we have seen over 5000 masks sold in Cambodia, Canada, UK, Germany and Switzerland. At $1USD/mask (when purchased in bulk) these two layer, new t-shirt fabric masks are a bargain. Furthermore, our designs are flexible. We have made changes so that there will be metal nose pieces that can also be removed and re-inserted for washing purposes. For a small additional cost, we can also have them silk screened or labeled for those who may want their own designs or branding on them.
To Order Face Masks click here...
Clothed in Dignity wants to be a part of an affordable solution that helps prevent the spread of the virus. Furthermore, the sales are supporting the workers and their families as they provide food, pay down accumulated debt and continue to develop genuine gratitude for how God has been with them through this difficult time.
We also received a good sized order for t-shirts and t-dresses from a local church. With these small signs of success we are experiencing, we took a step of faith to employ two more struggling ladies who previously worked with us during the greeting card program. Sometimes it is scary and we feel the weight of responsibility when we realize that our businesses must provide full time work for 14 people and their families! Since Cambodia has no welfare programs, these families are depending on our small social enterprise businesses to survive. So we want to thank you, because by God’s grace and through your help, we are able to help these people.
Through daily devotions, we learn so many things about the ladies and their families and often it is about their struggles with never any time to rest. So they turn to drinking, drugs, gambling to escape their reality. But God provides! A kind person wanted to pay for a small celebration. So this past Friday, to celebrate their hard work, we took the men and ladies on a paid work day to have an outing to Kulen Mountain.
It is a beautiful area with waterfalls and small pools of fresh water for kids to be able to play and rest while eating lunch. It is only 1 hour from their village, and yet most have only been there once or twice. They were so appreciative and it was so fun to see God’s creation together with them and watch them relaxing with their own families.
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Made For This Fabrication
Since May, we have been focused on designing and building furniture, racks, trailers and playground equipment for Cambodia.
The journey for the men who learn and work here is one of discovery, where they see themselves as more than just day labourers, outsiders to their own families, pressured by society to conform to evil vices that bring only hopelessness and despair. Now these men are regular employees who put in a good and creative 5 days of work, who now have the time and energy to spend with their families and are blessed to be a blessing for their communities. Men here usually view child care as women's work - that's why we want to continue to find ways to bring the men and children together.
We are looking to God to provide the resources to be able to build more playgrounds – starting with one for the local primary school across from the garbage dump, where all of our worker's children go and one for the community where the shop is. We are also exploring the possibility of providing equipment infrastructure in the establishment of programs for food security (more on this in Q4 of this year). We are excited about the future.
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We ourselves are tired from the combination of keeping our staff going and wrestling with how we bring relief that turns into progressive development for a hurting country side. However, it is a good tired we feel as we are directed by God to continue this journey of faith and holistic outreach. We will get away for a few days of holiday soon that will see us recharge our batteries and equip minds and spirits for the deeper economic uncertainty for the people ahead.
We suspect that we will not be back in Calgary this year as we have in past years (actually Minako may still go but Darren won't). Instead we are working through what an online fundraiser might look like as we try to be faithful with the resources He provides and to witness to what God is doing in the hearts and lives of the people here.
If you are interested in being a part of the work we are doing, we have a number of needs for the foreseeable future:
Funds needed for Made For This Fabrication:
Our goal is to raise an additional $15KCDN to build two playgrounds: at the local elementary school that is next to the garbage dump, and another on our site at the village. There are not many playgrounds in Cambodia, and we would love to be able to bless schools, churches and communities in Cambodia to help their children develop well.
Prayer needed for:
• Face masks to continue to sell well
• Other sewing projects such as t-shirts, t-dresses, etc.
• The continued health of our staff and leadership team so that the programs we have started are able to help more people in economic need
• Deeper decisions of faith amongst our workers as they continue to trust and obey in their daily walk
• Development of leaders who will grow with us in the challenges of transforming communities with empowerment, renewal and hope of life giving faith and knowledge
Thank you for your continued journey with us as together.
Blessings,
Darren & Minako
Darren & Minako Polischuk
Co-Founders Work of Your Hand
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