Vietnam Quilts : Mekong Quilts

Community Development Non-Profit Organisation

June 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to the June edition of the Vietnam/Mekong Quilts newsletter. We would like to wish everyone a nice summer with lots of fun and meaningful activities.

As always, we have plenty of news to share with you. In the following edition you will find:

• New quilting group in Tanh Linh
• A letter from our Swiss volunteer
• New products in stores
• International Ladies of Vietnam visit Vietnam Plus in Duc Linh
• Education for all!
• Sovanry Chan - manager of Mekong Quilts in Siem Reap
• Papier Mache launched by Mekong Plus
• Who we are

New quilting group in Tanh Linh

In March, Vietnam Quilts held some training sessions for dozens of women in Tanh Linh, in the Binh Thuan Province. The aim was not only to provide employment to some new women, but also to teach the skills of hand appliqué work and processes for Vietnam Quilts. This training involves learning appliqué techniques for the animal quilts which are among the popular products in our shops. It usually takes a quilting group at least half a year to learn the necessary skills and to meet the high production standards required by Vietnam Quilts.  However from the beginning, these enthusiastic women impressed our Production Manager, Hieu, who was praising how quickly they learnt these new techniques. Only after one month of training, by late April the two groups were producing quality, finished products incorporating the new techniques. You can look forward to seeing these products in-store now.

A letter from our Swiss volunteer

Brigitta Franchetti spent one month volunteering for Vietnam Quilts.  This is a letter from her, recounting her experiences .

tell me    I’ll forget
show me   I may not remember
involve me   I’ll understand

"I will shortly be 63 years old. I grew up in a small Swiss village in the glorious mountain region. As there was no television, at that time I knew the world only through studying an atlas. So I had to imagine by my fantasy what far away countries would be like. However since I can see, hear, talk and I am a curious person, I knew it’s never too late to make your dreams come true and discover the way of life in foreign countries. That’s why I decided to be a volunteer in Vietnam at the age of a grandma.

With some fear and in trepidation, I arrived in Hanoi at the beginning of April. I did not know what to expect with the shop of Vietnam Quilts in Hang Bac or what the employees of this organization would expect from me? As soon as I entered, I felt the friendly atmosphere and all my doubts were blown away.

During the four weeks, I was a member of this big family and I did not for one minute feel like a stranger. Everybody helped me with advice and participated in getting this amazing engagement happening. There was no gap between all the charming young women and me. Very soon, we became close friends and had a wonderful time together. Step by step I learned all about this non-profit organization. I was deeply impressed how professional the project runs. The beautiful hand-made products are made of the highest quality that I was used to from my home country. That’s why I could recommend them with enthusiasm to many of international customers and expats. I could also use the knowledge of my other languages like German, Italian and French too. Together we changed the display to a more admirable ambience, uniting similar colours of the hanging quilts and arranging small groups of different items to attract the eyes of our visitors. We also created the baby corner upstairs in a new cosier way. This real joint venture welded us together. What a wonderful team!

A short holiday in the neighbouring country of Cambodia gave me a chance to visit the Mekong Quilts shop and its team in Siem Reap as well. However the highlight of my stay in Vietnam was the surprising opportunity to join a group visiting the villages of Duc Linh and Long My (where the quilters live). I had to extend my visa as this trip was not expected and also comfort my husband as I was delaying my return home. The deep and memorable impressions and the experiences I got in these remote rural areas; meeting with poor people, the group leaders, the hardworking women and the social workers from the NGO centre in the Mekong Delta and Duc Linh will stay in my mind for ever. I felt so blessed - it was the happiest time in my whole life.

Back in Ho Chi Minh City, I was expected to visit the Production workshop. It was an honour to be asked to create together with the head of Production team new products for coming Christmas time! My brain began to whirl… and it still is. Thanks to the Internet, I hope I can be a useful link between east and west, even though there now are 10,000 kilometres between us. Thank you so much for all you have given to me: attention, knowledge, interest, friendship, valuation, a range of cushion covers (instead of a batik sofa quilt!), the best food, iced coffee and lots of love.

Be aware, I will come back soon!
Brigitta Franchetti / Switzerland

New Products in stores

Being one of the most popular designs, Sapa quilts have absolutely grabbed customers' attention from the first sight. Now, thanks to the creativity of production team, customers have more choices with the Sapa quilt range due to a selection of entirely new patterns. Instead of using "straight line” designs for patterns, small pieces of Sapa fabric are arranged in a detailed and complicated way. Impressive, intricate and sophisticated, the new Sapa quilts are definitely unique and amazing souvenir.

Over the past few months, there have been a number of new and established products created using silk. Passport covers, baby quilts with Vietnamese designs, and Vietnamese-designed cushions to name a few. Spending only $2 to purchase a passport cover, $14 for a cushion cover or $75 for a baby quilt could bring a lot of happiness and satisfaction for your friends. Purchasing from Vietnam/Mekong Quilts provides the gift that gives twice.

International Ladies of Vietnam visit Vietnam Plus in Duc Linh

It was an early morning that a group from the International Ladies of Vietnam (ILV) got together with the staff of Vietnam Quilts.  We eagerly piled into two buses to complete the three-hour journey to Duc Linh, a mere 140kms from Ho Chi Minh City. 

Upon arrival we were met by Hang, the program Director in Duc Linh.  She and a couple of her staff expertly guided us through the narrow, unsealed roads to see the Mekong Plus programmes.

We were warmly welcomed by each family we visited and sometimes the neighbours too.  The children especially touched our hearts, so happy and cheerful.  None more than a little down syndrome boy who was determined to stowaway on our bus.  The families who had so little themselves offered us refreshments and proudly showed off their accomplishments, small businesses and farms, which they had started from nothing with the help of the program.  The incense farm was a treat and of course the quilters.  Everyone was excited to meet them.

 A feast was provided for lunch at the office of Mekong Plus.  A great opportunity for the two ILV groups to rejoin and talk about their morning.  After lunch we were treated to a comprehensive presentation by the staff of all the work and programs they are involved in.  Farming, education, medical, loans, book drives, support for children with disabilities and of course the opportunities they provide for women who quilt. Opportunities we all take for granted.

 
 For me personally it was hard not to be affected by the level of poverty.  Looking beyond that the people we met had a true sense of pride and self worth.  They had achieved something great against impossible odds.  With the help of the programs provided they will continue to achieve and begin to inspire others. This reminded me, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  

 The program and the day, a resounding success.  

Tracey Mitchell, ILV Events Coordinator

* Vietnam/Mekong Plus is Vietnam/Mekong Quilts parent NGO. All profits from the sales of the products are donated back to Vietnam/Mekong Plus, who uses the money in the different programmes listed above.