About

The vocational supporting project (Ebannok Shop) originally attempted to assist the community to express the traditional strength of their handicrafts and to bring that cultural knowledge from generation to generation. In the past, the villagers made the handicrafts for use in daily life only. When their lifestyles changed, they began to sell the handicraft works. Some villagers changed their careers from farming to selling their labor in the city.  Hill tribe peoples, especially women, face difficulty with communication in the Thai language since they are illiterate.  This creates problems and often exploitation of the hill tribes working within the city.  The handicraft work is one alternative to allow them to work at home and have a chance to take care of their families.

With the handicrafts the villagers, especially women, can show their abilities and skills. Nowadays, they can produce hand-made goods for profit instead of making things only for use in daily life. These colorful hand-made crafts come from the imagination and the love of their own culture and lifestyle.  In addition, by encouraging the villagers to make handicrafts, they have job to do and a healthy and non-exploitative way to earn money. Moreover, they can be proud of being the hill tribe people.

At the present, there are several housewife groups encouraged by the project including groups from the tribes of Akha, Lahu, and Karen.  These groups include 50 people from Ban Huay Khom, Ban Jalae, Ban Leepa, and Ban Arja. Their handicrafts are for sale in their villages, in the Ebannok Shop (www.ebannok.com), The Mirror Foundation and in Chiang Rai.

You can be one who supports and encourages the hill tribe people to proudly produce their traditional artwork.