Khen, one of our talented tag makers from the Paper Project group, shared her life story. She tells a story of a young mother who had to survive the merciless streets of the city just to make a living, and how an unseemly event might have just saved her life. Lost youthGetting pregnant at an early age of 17 was the point that changed Khen’s life forever. Living in Butuan, a province in the southern part of the Philippines, with her parents who barely makes enough for them and the absence of the father of her child, forced her to make a decision to leave college and find work in Manila. To many Filipinos who are living in rural poverty, the common misconception was Manila is the land of promise where there are unlimited jobs and opportunities. Later, and most likely too late, is when they would realize the error of that notion. It was exactly what happened to Ken, a young woman lost in a big city with no experience to offer. And like most young women who couldn’t find their way, they end up in the corners. Dark, cruel corners where they become most vulnerable and left with a difficult decision of offering the only thing they possess in order to survive…themselves. struggles in the shadowsThis was a part of Khen’s life she was most ashamed of. She kept it from everyone else back home, especially her family. The only thing that kept her going was the life of that child she left with her parents to support. Somehow, that made things easier for her to digest. The street life swallowed her, made her forget her true self. And for five more years she would lose every measure of dignity she has left as she worked in the bars every night looking for that day that she has finally saved enough to go home to her child. And with a seemingly austere turn of events, Khen would get pregnant again with her second child. The father, unknown. And so it inadvertently pushed her further down into that life she so wanted to leave. Two mouths to feed and aging parents to support, she didn’t know what else to do. Nobody would stop and give an uneducated woman from the bars an opportunity of a good life. Not in this world, she tells herself. THAT FATEFUL NIGHT...The bar she was working on got raided and closed down by the authorities. Khen, among other women were luckily rescued by an organization called International Justice Mission, a non-profit group that combats sex trafficking. They were sent into a shelter while IJM looks for a legal and decent job for them. Eventually, Khen was given a job in a restaurant that helped her get back on her feet. The hours were irregular and there were no rest days, but the needs of her children surmounts any hardships. Not long after, Khen found an opportunity to become a card maker for The Paper Project, a company that helps empower women by employing them. She was accepted and the rest was history. A new lEAFKhen is now the head of quality control for The Paper Project. She has cut and pasted her way to where she is now, working hard every day to become better. It was easier to be good at something if you’re enjoying it, according to her. Aside from her good position in the company, she’s also part of a team that directly helps women that has been rescued from the streets. With her two boys now aged 11 and 6, Khen can easily provide them and her parents with the support they need. She is very thankful for having this new direction in her life… a clean and clear path to a future where she can send her boys to college, save enough money in the bank and hopefully get married someday. An admirably simple dream for someone who has been in the most complicated of situations... but then not everyone is lucky enough to survive the nightmare of the streets to even begin to dream. Your continued patronage of our products directly helps women survivors like Khen reach their dreams through The Paper Project Inc. Save the environment. Save the craft. Save lives.
0 Comments
Randy Santos is a 42 year old expert weaver from Pampanga, Philippines. Growing up with WeavingHe was born and raised in Pampanga, a province in the central region of the Philippines famous for its food and handicrafts. Having been raised by a carpenter in a community where basket weaving was the prevalent livelihood, it seems forthcoming that Randy would also become an artisan himself. He picked up his knack for weaving at the early age of 11, curiously watching older peers do it and practicing on any pliable material he could get his hands on. His curiosity later on became a hobby as he develops a keen liking to the craft. However, living in a struggling economy, Randy, like most would aim for a higher education in the hopes of giving him and his family a better life in the future. In pursuit of his goals he had to work while in school to support his studies. Using his weaving talents, he would tirelessly take on any freelance work available to make money. Little did he know then, that this would eventually pave the way to a fruitful career. WEAVING his PATH TO a better lifeRandy would start his career path as a rattan pole framer. Not the easiest nor the best paying, but it was a job that helped him provide for his wife and three children. For some time, he endured hard labor, up until one day his weaving talents were discovered by one of his superiors. He was then invited to join the company’s pool of weavers where he would learn further to master his craft and prove himself to be one of the most skilled artisan in the company. Randy is now the head of the Research and Development Department for Crafts and Natural Materials. His dedication to the art has paid off and now channels his passion through developing and teaching weaving techniques. “There is no shortage of things to teach and learn in the handicraft business, there are always new ideas, new challenges. Weaving has put me and my children through school. Sharing my knowledge to the young weavers of my community is my way of paying back what I owe to the craft.” -Randy
|
NEUSBlog author, designer and co-founder of GLC Green. His passion in the arts and "green" design contributed greatly to the GLC Green journey. Archives
May 2017
STORIES |