Xonphao Working Group for People with Disability has been established on the end of 2017 from a group of 6 tailor who are the people with disabilities. At first, the group possessed only two sewing machines that were used to sew and adjust the clothes for people and factory. Later, we met with the consultancy company, and they suggested us forming this group of people with disabilities. Also, they have assisted the group to develop the proposal to ask for the grant to purchase the sewing machines and brought us the number of customers. That allowed us to have a chance for several trainings for producing the piece of handicraft products such as clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories. Dozens of people with disabilities from a variety of ethnicities came to join our group to learn the skills and bring themselves a steady job, that is why we named this group as a “Xonphao (equivalent to ethnic in Lao Language) Working Group for People with Disabilities”.

This project aims to develop the handicraft products of Laos and increase the popularity of the Lao products in order to increase the employment rate and the consumption within the society. Also, we would like to magnify the abilities of people with disabilities in Laos that can produce the dedicated piece of works and utilize this space for them to showcase their capacity, express and exchange the opinion. Importantly, we would like to show that there are plenty of precious products in Laos that are worth exploring and purchasing.

This project will tackle several issues regarding the small rate of employment among people with disabilities as well as provide them with the space where they are able to fully participate. Besides, we are trying to promote the popularity of the local Lao products and share the knowledge and skill to the new generation and make the local people who produce the handicraft work from different ethnicities to be recognized and appreciated.