Sustainable Livelihoods: A Study of Handicraft Women’s Groups in Kamphuan Amy Ta Christina Hughes Christine Nguyen Liz Lam Terri Chan
Feb 25, 2016
Sustainable Livelihoods: A Study of
Handicraft Women’s Groups in Kamphuan
Amy TaChristina HughesChristine Nguyen
Liz LamTerri Chan
IntroductionProject’s focus-How do the women’s livelihoods contribute to their
household sustainability and overall resilience to environmental threats and economic change?
Objectives: To understand the role that Muslim women do or
can play to maintain a sustainable community in Kamphuan, Thailand
To determine the women’s priorities To help the women reach a wider customer base
Sustainable Livelihood Dimensions
Sustainable
Livelihoods
Economy
Institutions
Social Network
Environment
Religion
Pressures
Background of Batik Group
Formed in 2005 after the December 26 tsunami
16 member group run primarily by 2 sisters, Ja Hap and JaDa
OTOP (One Tambon One Product) paid people to be trained in a handicraft skill to promote the economy and tourism. OTOP money was reinvested to start business
Mostly supplements other income-generating activities
Background of Tie-Dye Group
JaRiya formed group in 2005 after the tsunami to empower local women and organize the community
Grew to as large as 25 members, but the group split into 2 because some relocated 13 current
members with 5-6 regulars
Methods Historical Timelines “Cake” charts about spendings, savings,
profits and production costs Daily activity clocks Interviews Network trees
Ta translating interview dialogue >>
Raks Thai Foundation
Batik group
KCLC
Pi Panuwat
Organizations/NGO
Seminars
Foundations
Michael
UCLA Students
FriendsCommunit
y Development Office
Gov’t
OTOP
Development Occupation NetworkLocal Gov’t
Gifts
Exhibitions
Fair
Village Head
Community
Social network tree- Batik
Society – Tie Dye
KCLC
Raks Thai Foundatio
n
Ranong College
Local Governme
nt
Religious School
Youth Muslims of Thailand
Organization
Pi Panuwat
USAID
Tie-Dye Group
Economy: Finances Comparison
-Lack of a foreign market
-Most of profit from foreigners
-Not affected by current global economy
Batik Tie Dye/Sewing
-Income varies a little with season
-Income varies a lot with season
-More self-sustaining
-No debt
Group Savings
50
20
19
101
Future/Kids Edu
Travel to Mecca
Other Emergencies
Health
HIV donations
50
30
20Health (medicine, ER money)
Kids' Educa-tion
Retirement
Tie-Dye Batik
Group Production Costs
30
40
20
10Raw Mate-rialsWorkers' SalariesManagementGroup Fund
Batik
Tie-Dye
6020
10
10
Raw Mate-rialsWorkers' SalariesManagement (rent, elc)Group Fund
Group Leader Income Source
30
2040
10Husband
Garden
Tie-dye
Other Jobs
30
2020
1515
ShopBatikGovernment StaffOther JobsGarden
JaRiya Ja Hap
Religion Drives all aspects of
their lives from birth until death
Helps women restructure their livelihoods after the tsunami Mental restoration Applies the principle
that all misfortunes are tests from God
Strengthens community ties
^Baan Nam Khem tsunami memorial
Environment – Tie-Dye
Teach students about environment Keeps waste water in a well to
evaporate Natural dye -> chemical dye Sell plastic bottles and aluminum
cans Feels that there is no air pollution Materials from Phuket – cheaper
and local Liquid organic fertilizer in JaRiya’s
fruit garden
^Retrieving longon from the fruit garden
Environment-Batik
Stitch scraps from shirts to create bags and other products
Reuse ink and the plastic cuts containing them. Work in open air Feed leftover food to dogs, chickens and other
pets/animals Plastic bags from the market are reused as fruit
containers Collect plastic bottles to sell for 10 baht/kil and
aluminum cans for 30 baht/kilo. Participate in mangrove restoration projects.
Summary: Sustainability Assessment
Tie-Dye Group
Batik Group
Religion 9 6
Social Networks 7 7
Institution 9 9
Economy 8 6Human Well-being Average 8.25 7
Environment Well-being 7 8
Sustainability Indicators:• Socio-ecological systems
Integrity
• Long term livelihood sufficiency and opportunities
• Inter-generational and Intra-generational equity
• Efficient resource maintenance
• Engaged civil society
• Precautionary principle
Sustainability Assessment
Graph
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100123456789
10
Tie-Dye Human Well- being Av-erage Batik Human Well-Being Group Av-erage
Environmental Well-being
HumanWell-being
Limitations Too personal and/or complex questions Gaps in technological knowledge & financial resources Lack of motorized transportation – exacerbated by weather Availability
^3 bikes for 6 people^eBay store registration attempt
Community Service Batik group: New shirt design for local gov’t officials
-Golden Mountain
Tie-dye group: W.I.L.L = Women’s Initiative for Local Livelihoods at UCLA
Thank You! Dr. Silverman & Dr. Shipe, for making this
project possible with the connections, transportation and utmost faith and support in us.
Our translator Ta, whose English skills enabled efficient communication with the Thai women; and whose welcoming aura made the research project fun and memorable.
KCLC director Panuwat, who gave us support, cultural/development knowledge and safe housing. The batik group, who shared their stories, cooked us delicious lunch and dinner and took us in as their own family members.
The tie-dye group, who gave us a space in their hearts and trusted us enough to let us transport their products to the USA.
The Kamphuan residents, who treated us not as outsiders but as their fellow community members.
References
Berno, T & Jones, T. (2001).Women as Producers and Consumers of Tourism in Developing Regions. 93 -109.
Department for International Development. (1999). Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets. Introduction, Section 2, Section 4, Section 7.
Bell, S. & Morse, S. (2003). Measuring Sustainability, London: Earthscan, 29 -57.
Pinter, L., Hardi, P., & Bartelmus. P. (2005). Sustainable Development Indicators: Proposals for a Way Forward. International Institute for Sustainable Development.