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“I started this business because I wanted to have freedom. And working here, now I have freedom. There is nobody controlling me, nobody shouting at me. My freedom isn’t limited anymore.” Village Women Dream was founded by Hab Saly. |
Saly is from a small village in Cambodia called Tramung Chrum. She never had the opportunity to attend school, and as a teenager, Saly - like many women in her village - left home to work in Phnom Penh’s garment factories. The human rights abuses in such garment factories (sometimes called ‘sweat shops’) are well documented.
“Life in the garment factory was tough. We lived far away from home, away from our families. We were not allowed sick leave, and we were forced to work overtime. We were scolded if we made a small mistake. We had no freedom over our lives.”
Saly spent six years in the factories, but since factory workers typically sew the same stitch over and over for weeks at a time, Saly never learnt to sew a whole garment. All along, Saly had a vision of starting her own sewing business; one where she could create meaningful work in her home village, and work on her terms. After sharing her dream with conviction, Saly was sponsored through sewing school, before returning home to Tramung Chrum.
On a handful of donated machines, Saly taught other women in her community how to sew. Galvanised by Saly’s leadership, this group of friends soon became a family of highly skilled seamstresses. Together, they decided to name their new business Village Women Dream.
Today, Saly manages a bustling studio in Tramung Chrum. Village Women Dream has sold to customers across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Saly is a mother to three young children, whom she hopes will attend university.
“I am happy that the business is growing. I am proud that it provides jobs for other women. These women are family to me. We grew up together and now we get to grow old together. I have dreams for my children - my youngest daughter, I want her to be a businesswoman. Like me.”
Saly’s dream remains to work in her home village surrounded by her family, her friends, and her children.
Every purchase helps realise that dream. Thank you for being here with our community.
“I can’t work alone. From the beginning, there were people with me. That’s why I can go on. That’s why I can keep going.”
