Lao Textile Festival
There will be a Lao Textile Festival held in Sebastapol, California on the weekend of July 18 - 20 th. The event will include Lao silk weaving demonstration, photo exhibit of Laos, Lao fashion show, Lao dance troupe, sampling of authentic Lao food, and a trunk show (where you can purchase the silks).
The event is organized by Silk Moon Gallery and brings together the many silk weaving cooperatives of Laos. I actually found out about this from Ginger’s post on Lao Textiles and Lao Silk. If anyone is interested in Lao textiles, this would be a great event to learn and meet some experienced Lao weavers too.
Photo from Silk Moon Gallery
“Silk Moon is building a web of support between fair-minded shopper in the developed world and highly skilled, hard-working artisans in developing countries. In our fifth year of operation, we are highlighting the fine quality textiles produced by weavers and artisans we have met and worked with in Laos, Thailand, and Bali.” - Janet Rodina of Silk Moon Gallery
Sabaidee,
I came across your website while browsing Lao Voices. INDIGO THREADS is a passionate supporter of Southern Laos and handwoven textiles, particularly traditional ethnic weaving, woven on primitive back strap looms. The weaving is exquisite with uncountable dedicated hours to accomplish one small textile.
INDIGO THREADS is a small non profit (501-3-C) humanitarian organization dedicated to the development and support of education opportunities for the desperately poor rural children in Southern Laos Villages. Encompassing the entire circle of education, INDIGO THREADS, also, addresses the basic survival needs of parents and villages giving children a better chance to attend school rather help parents feed the family. INDIGO THREADS gives the gift of education: a gift that lasts forever.
Please, visit our website http://www.indigothreads.org and the blogs, too, which update current programs, new programs and news. With your interest and support of Laotian handwoven textile, we are asking you for your support of our education programs and our school construction programs to help make a better live for the children and their families in this desperately poor developing Country of Laos.
As the Director working in the field (Founder & President), please contact me for further information. Thank you for your support.
Mary D. Meyer
INDIGO THREADS/President-Director
Laos Education Support and Village Development
A Non-Profit (501-3-C) Humanitarian Organization
http://www.indigothreads.org
mdmeyer@indigothreads.org
I’m really surprised that it’d cost $12,000 to build a small school in Laos.
http://forums.wausaudailyherald.com/viewtopic.php?p=72447&sid=a6724a7c12f26b11aa391b0e395b8f7a
“Laos is no exception to inflation. INDIGO THREADS projected budget to construct this school is $12,000., still considered an excellent value by all standards.”
Hi there Nye,
It is very expensive in Laos these days. For the same amount of money that you can build a house for example five years ago, in today’s term you can’t even get a decent bathroom out of it. Cement is expensive as well as steel. Things are so expensive because of the higher oil prices.
Room to Read listed a price for building a school in Laos.
“School Room
US$20-35,000
Fund the construction of a new preschool, primary, or secondary school, depending on the need of the specific community. Each school has from three to ten rooms and provides a new or improved learning environment for students.
Laos
S$25,000 Preschools
US$30,000 Primary Schools”
Thanks Darly, I expect things to be expensive but never realized that it’d be by that much, that is kind of bad because people are probably not making a lot more money.
Sabaidee Nye & Darly, Thank you for your comments.
Darly is correct. All building materials across the board have increased in price from last year, especially cement and iron. Support rebar has tripled in price; nails double. Construction worker’s wages have increased. Last year’s school construction, although slightly smaller, was about $9,000., INDIGO THREADS share. The total cost of the school depends on how much lumber and labor the villages are willing to provide. The $12,000. cost projected to build this year’s school was INDIGO THREADS portion. Actually, we were over budget as I made a structural change to the roof using a composition roofing material rather than a tin corrugated roofing material. This change was made after the budget was approved. I consider it money well spent. It is impossible for students to hear when rain is pounding on a tin roofed classroom. In the future, INDIGO THREADS will consider using only composition roofing material. The noise is deafening. Keep in mind, $2,000. was lost in currency exchange.
INDIGO THREADS purchases all of our own building materials allowing us to keep close record of expenses and usage. As we visit the construction site daily, we are involved in all phases of building the school. INDIGO THREADS is ‘hands on’ with all of our Programs and projects.
Check our website ‘blog’ for news of the upcoming school Dedication/Donation Ceremony. http://www.indigothreads.org
Mary D. Meyer
INDIGO THREADS/President-Director
Laos Education Support and Village Development
A Non-Profit Humanitarian Organization
mdmeyer@indigothreads.org