Weaving in the Goodness
A trip to Cambodia in 2009 changed the course of Rebecca Parnham’s life and led to the development of a social enterprise which is having a dramatic impact on a remote Cambodian village.
Words: Jo Bailey Photography: supplied
During her trip, Rebecca was struck by how local women were using their humble krama (hand woven scarves) for many different purposes, from slings for their young children, to wearing them around their waist, or on top of their heads to ward off dust. “When I saw the usefulness of these beautiful krama, I realised I could do something to celebrate this amazing product, and the resilience and ingenuity of the Cambodians. I was determined to help create a good income for the women who wove them,” says Rebecca.
She teamed up with a local woman, Nita, and Krama & Co, was born – a social enterprise dedicated to supporting education for girls and opportunities for women.
Nita visits the weavers directly to fulfil the orders Rebecca makes from New Zealand. Krama & Co pays the weavers two or three times the going rate they would receive if they sold the krama themselves. “A lot of rural Cambodian women have to go to the cities or even overseas to work to support their families, usually earning a pittance in the fashion industry. Weaving for Krama & Co enables them to stay home and work and be there for their children.”
Krama & Co donates one US dollar from every sale to a village fund, and the weavers decide how this will be spent. “So far we have paid for a full medical team to visit the village four times, which has been fantastic.”
Each krama sold by Rebecca is named after an inspirational woman. Earlier this year, her eldest daughter Mae (aged seven) named a krama ‘Jane’, after one of her heroes, Dr Jane Goodall, and was delighted to have the opportunity to present Dr Goodall with her krama on her recent visit to New Zealand. Mae also presented Dr Goodall with ‘Giving Seeds of Love’, another initiative of Rebecca’s which she started after the terror attack of 15 March. “This project is about bringing people together and using craft as a therapy, while making something beautiful – seeded hearts, made from soaked waste paper, and infused with wildflower seeds, which are dried, and can be planted in pots or in the garden.”
All of the 600 women who attended the Uniting Canterbury Women event in Christchurch in July also received Giving Seeds of Love. Rebecca was one of the six organisers of this event, along with former Essence writer, Jo Bailey, who conceived the idea after wanting to find a way to continue on the feelings of connection and unity which arose among Cantabrians after the tragedy. “We were determined to create an event which broke down barriers, told women’s stories, and united women of every race, culture or religion in an environment where they felt welcome and safe. We are excited to be continuing to create more opportunities for Canterbury women to connect,” says Rebecca.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything Rebecca does, and was a key driver of her coming up with yet another great idea – to use the wrappings from the flowers left outside the Al Noor Mosque and Botanic Gardens after the terror attack to create an amazing artwork. She gathered the wrappings from Christchurch City Council, put them through her brand-new washing machine, and convinced her artist friend, Simone Johnstone to create 260 hand-made paper flowers, to adorn a large sign, spelling the word ‘Unity’. The sign was unveiled and gifted to the Muslim community at the Uniting Canterbury Women event, and is now housed at Canterbury Museum.
Rebecca is a dynamic businesswoman, who is determined to raise women up and make a difference. Her krama can be purchased from Krama & Co’s website, or from the Christmas Country Fete in Fernside, on 31 October.