Textiles & Books: What's the Connection?
In 2007, when we first visited Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage town in northern Laos, we discovered Big Brother Mouse. We write often about this exciting social enterprise, a Lao-owned and -run book publishing venture that makes reading and literacy fun for kids.
We sell textiles, handwoven by women in rural Laos and Thailand. We do this to help women support their families, communities and traditions. And to share their beautiful, naturally dyed textiles with women (and men) in North America. We follow fair trade principles, as set out by the World Fair Trade Organization. Part of our work is to support community development.
Supporting Literacy in Laos - 2013 Update
Another 3 book parties
sponsored by TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles (thanks to our customers) were held on Feb. 7, March 14 and April 9, 2013 in 3 villages in rural Laos. At the end
of each party, held at the village schools, all the kids get to choose a free book
of their own in the Lao language,
nearly always the first book they've ever owned. Then the book party
team leaves more books with the school, so the students can trade their book for a
different one after they've read it.
Global Grandmother Power Grows
- Weaving grandmothers in rural Thailand work to protect their environment from a neighbouring gold mine: Grandmothers Defend the Earth.
- Read more from Paola's blog.
- GRANDMOTHER POWER wins the "Multicultural Non-Fiction" category of the 2013 International Book Awards!
- GRANDMOTHER POWER is a finalist in ForeWord Reviews' "Book of the Year Awards," which honor 2012's most distinguished books from independent publishers. Winners to be announced June 28, 2013.
- Read dozens of posts in the 2013 Grandmother Power Blogging Campaign -- TAMMACHAT's post from this blog joins the voices.