Bringing more books to children in Laos

TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles supports another book party and new silent reading program in a rural school in Laos through Big Brother Mouse, an innovative Lao publishing company.

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.