Featured Workshop

Meet Xuyen

Xuyen is one of the craftswomen from the Lifestart Foundation Workshop (LSFW) and the creator behind the recycled paper coasters, bracelets and bowls, as well as the knitted egg hats. Xuyen is part of LSFW’s initiative to train Vietnamese people with disabilities with the skills to become self-sufficient.

At the age of 5, Xuyen’s right leg became paralyzed affecting her mobility. When Xuyen joined LSF in 2009, she received a 3-wheel motorbike and began training as a workshop member. Xuyen was an exceptionally fast learner. She was able to make the products simply by looking at a photo and had no need for a pattern. When asked if she will learn any more products, Xuyen said that she is satisfied with her pieces for the time being.

Xuyen plans to work at LSF for as long as she physically possible, but her eye sight is currently failing. She recently lost vision in her right eye and her operation only complicated matters. But Xuyen’s sense of humor and smile keeps us entertained every day at LSFW.

Xuyen works 30 hours a week at LSFW and her favorite product to make is the recycled paper bracelet because it looks so “lovely”, but her best selling item is the set of coasters. Since becoming a workshop member, Xuyen shared that she is now able to earn a sustainable income and cover her expenses. But her favorite part of working at LSFW is the love she feels from Karen, the founder of Lifestart Foundation, who always greets her and asks her simple questions about her life. (She laughed and assured us she was speaking from the heart, and not trying to win points with Karen!)

When not working, Xuyen’s favorite pastime is spending time at home with her little grandson and her family. Xuyen lives with her son, his wife and grandson. Xuyen adopted her son, Binh, after he was abandoned at a local hospital by his mother. Xuyen is hoping for more grandchildren in the near future!

dev_syedsqMeet Xuyen
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The Brocade Weavers of the Central Highlands

Dhroong village is home to many exceptionally skilled weavers. Girls learn the art of weaving at the age of 7 from their mothers. When not tending to their crops, weaving is also a reason for CoTu women to gather and socialize. The CoTu Yaya business group was established offering ethnic CoTu fabrics, clothing and other products for purchase. Dhroong women hope their products will generate extra income so that they can provide education and other opportunities for their children and community. Your support will keep CoTu traditional crafts alive and help CoTu women realize their dreams. All profits from purchases stay in the village.

The Art of Brocade

CoTu weavers harmoniously maneuver their wood and bamboo frame with their body movements. Seated with their back holding the end of vertical yarns, the weaver pushes the other end of the yarns with their legs, changing tensions to allow horizontal yarns to criss-cross the other.

dev_syedsqThe Brocade Weavers of the Central Highlands
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Meet Rice Artist Thao

Thao was born in 1993 in Kon Tum and she has five members in her family. Unfortunately, four of the 5 family members, including her mother, her two younger brothers and Thao suffer from brittle bone disease. Thao’s father is the main breadwinner for the family. He is a farmer and also works as a labourer.

Thao’s disease has caused her to break her leg three times but she considers herself to be lucky as she is still able to stand on her own two feet. She has completed Year 12 unlike her siblings. Thao’s brothers are not as lucky as her as after they broke their legs for the 3rd time, they became wheelchair bound and had to stop their study at the end of year 9.

Thao has a dream of becoming an artist, however, her family situation does not allow her to pursue her passion at this stage. Being a big sister and trying her best to cope with the difficulties her family faces, Thao decided to go to classes to learn how to create Rice Art. She embarked on Rice Art classes in the hope that she could learn something that would create an income.

Thao has studied Rice Art for three years and is now very proficient with this new skill. She earns a modest income which helps her to support her father with the medical treatment for her mum and her younger brothers.

Rice Art is quite a unique hand made form of art from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Lifestart Foundation is very proud to be collaborating and supporting the talented Rice Art artisans, including our featured artisan Thao.

Each hand made Rice Art piece is painstakingly made over many days, the images usually depict very typical and beautiful Vietnamese scenes and images.

The Rice Art making process –

  1. The best rice is chosen. It is then dried and roasted at a low heat for many hours to get the color just right. The longer you roast the rice the darker the color you will get.
  2. Good wood is chosen for the base and dried in the sun for a few days. The next step is to draw the picture onto the wood then coat the wood with a water proof coating.
  3. Place the rice on the wooden base piece by piece and then then dry the art in the sun for 2 days. Spray the painting with a special spray.
  4.  Frame the painting and seal.

Rice Art will last from 15 to 20 years.

With your support the proceeds from the sales of the Rice Art products will help the artisans to become self sufficient. If you are looking for something truly unique as a memento from Vietnam, then please support talented artisans like Thao.

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Spotlight Australasia

In October 2011, Lifestart Foundation joined with Spotlight Australasia in a philanthropic partnership called the “Stitch in Time” Project. Lifestart Foundation receives regular orders from Spotlight to make fair-trade silk shopping bags which are sold throughout their stores. All profits made go direct to the Lifestart Foundation Workshop member making the bags and also to help fund Lifestart Foundation philanthropic projects in Vietnam.

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Workshop Classes

Workshop Classes offered to visitors funded additional Lifestart Foundation projects. The experience not only gave visitors a unique hands-on activity, but also gave them opportunity to learn about local people from disadvantaged situations, many of whom have complex disabilities or are from ethnic minority groups. Classes included a short video abou Lifestart Foundation. Thank you to all our supporters, we achieved a 5-star rating on Trip Advisor!

 

 

 

 

 

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