Sustainable Livelihoods: A Study of Handicraft Women’s Groups in Kamphuan

1. Sustainable Livelihoods: A Study of Handicraft Women’s Groups in Kamphuan Amy Ta Christina Hughes Christine Nguyen Liz Lam Terri Chan

2. Introduction How do the women’s livelihoods contribute to their household sustainability and overall resilience to environmental threats and economic change? Objectives: • To understand the role that Muslim women do or can play to maintain a sustainable community in Kamphuan, Thailand • To determine the women’s priorities • To help the women reach a wider customer base

3. Sustainable Livelihood Dimensions Pressures

4. Background of Batik Group • Formed in 2005 after the December 26 tsunami • 16 member group run primarily by 2 sisters, Ja Hap and JaDa • OTOP (One Tambon One Product) paid people to be trained in a handicraft skill to promote the economy and tourism. OTOP money was reinvested to start business • Mostly supplements other income-generating activities

5. Background of Tie-Dye Group • JaRiya formed group in 2005 after the tsunami to empower local women and organize the community • Grew to as large as 25 members, but the group split into 2 because some relocated • 13 current members with 5 to 6 regulars

6. Methods • Historical Timelines • “Cake” charts about spendings, savings, profits and production costs • Daily activity clocks • Interviews • Network trees Ta translating interview dialogue >>

7. Social network tree- Batik Seminars Organizations/NGO OTOP UCLA Students Gov’t Foundations Friends Community Development Office Pi Panuwat Michael Fair Development Occupation Network KCLC Community Village Head Exhibitions Local Gov’t Raks Thai Foundation Batik group Gifts

8. Society – Tie Dye Local Government Religious School Ranong College Youth Muslims of Thailand Organization Raks Thai Foundation KCLC Pi Panuwat Tie-Dye Group USAID

9. Economy: Finances Comparison Batik Tie Dye/Sewing -Lack of a foreign market -Most of profit from foreigners -Not affected by current global economy -Income varies a lot with season -Income varies a little with season -More self-sustaining -No debt

10. Group Savings Tie-Dye Batik

11. Group Production Costs Tie-Dye Batik

12. Group Leader Income Source JaRiya Ja Hap

13. Religion • Drives all aspects of their lives from birth until death • Helps women restructure their livelihoods after the tsunami • Mental restoration • Applies the principle that all misfortunes are tests from God • Strengthens community ties ^Baan Nam Khem tsunami memorial

14. Environment – Tie-Dye • Teach students about environment • Keeps waste water in a well to evaporate • Natural dye -> chemical dye • Sell plastic bottles and aluminum cans • Feels that there is no air pollution • Materials from Phuket – cheaper and local • Liquid organic fertilizer in JaRiya’s fruit garden ^Retrieving longon from the fruit garden

15. Environment-Batik • Stitch scraps from shirts to create bags and other products • Reuse ink and the plastic cuts containing them. • Work in open air • Feed leftover food to dogs, chickens and other pets/animals • Plastic bags from the market are reused as fruit containers • Collect plastic bottles to sell for 10 baht/kil and aluminum cans for 30 baht/kilo. • Participate in mangrove restoration projects.

16. Summary: Sustainability Assessment • Sustainability Indicators: • Socio-ecological systems Integrity • Long term livelihood sufficiency and opportunities • Inter-generational and Intra-generational equity • Efficient resource maintenance • Engaged civil society • Precautionary principle

17. Sustainability Assessment Graph Human Well-being Environmental Well-being

18. Limitations • Too personal and/or complex questions • Gaps in technological knowledge & financial resources • Lack of motorized transportation – exacerbated by weather • Availability ^eBay store registration attempt ^3 bikes for 6 people

19. Community Service • Batik group: New shirt design for local gov’t officials -Golden Mountain • Tie-dye group: W.I.L.L = Women’s Initiative for Local Livelihoods at UCLA

20. Thank You! • Dr. Silverman & Dr. Shipe, for making this project possible with the connections, transportation and utmost faith and support in us. • Our translator Ta, whose English skills enabled efficient communication with the Thai women; and whose welcoming aura made the research project fun and memorable. • KCLC director Panuwat, who gave us support, cultural/development knowledge and safe housing. • The batik group, who shared their stories, cooked us delicious lunch and dinner and took us in as their own family members. • The tie-dye group, who gave us a space in their hearts and trusted us enough to let us transport their products to the USA. • The Kamphuan residents, who treated us not as outsiders but as their fellow community members.

21. References • Berno, T & Jones, T. (2001).Women as Producers and Consumers of Tourism in Developing Regions. 93 -109. • Department for International Development. (1999). Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets. Introduction, Section 2, Section 4, Section 7. • Bell, S. & Morse, S. (2003). Measuring Sustainability, London: Earthscan, 29 -57. • Pinter, L., Hardi, P., & Bartelmus. P. (2005). Sustainable Development Indicators: Proposals for a Way Forward. International Institute for Sustainable Development.