Hagar Design, Cambodia
Hagar Design is a business set up to provide work for vulnerable women and generate income for the Hagar projects - The Hagar Shelter (meeting the needs of destitute women and children living on the streets of Phnom Penh)
, Foster Home Programmes (caring for orphans, street kids and those from backgrounds of trafficking and abuse, both physical and sexual)
, House of Smiles (providing residential care for orphaned children with severe disabilities)
and New Communities (rural communities set up to repatriate women and children, from backgrounds of abuse, into “normal” life). Hagar Design currently employs around 80 women.
Pierre Tami founded Hagar 11 years ago, during a visit to Cambodia. Hagar's mission is to foster hope for vulnerable women and children in crisis through holistic, transformational development and creative initiatives. This mission is fulfilled by a diverse group of projects and businesses operating together under the principal of integrating the social, economic, spiritual and educational needs of vulnerable women and children.
Om Soun’s Story
Om Soun has worked for Hagar Design since 1998. She holds the responsible position of Purchasing Agent, and is on the Quality Control team. Om Soun lived in a refugee camp after Pol Pot’s regime, and was repatriated to Phnom Penh in 1993. With little money to support the family, Om Soun and her three children lived with their mother-in-law while her husband worked in a province outside Phnom Penh. Life soon became very difficult.
Om Soun found out about Hagar Shelter and was accepted into the Women’s Development Program. She stayed at the Shelter for nine months and learnt to sew as part of her vocational training, while her children went to the Hagar School. After this time, she and her children returned to live with the mother-in-law and Hagar supported them by providing rice, oil and other necessities.
Today, Om Soun has been reunited with her husband and the family lives in rented accommodation in Phnom Penh. Though her husband works as a ‘moto’ driver, she is the main breadwinner for the family. “Before coming to Hagar Shelter I was very miserable. Now I feel so much more comfortable and happier. I have more food, better clothes and all my children are going to school.” Om Soun pays 1500 riel (A$0.47) a day to send her children to the Government school. “There are still struggles … but our family life is so much better now.”
Om Soun dreams of her children doing well in life, learning and obtaining good jobs. “I’m happy when I know my children are doing well, when I hear how clever they are and the good marks they’re getting from school. It makes me very happy.”
