Accessing education for women has always been a struggle in Cambodia. At the beginning of the 1970s, there were more than 20,000 teachers in Cambodia; 10 years later, approximately only 5,000 teachers remained. Because of this, a whole generation of Cambodian children grew up with limited access to education; especially girls. Currently in Cambodia, 48% of rural women are illiterate, compared to 14% of rural men. Only 5% of tertiary aged children are in tertiary education.

Carpets for Communities work in the Poi Pet community where access to quality education remains a huge challenge; of the families involved with CfC, around 85% of the mothers are unable to read or write in Khmer. We aim to engage mothers in employment by teaching them to produce eco-friendly handmade carpets. We then sell these carpets in Australia, providing them with stable and fair income enabling their children to return to school within 48 hours of becoming involved with the project. In our program over 50% of our students are female, with an 83% attendance rate, far greater than the national average.

Carpets for Communities is calling on all supporters to host a Carpet Party this May to express solidarity for mothers in rural Cambodia. Your support will help these mothers support their families and provide immediate education to their children. Carpets for Communities are an endorsed fair trader and all our carpets are eco-friendly, durable and machine washable.