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What is Sak Saum?
Sak Saum - the Khmer word for dignity -
is also the name of an important facet of IHSI’s ministry in
Cambodia. The Sak Saum program addresses the issues of human
trafficking and exploitation in practical and compassionate
ways. Although human trafficking is illegal in Cambodia, in
reality it is a thriving industry, keeping its victims
ensnared in a cycle of poverty and despair. Sak Saum is
confronting this problem through assistance and
rehabilitation for young women who have been trapped as
victims of human trafficking.

Cambodian women are not only in need
of rescuing from their exploitive circumstances; they need
their dignity restored and their lives transformed.
Sak Saum ministers to the whole person
so that they can be liberated from their past and prepared
for their future.
By providing access to education and counseling based on
Christian principles, equipping them with job skills, social
training, health and nutritional understanding, our goal is
to see young women emerge from the program filled with hope
and ready for new opportunities.
The Heart Behind Sak Saum...
Exploitation destroys the hope and purpose in individual
lives. Its oppressive grip leads to depression, disease,
addiction, dishonesty, and dependency. Many young women have
been trapped in this situation for far too long. At Sak
Saum, we operate on the principle that all people have value
and dignity. Because of this belief, we are passionate about
liberating lives from hopelessness and destruction.
We recognize that treating the symptoms of poverty is not
enough: true compassion ministers to the needs of the
individual. Our mission is to restore lives in every way –
physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, spiritually
and socially. Each woman who enters the Sak Saum program is
offered unconditional love and the resources she needs to
become independent and successful.
The Program at a Glance...
Our program is geared toward young
women who are motivated to see themselves changed and
empowered. By requiring participation in all aspects of the
program, we ensure that every area of life is transformed in
a positive way.
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The Sak Saum program includes:
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Education and vocational training
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Job skills development
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Counseling based on Christian
principles
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Health and nutrition education
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Future enterprise opportunities
Our current job training focuses on
sewing and business skills, with the expectation to expand
training to include housekeeping, customer service, and
computer proficiency. Without our help, many of these women
would never have the opportunity to read and write, let
alone learn the skills they need to live successful and
productive lives.
Along with basic education, Sak Saum
teaches conflict resolution, parenting skills, healthy
identity, positive relationship building, English language,
health, and hygiene. Women also have the opportunity to
participate in fun extracurricular activities and classes
including ballet, flag-team worship, and traditional Khmer
dance.
The program is free of charge and lasts
for six to nine months. Participants leave equipped with
work skills, capable of functioning socially, and aware of
how to overcome their past and embrace a new future. Through
all these things, Sak Saum is helping to break the cycle of
exploitation and give hope to the hopeless.
Working with Other Ministries
Sak Saum partners with other
Cambodia-based ministries ministering to victims of human
trafficking and the sex trade. By working with existing
programs, the women in Sak Saum have a wide variety of
vocational training options, including catering,
bakery, hair styling and salon services, and cooking.
We collaborate closely with a project
based in the red-light district of the capital city. In His
Steps has been able to bless this ministry with training
opportunities and financial support for over one hundred
young women there. We believe that it is important for
ministries to work together for the common goal of reaching
the lost and helping those in need.
Products 
Women in the Sak Saum program are
trained in sewing and jewelry-making skills. They receive
fair trade wages for the products that they make, which
include:
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Silk handbags, purses, and cosmetic
cases
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Silk embellished clutch purses
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Embroidered silk table runners
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Cotton padded tote bags
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Recycled-product bags
We produce a wide range of designs
while focusing on unique, quality products. Each product
tells the story of a woman's journey to find dignity. Sak
Saum is helping to restore the dignity that had been stolen
from her, and that legacy will be passed on to future
generations.
By purchasing from Sak Saum, people
around the world are empowering women and helping to rescue
Cambodians from poverty and hopelessness. We currently
export our fair trade products to the U.S., U.K., New
Zealand, and Singapore. As demand for these products
increases, we hope to gain new partners internationally to
help us promote the fair trade ethic and sell Sak Saum
products.
You can see more products that are
available for purchase at
Beyond Beads and
Bags.
Click
here to
download our brochure to see how you can help.
What
is fair trade?
We at Sak Saum believe that fair trade
is a key to helping raise individuals and communities out of
poverty. The fair trade ethic is the only responsible way to
deal with disadvantaged individuals.
For Cambodians who are a part of Sak
Saum, we guarantee:
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Fair wages in the local context
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A safe and encouraging work
environment
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Financial and technical support for
their vocation
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Environmentally-sustainable work
practices
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Respect for cultural identity and
customs
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Transparent and responsible
business practices
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Long-term, ethical relationships in
the workplace
Promotions 
As Sak Saum grows, new opportunities
arise to promote our cause. Some exciting doors have been
opening for us worldwide!
Renowned fashion designer
Abi
Ferrin chose an exclusively designed silk clutch purse
from Sak Saum to be customized with precious stones for
her Fall 2008 collection. To view the clutch on Abi Ferrin’s
official web site,
click here. To read an interview with Abi
Ferrin
click here. Check
Lucky magazine for an upcoming feature about Abi Ferrin
and her efforts on behalf of women at risk. 
One of our newest staff members
will soon be interviewed and featured for her work with
Sak Saum in the November/December issue of
Get Creative,
an arts and crafts magazine distributed in New Zealand
and Australia.
Sak Saum produces handmade jewelry
for Significant Blessings Pte. Ltd., a jewelry design
company based in Singapore. Check back soon for more
information about Sak Saum’s partnership with designer
Si-Rock and Soul.

The women of Sak Saum were recently
involved in a special project: creating hand-sewn,
custom-designed bridesmaids dresses for a wedding in the
U.S.
What Can I Do?
In His Steps
relies on your prayers and support to continue in this work.
We have seen a lot of growth in 2008, and would greatly
appreciate your help in providing the necessary funds for
our sewing equipment and supplies, production, and staff
salaries. By giving out of your own resources, you can help
to change a life for the better.
If you would
like to make a financial donation to this ministry, click
here. If you are a business consultant, designer, grant
writer, or would like to volunteer with IHSI, please contact
us at
eghanson@juno.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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