Cambodia House - About Us

Cambodia House is a not-for-profit retail and wholesale business established in 1999 by Mary Read, proprietor of Reads of Woollahra, after being involved with a number of disadvantaged groups in Cambodia since 1995.

With 36% of the population earning less than US$1 per day and 80% of the total population earning less than US$2 per day it is no surprise that Cambodia is one of poorest countries in the world.

Further, the legacy of land mines in Cambodia is one of the worst in the world, with an estimated 4 to 6 million remaining unmarked around the countryside. As many as 40,000 Cambodians have lost limbs due to mines, which claim an average of 40 to 50 victims a month.

The non-government organisations Cambodia House works with employ and support people from the least privileged sectors of society including survivors of land mines, people with disabilities and the urban poor with the aim of helping people develop sustainable, marketable skills creating supplementary or alternative sources of income.

Our goal is to support those groups in establishing and developing export markets for traditional and contemporary handicrafts.

By participating in the global market place we hope to broaden their experience and skills, support their incomes and encouraging independence and a sense of self-fulfilment.

Our achievements to date

• Cambodia House has channelled over $300,000.00 back to Cambodia through purchases of products made by the people we work with.
• Established a scholarship fund with the Lavalla School for tertiary education and training for adolescents with disabilities in Cambodia.
• 2004: completed a yearlong Handicraft Industry Development project in order to develop and diversify the skills and product ranges of the organizations involved, as well as their understanding of overseas markets.
• We continue to support organisations in the handicraft sector.
• Fund training and provide material support.
• Through our donation based in-store gift-wrapping service we have raised more than $8000.00 towards a childrens HIV/AIDS Project in Cambodia.
• Raise awareness and support for Cambodia and our Cambodian partners.