MEET ONE OF OUR NEWEST ARTISANS TO JOIN US, NAM FON MO!

Our Hands To Heart Director Debbie Tingley recently interviewed her to learn about Nam Fon Mo, her family and why she desires to become part of our Hands To Heart project.

Nam Fon Mo comes to us from the Karen hill tribe village of De Buh Se Le Koewithin the Om Koi District of Northern Thailand. She was born and raised there in same village. She has been married for 7 years and has two children, a 6 year old daughter Nam Fon (pictured with her) and 1.5 year old son (not pictured).

What do you and your husband currently do to make a living?

NAM FON MO: We grow rice and raise pigs but the rice only comes once a year so it is hard in between these times. In the last 2 years with covid, it has been even more difficult.

When did you first start to learn weaving and who did you learn from?

NAM FON MO: I started learning from my mother at age 10.

What do you love about weaving?

NAM FON MO: I love being creative and if I can learn other new things and earn some money too, that is VERY good. It is also a part of my culture that I am very proud of.

Why did you join the Hands To Heart Women’s Cooperative?

I want to preserve my culture and weaving craft. It is getting more and more difficult because young girls are starting to not want to learn and instead introduced to technology when they go out of village to continue education. I am already beginning to teach my own daughter a little.  And I am hoping it can bring me more income for my family to help in between rice harvests.

How will you utilize the income?

NAM FON MO:  Education for my children is the thing most important to me.

We look forward to telling about her next journey as she learns and grows her own weaving micro-enterprise!