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AGF goes to Thailand
- No CommentsPosted On January 13, 2012By A Global Friendship
The Thai people are so resilient. I am happy to know that all of our artisans are back to work, dry, and safe. – AGF founder Elizabeth Firgeleski
Elizabeth traveled to Thailand recently. As you may know, AGF was born in the wake of the tsunami that practically leveled Thailand in 2002. Our founder Elizabeth was caught in this tsunami, and the incredible care she received in Thailand was the first spark of inspiration for AGF. Terrible water damage has affected large swaths of the country yet again, with major cities and rural villages nearly wiped out. Infrastructure has suffered, and many of our artisans have found their lives deeply altered once again. The floods have affected food and clean water supplies, as well as affecting land for living and farming. Elizabeth saw much of this damage and also much of the hope for a rebuilt future when she traveled to Thailand. She was kind enough to answer these questions for us.
The child of an AGF artisan
1. What sort of damage did you see in the areas you traveled in?
In Bangkok we saw stores boarded up with sand bags piled up in front of the doors. In the remote areas, farm land covered with puddles as large as small lakes and ponds. Our artisans spoke of having to sweep water
out of their homes and of course the materials that sustain their
livelihood were ruined–saturated by the rain water.2. What did the economic climate seem like compared to the last time you visited Thailand.
The pricing of all of the materials has gone up, causing our product price to rise.3. Did you have any interesting conversations with Thai people about the floods?
It was interesting to know that the government was pumping out areas of Bangkok. In Bangkok it was also interesting to see the store owners simply closed up shop and took off for higher grounds. The sand and rice bags are an innovative way to control high waters and protect property.4. Did you hire any new artisans or research any new materials or techniques for products?
We found a young woman who makes great knit hats that are amazing for children. We also encouraged Sintuva to hire additional workers to expand the 12 person team she leads.
