TREAK Creations is a social enterprise that supports the people of this community.  

 

Our workshop at Treak Community Centre trains and employs local women, who make a range of high-quality products that are available in this shop.  Being a charity shop, Laura’s Dream also stocks an eclectic range of donated items for sale.  TREAK Creations workshop and sewing centre has two purposes: 

 

• to provide training and decent working conditions for local women, enabling them to learn valuable skills they can use to earn a living wage and support themselves and their families

• to sell its products to help fund the free education that Treak Community Centre provides for the young people of this community.  This includes Early Years classes, English classes, science sessions, health and wellbeing, and a well stocked library

 

Around 300 children attend Treak Community Centre and school.  Its 12 staff are all local Cambodians and the centre’s classes supplement and complement the education provided through the Cambodian state schools.  

International volunteers also help at the school.  The resulting interactions with people from many cultures, along with the free classes, (the English lessons in particular), provide Treak Community Centre’s students with valuable skills, and a significant advantage should they wish to access the better paid jobs in the tourism sector.  

 

Head teacher Nirann says, “The school receives no government funding and most of our support comes from volunteers and donors.  It is good when we as Cambodians can support each other through our own efforts, and the sale of products made by the women of this village is a big help to our school”.

Sewing teacher, Dara, says, “I love working at TREAK Creations and I’m proud that we can support the school.  My children attend the free classes and Treak Community Centre is a great asset to our community.  

 

“I also have many benefits at work that I didn’t get in my previous jobs: working in a stress-free environment, health insurance, flexible hours, weekends and public holidays off.  We also get free English lessons after work.”