Ya Mi

My name is Ya Mi and I began working with WEFTshop in 2009 when I met Emma on the Thai-Burma border. I produce intricately detailed bags, dolls, wallets, scarves and children’s dresses. I also sell the handicrafts and friendship bracelets handmade by our Lahu people. Currently I am sampling new products for WEFTshop. My mother taught me how to sew and Emma also has trained me in design and product development for improvement of our textile products. My homeland is in Burma but I left to increase my work prospects and build a better life for myself. The materials required for producing the products are purchased from our Lahu women living alongside the border and inside Burma. It would help Lahu women address needs in their children’s schooling and family survival by purchasing the materials and their handmade products.

As most Lahu women are unemployed and dependent on their husband , I am trying my best to provide job opportunities for them to make a living and provide a market place to sell their traditional handicrafts , then they will be able to access health care and the children will have access to school. For our culture’s improvement and preservation, designing and reorganizing of our traditional textiles and being known to international communities are important. This encourages Lahu women and people to value, develop and preserve their traditional handicrafts.The profit from selling the products is used to help me make a living. By purchasing material and products from our Lahu women inside Burma and living Thai-Burma border generates income for their families.

Ya Mi would like all Lahu people to have human rights. To help Lahu women have a voice so international communities can hear and help for their future.

My family are  farmers do not have much income. When I was a child, I left home at age ten so I could continue my schooling. Because we have to pay for education, it is difficult for parents to send their children to school. At this young age I lived away with a strange family and had to do everything, not only for that family to let me stay in their house and go for schooling but also for myself , cooking, cleaning and going to school. My dream for the future is to create a space (orphanage) were  children  in the situation like I was can  stay and  go to school. Also continuing  design training and providing  job opportunities for our Lahu women and elevating our culture by working with other ethnic groups and international communities is very important. I would like to establish a group of women artisans and find a market place for their product. Ten percentage of the income generated by this group, I would use to support the daily expenses of children in Burma living way from home to attend school.
By purchasing Ya Mi’s products including dolls and bags you enable WEFTshop to support Ya Mi both financially and towards her own dream of educating Lahu women and children.

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