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Teal Dragonfly Paperweight The Product Lacquerware: Creating lacquerware is an ancient art, dating back to the 8th century in Vietnam. Lacquer itself is a clear sap coming from any of six species of “lacquer trees” growing throughout the country. Relatives of the North American poison sumac and poison ivy, the wet sap of these trees causes skin irritations and rashes. To harvest the lacquer, an incision is made in the bark that allows the wet sap to ooze out and be collected in the pre-dawn hours. One lacquer tree will yield only about one cup of sap during the harvesting season. The traditional process of creating lacquerware products from this sap is involved, taking anywhere from 3 to 9 months to complete the many applications and polishing steps! Decorative items made from wood and other raw materials are coated with anywhere from 10-12 individual layers of strained lacquer, dried in a dust-free environment, and sanded smooth. Lacquer can take on a variety of appearances. Fresh lacquer, for example, is white but turns brown upon exposure to air. Black lacquer is created when the sap is stirred for a few days with an iron rod, causing a chemical reaction between the lacquer and iron. Cinnabar, a colourful mineral, can also be added to create several shades of red lacquer. Whatever the colour, the final coat is sanded with fine coal powder and then polished and hand-rubbed until the product gleams. A design may also be scratched on, painted or formed by applying gold leaf. Lacquerware: Lacquer is resistant to damage by water, acid, or abrasions, but it can be harmed by direct sunlight. Clean using a mild soap and warm water. Rinse and dry immediately. The Artisan Group: MAI Vietnamese Handicrafts Mai Handicrafts is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by two social workers concerned by the plight of street children in Ho Chi Minh City. At the time, schooling was only available to those who held legal papers and could afford the tuition fees. Street children, meeting neither of these requirements, were therefore excluded. Mai Handicrafts gave work to youth and provided them with informal literacy Let these shimmering dragonflies protect your work in style! Created from natural river rocks, each is sealed with sap, coated with black lacquer, etched with foil, painted and then polished underwater to create lustre. The perfect splash of colour. Travel the world with each visit to Ten Thousand Villages. Learn how Fair Trade really makes a difference. Our goal is to provide vital, fair income to artisans by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages sells product from more than 30 countries, providing work for nearly 60,000 people around the world. classes. Now that schooling is free for all children in Vietnam, Mai Handicrafts has expanded their mandate to provide work for the poor and marginalized, including women and ethnic minority groups. Today, Mai Handicrafts works with 1,669 artisans in 26 producer groups – 90 percent of whom are women. The group runs several craft production projects and markets the work of numerous other craft producers. During recent years, Mai has established itself as the primary marketing agent for artisans from neglected families and women. It practices a model of social development in which social service cannot be separated from economic self-reliance. Mai Handicrafts’ artisans receive social and health care insurance benefits and can apply for scholarship funds. The organization's sales fund various community development activities – chosen based on groups' needs – including clean water projects, vocational training, equipment purchases and teacher wage subsidies. Mai has also responded to environmental concerns by collecting waste material for recycling – some of which is utilized in the creation of new products. Looking for ways to employ as many people as possible, Mai also hires young women to work after school cutting and forming boxes rather than buying ready-made packaging materials. The Country: Vietnam Vietnam – the most populous country in mainland Southeast Asia – offers both sublime beauty and traditional charm. Remarkable landscapes and a relaxed atmosphere indicate little of the country's long and troubled history of occupation and war. Over the past 30 years, Vietnam has faced the challenges of recovering from not only the lasting effects of conflict, but also the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Since 1986, considerable progress has been made as the Communist Party of Vietnam has begun introducing market elements as part of a broad economic reform package called doi moi (“renovation”). These changes have dramatically transformed the country: over the last ten years, GDP has more than doubled and inflation has come to low single-digit figures. To keep up with the country’s rapid rate of population growth, Vietnam has also been working to promote job creation. Rural unemployment, however, is estimated at 35% during non-harvest periods and urban unemployment has risen steadily as people migrate to the cities in search of work. Alternative sources of income are critical in a society where roughly 65% of the labour force works in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Vietnam continues to experience positive dynamic change as it strives to become an industrialized nation by 2020. Despite its poverty, it is a land of youthful hope and bustling enterprise. The economy is growing and trade is increasing. Rich in history, culture and natural beauty, Vietnam is also becoming a major tourist destination.