Nut Mao - A Story of Determination

Written by the American Red Cross field delegates in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Late one Friday afternoon in November, 2001, Nut Mao, a 30-year-old woman who lives in Prey Veang, walked into the "Information and Referral Services" office in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. After learning from a friend of the American Red Cross services, she came to us looking for assistance in finding a job.

Although born with no arms, Nut Mao was determined to find a skill she could earn a living with. Through the Red Cross Disability and Rehabilitation Project, she did, and now runs her own business.

Like thousands of other Cambodians, Mao was born with a disability and has no arms. Through our interviewing process, we discovered that she also didn’t have many skills or experience that would help her find employment or start her own business. However, she did have determination, and she politely refused to leave our office until we found her a job.

Over the weekend, the staff found accommodations for her and the following Monday morning began searching for instructional centers offering basic skills training. None of the training centers we contacted, however, even ones providing skills training just for the disabled, would accept her because of the extent of her particular disability.

After a week of searching, we were at a loss, and paid for her trip home to Prey Veang with the promise that we would not stop looking. Because whatever skill Mao would end up learning would involve her feet, we decided to pursue weaving, a prevalent craft in Cambodia. Soon, our office learned through another agency of a village in Odong District of Kompsong Speu Province where residents specialize in basket weaving.

Our Information and Referral Services program manager immediately left for the village, where he found a family that was willing to take Mao into their home and train her. The Red Cross staff worked to develop a training curriculum to assist the family, but all they requested was money for Mao’s training materials and food.

During the next four months, Mao lived and trained with them, struggling every day to learn to weave with her feet. After months of hard work and concentration, she could weave baskets as well as any of the family members who use their hands.

Hearing of this success, the local television station did a feature on Mao, which was subsequently seen by King Sihanouk. He called her to his palace and awarded her 100 pounds of rice and $500 in recognition of her determination and courage. In return, Mao gave the King five intricate baskets she had woven.

Shortly thereafter, Mao again contacted the Red Cross Information and Referral Services staff, but this time to ask what to do with her newfound fortune. Following their advice, Mao now has her own small house in Prey Veang where she also opened a small shop selling household items and, of course, her foot-woven baskets.

How You Can Help

You can support the American Red Cross Cambodia Disability and Rehabilitation Project by contributing to the International Response Fund. Donations to the International Response Fund can be mailed to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Secure online credit card donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html.

Related Links:

• Cambodia Disability and Rehabilitation Project
• American Red Cross Regional Initiatives/Projects

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