Business

The Modern Dress Sewing Factory (MDSF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is a small factory that produces high-quality garments and accessories for local and international markets. Opened in January 2007 in collaboration with the Cambodian People Living with HIV/AIDS Network (CPN+), the factory provides a safe and supportive working environment for women living with HIV.

MDSF produces silk and sarong bags, wallets, wine bags, clothes, and other associated products. With support from diverse international organizations and individuals, MDSF continues to enhance its technical skills, design capacity, and marketing strategies. MDSF aims to establish productive partnerships with local social enterprises and socially-conscious multinationals.

In addition to enabling economic self-sufficiency through its business activities, MDSF explicitly meets women’s health-specific needs (by organizing a daily ARV register and by accommodating hospital visits) and supports broad skills development through various trainings. For all these reasons, MDSF serves as a model for other NGO business activities.

Contact Info:
MDSF Office
#35A, St Lum, Chamroeunphal Village
Sat Kat Boeung Tompon, Khan Meanchey
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phone: +855-92-278 823, +855-92-537 738
E-mail: mdsfcambodia@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.wwp-we.org/mdsf/index.html
Look for us under MDSF Sewing Social Enterprise on Facebook.

Social Light Communications (SLC) in Chennai, India provides comprehensive communications services, including product design, printing, and animation. Launched in August 2006 by women affiliated with the Pan-Indian Positive Women’s Network (PWN+), SLC provides effective, high-quality communication solutions that reflect the team’s creativity and cumulative experience.

SLC produces brochures, posters, leaflets, catalogues, annual reports, and calendars. The SLC team, which includes skilled graphics designers, works collaboratively to fill orders and promote the business to wide-ranging audiences. SLC's professional and responsive performance has attracted diverse clients from business and social organizations in India and across the globe.

Once its financial standing was strengthened, SLC diversified to open a WE shop that sells WE-brand and other products made by HIV-positive women and by other marginalized populations. SLC also provide small loans to other local and regional PLHA to initiate small enterprises. Through these activities, SLC extends the benefits of its own economic and stigma-reduction achievements to wider networks of HIV-positive women and their families.

Contact info:
Door No. 29/13
Kumbalamman Koil St
Off Taylors Rd, Kilpauk
Chennai 600 010
Tamil Nadu, India

Phone: +91-44-9710 862 862
E-mail: info@sociallight.in
Website: http://www.sociallight.in/

Since its inception in 2008, Weaving Destination produces hand-woven silk and cotton products from traditional patterns. Established in the post-conflict Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam, India, with support from the NEDAN Foundation, Weaving Destination empowers vulnerable indigenous women. The staff of more than 40 women and girls includes HIV-positive women, survivors of trafficking, and female migrant returnees who are highly vulnerable to re-trafficking, social exclusion, and impoverishment.

Weaving Destination benefits from indigenous Bodo women’s proficiency in weaving to produce silk scarves, handicrafts, and cotton fabrics for industrial use. The business preserves traditional Bodo motifs and weaving techniques, while also designing products to suit national and international markets.

Using profits from product sales, Weaving Destination plans to operate a vocational training center that will build capacity among indigenous young girls who are highly vulnerable to trafficking. In this way, the business not only generates direct economic and social opportunities for its staff but also strives to support larger groups of women in need. The program also will facilitate ART access for HIV-positive mothers who live in remote villages.

Contact Info:
C/o NEDAN FOUNDATION
Ward No 7, Baganshali
P.O. & Dist. Kokrajhar
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)
Assam- 783370

Phone: +91-3661-275085 or +91-9435027087
Email: weaving.destination@gmail.com or nedan_ne@yahoo.co.in

Website: http://nedan.in/weaving-destination-1/weavingDestination/