Clouds of dust arise in front of me. My feet propel me forward. 5:50 am, and another run is in progress. My running companions, Steph and Derek, struggle with the large amounts of dust being lifted from the dirt road. Their eyes are not protected with sunglasses like mine. We wait to inhale deeply until the dirt has settled. It will settle for only a brief moment, and then more traffic will stir it up again. Motor scooters drive by. People on bicycles drive by. And then the vans. Lots and lots of vans. With lots and lots of people. People crammed on the inside, and sitting on top of the vans.
“Where are these people headed to?” I wondered on the first day we ran. My husband Derek guessed correctly.
To the factories.
To make my clothes. And my shoes. And your clothes. And your shoes.
Let me tell you about a beautiful young woman named Linda. She lives in the village we abided in this month. Her age is sixteen, her smile is wide, and her hair is long and shiny. Linda is very intelligent, and helps translate for some of the English classes that teams teach every afternoon. I see Linda every morning around 5:20 am when I head over to her house to use the squatty potty. She is usually starting a fire to begin cooking for her two younger sisters and younger brother. I greet her in my singsong voice, “Good morning, Lin-da!” She always smiles back, “Good morning, Christina!” Linda attends school and is doing very well. However, this was not always her story.
About a year ago, a YWAM team came to her village. Linda would come to Bible study late consistently, and was usually exhausted. She was not attending the English classes offered in the afternoon, nor school in the morning. The wise leader of the group, Ieki, noticed, and gently questioned Linda. What Ieki discovered was shocking. Linda was working in the factory to support her family. She worked 60 hours a week and made 70 US dollars a month.
A month. Let’s do some math.
60 hours x 4 weeks = 240 hours a month
70 US dollars / 240 hours = 29 cents an hour
Because she was working so many hours, she was unable to continue her education. The generosity of some people from the YWAM team (and other doners) helped change Linda’s circumstances. They met with her family and asked them, “If we were to provide $70 a month for your family, would Linda be able to quit her job at the factory and go back to school?” Her parents said, “YES!” In exchange, Linda has been helping translate after her schooling in the morning is complete.
Let me tell you another story about a girl named Rathania. Rathania is 20 years old and also assists with translating for the English classes. She has a go-easy personality. Rathania loves and is loved by all the children. Her sense of humor is refreshing, and she is so smart! Rathania desires to one day do a Discipleship Training with YWAM in Cambodia. Her future looks very bright. It didn’t always. A few years ago, Rathania used to work the night shift at a local factory. She worked from 6 pm-6 am most days of the week. When she got home, she helped her mother prepare food for her younger siblings before they headed off to school. Rathania took a quick nap from 8 am- 12 pm. Then it was time to help with lunch. The rest of the afternoon was busy with chores until she headed off to work. She said it was very hard because she was tired all the time. Her mother saw how much it was wearing on her, and put a stop to it. Thankfully, the family found other ways to support themselves.
These are the stories of two girls that have become very precious to me.
From left to right: Rathania, Linda, Jen, Me, and Linda's younger sister.
Other workers speak of the factory job as being unfair and unfulfilling. There are cases of verbal and physical abuse. The owners of the factory are very strategic in what they teach the employees. Workers will only learn one step in the assembly line, so they can be easily replaced. For example, they will learn only how to sew a zipper on a pair of pants. If they were to quit their job, their skills are so limited, and it prevents them from starting their own business. This causes them to be dependent on the factory job.
Some people question, “Well if the factories weren’t there, then the people would have no source of income, right?” “Should I stop buying things made in other countries? If I do, won’t the people’s pay decrease?” “I am only one person. How can my not shopping make a difference?”
I don’t know how to fix this issue.
But I do know, that if Jesus says I am supposed to love my neighbor as myself, I need to think about these people on the other end of the world who are making my possessions.
What are some ways we can help?
When you shop,
Support local businesses and artists
Purchase items that are fair trade
Do research
Volunteer somewhere locally
If you have any other ideas, please add them to our comments! I have listed some of my favorite fair trade, non-profits to purchase items from. If you have any that you want to share, list them also, please!
daughtersofcambodia.org/
http://www.lightgivesheat.org/a/utumishi?rep=christina.simke
