An afternoon in May can change everything

Last Saturday (May 4) afternoon we held our 4th Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.

We transformed New Farm State School hall into a place of tea, conversation, live music and clothes swapping. Women came together unbeknownst to each other that they all share one very important focus, "making a difference". Together, A Pot of Tea Under a Tree with all the volunteers, attendee's and sponsors of this event made a difference in the lives of 6 more little Cambodian girls sold into sex slavery. Another 6 girls learning to laugh and play again.

Encouraged by Her Courage

November has been such a beautiful month for me. 

 I had the opportunity to meet with a group of sweet high school girls right at the start of the month. The interact group from Kedron State High School invited me to speak with them about my passion for the girls in Cambodia and the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Two weeks after that memorable afternoon (and only two weeks ago), I was honoured to see Somaly Mam again, in person. Somaly Mam's smile to so strong, so powerful that you forget that she ever suffered as a sex slave. She was so generous with me as I shared with her my encounter with the Kedron State High School girls. I told her "We love your girls, so much, there's a whole number of ladies in Brisbane, who passionately care for your little girls."

Somaly Mam spoke with delight about her girls, she share how they're in the process of learning to forgive. 

"They are forgiving their past to embrace their future"

Every time I meet with Somaly Mam I'm truly encouraged by her courage and the courage of her girls to live again, to laugh and to play over and over, it reminds me that there is no excuse to ignore joy.

Somaly Mam and I in Melbourne, November 2012

These girls had raised over $150 for the Somaly Mam foundation. When I first heard of this I shed a tear, this is the amount it would cost to purchase a girl out of the horror of sexual slavery.

Somaly Mam receiving the hand written card that the Kedron State High School girls asked me to give her.

Get a Dress, Save a life on the 21st of April!

It's under 4 weeks until the 

3rd Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.

On the 21st of April @ New Farm State Primary School Hall, Brisbane.

It's a truly delightful afternoon of tea drinking and clothes swapping

 and in the process we save lives!

1 in 40 girls in Cambodia are sold into sexual slavery from as young as 4 years old.

Last year we raised enough funds that is the equivilant of freeing 8 little girls from Cambodian brothels.

Together we can make a difference!

Come along and swap your gorgeous items of clothing.

Take a look at the photo's below of just some of the beautiful peices we have ready to swap.

A gorgeous floral dress with an intersting back 

This pretty dress is a French Connection peice 

Vintage brown skirt circa 1980's is apart of a suit. A gorgeous jacket makes up this outfit.

Vintage skirt

Vintage silver crop jacket and classic black dress

Art Saving Lives

Painted with nail polish on canvas

After a beautiful conversation over the phone, Nicole Condon and I quickly realised that we have a shared passion for the little girls in Cambodia.

Nicole visited Cambodia in August last year, where she had an opportunity to visit with the girls who had been recused from brothels. 

Her response to the horror of lost innocence was to bravely celebrate what life and colour there is for those girls who get an opportunity to live.

Nicole is generously donating a painting for the raffle at 

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange 

on Saturday the 21st of April.

Please bring cash with you!

You also have the opportunity to buy her art work at Under a Tree Clothing Exchange

with 50% of the proceeds going straight to the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Cambodian water lili's pianted with nail polish on canvas

Gorgeous Nicole Condon 

Why, A Cause?

On a Saturday night in October, a group of us from A Pot of Tea Under a Tree and Hope Foundation went to the screening of Nefarious: Merchant of Souls documentary. 

It reminded me again of why! 

Why in this moment, A Pot of Tea Under a Tree exists.  

I started A Pot of Tea Under a Tree because ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a fashion designer and I wanted to change the world. 
A contradiction right? Not now! 

I'm so honoured to be able to provide beautiful sustainable clothing that is morally and environmentally sound BUT! 
This endeavour is created out of a passion for a cause. 

A cause, that is taking steps to strengthen women in their environment throughout the world. 

Miraculously two woman have came across my path and have touched my heart. 

Browen Healy, who is the creator of Hope Foundation, here in Brisbane, Australia and Somaly Mam, the creator of Somaly Mam Foundation, from Cambodia. 

Both woman are rescuing girls from sexual slavery and death.

This is why A Pot of Tea Under a Tree will continue doing what we are doing:

Please know the content of this video may offend some viewers and is not recommended for those under 14 without adult supervision.

Come and be apart of the solution by attending April's 2012

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange. 

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange Saturday 9th July 2011

A Pot of Tea Under a Tree

is thrilled to invite you to the latest

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange.

This is a lovely afternoon filled with gorgeous conversation, sweet music, tea drinking

and clothes swapping while making an impact in the lives of young Cambodian girls.

In March we raised the amount of money that is equivalent

to freeing four girls from prostitution.

Together we can make a difference.

Saturday 9th July

@ New Farm State Primary School

James Street, New Farm

2pm - 5pm

Tickets $30 online.
So we can cater for you.

www.underatree.com.au

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange- 12th March-

What a wonderful afternoon!

 The Under a Tree Clothing Exchange event went so beautifully. 

Wonderful women, Delightful atmosphere, Magic music, Delicious tea and biscuits,...and brilliant swaps!!!

Who would have thought being sustainable in fashion would be so much fun.

To top it off...we raised enough funds that is the equivalent for freeing 4 little girls from brothels in Cambodia!

Somaly Mam: helping girls laugh & play, again & again

Me / Somaly Mam

Under a Tree Clothing Exchange chooses to support Project future.

Project Future is a not for profit organisation inspired by the story of former Cambodian sex slave, Somaly Mam.

"Forced to work in a brothel along with other children, Somaly was brutally tortured and raped on a daily basis. One night, she was made to watch as her best friend was viciously murdered. Fearing she would meet that same fate, Somaly heroically escaped her captors and set about building a new life for herself. She vowed never to forget those left behind and has since dedicated her life to saving victims and empowering survivors." 

I was so honoured to sit next to Somaly Mam this month at Project Futures launch. She was shining with beads and grace. I was moved by Somaly's courage to act on her compassion.She was a victim but has made the stand to become the voice to the voiceless. This is something that moves me to tears.

Somaly Mam shared with me what it is we can do to help.

She spoke about giving from the heart. The girls need to know that they are loved and accepted, it gives the girls the possibility to dream, to live again.

Did you know that 1 in 40 girls in Cambodia have been sold into sexual slavery?

Together we can make a difference.