Senhoa

When you buy some Senhoa jewellery, you’re not just buying into hot fashion but also a profoundly good cause. All of the pieces are handcrafted by newly skilled artisans who are also survivors of exploitation; women taking part in a one-year programme which provides them with a skill and education, enabling them to support themselves in the future. And you’re making a statement about yourself and what you believe in too: you’re saying no to human trafficking, to oppression, poverty and discrimination, and you’re saying yes to empowering youngsters, giving them back the education and opportunities they so deserve in life. It’s a positive cycle that feeds itself as 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each piece go directly back to funding these community developments.

If you don’t believe us, believe Canadian supermodel, Coco Rocha, who was so impressed with Senhoa’s mission and designs that she collaborated with designer Jenny Van to create a Senhoa collection of her own with seven unique pieces.

Coco Rocha for Senhoa is made up of seven unique jewelry pieces designed by Coco herself.

‘The evolution of fashion is a triumphant story of freedom and female empowerment. Incredible women like Coco are using this conquest to stand up against slavery and give a voice to women who cannot speak for themselves. We are thrilled to be working with Coco on this collaboration,’ says Lisa T.D. Nguyen, Founder and Executive Director of Senhoa.

More reasons to love Senhoa:

NOTES: Accessorize Your ConscienceTM with Coco Rocha for Senhoa Supermodel Rocha Designs Line of Fashion Jewelry to Benefit Victims of Human Trafficking in Cambodia

New York, NY (October 10, 2011) – Senhoa announces the launch a line of fashion jewelry, Coco Rocha for Senhoa. Pulsating with hope, love, and care, each eloquent piece is handcrafted by survivors of exploitation in Cambodia. These newly skilled artisans have been taught the trade of high-end jewelry-making and now use their talents to support themselves and their families. Proceeds from the sale of each piece go directly to fund Senhoa’s community development projects, which provide income-generating opportunities, and aid in the rescue, rehabilitation, and education of young women in South East Asia.

Coco Rocha for Senhoa is made up of seven unique jewelry pieces designed by Coco herself. Created using clear, black, and multi-colored Swarovski crystals, many of the pieces are shaped by a distinct chain-link arrangement of draped silver and gunmetal in various textures. Coco Rocha for Senhoa features statement pieces including earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

“Accessorizing can do more than just compliment a woman’s wardrobe and beauty— it can make a statement about what she believes in,” says Rocha.

To support the launch, Rocha has enlisted her supermodel friends Iman, Caroline Trentini and Behati Prinsloo to be featured in two campaigns with her, launching on November 1, 2011. The campaigns, shot by Nigel Barker and Jamie Beck, will portray images of strong and powerful women symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of the Senhoa women who use their newfound strength to overcome their victimized pasts, and are building a brighter future.

“The evolution of fashion is a triumphant story of freedom and female empowerment. Incredible women like Coco are using this conquest to stand up against slavery and give a voice to women who cannot speak for themselves. We are thrilled to be working with Coco on this collaboration.” Says Lisa T.D. Nguyen, Founder and Executive Director of Senhoa.

Coco Rocha for Senhoa will be available for sale starting November 1, 2011 and can be purchased at senhoa.com/cocorocha.

About Coco Rocha

As a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Coco Rocha never expected to become one of modeling’s brightest stars. Her career began when she was spotted by a modeling scout at an Irish dancing competition at 14. Soon after, a meeting with world-renowned photographer Steven Meisel would lead to the cover of the March 2006 issue of Vogue Italia, which began her meteoric rise into fashion.

She quickly began appearing on the runways and campaigns for major brands like Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, and countless others and ignited a firestorm in the fashion industry when she opened and closed the Fall 2007 Jean Paul Gaultier show by performing an Irish dance down the runway. In addition to her advertising and runway work, Coco is frequently featured in the pages and covers of top fashion magazines around the world. An avid blogger Coco has positioned herself as one of the most digitally savvy models of her generation with her highly followed blog and twitter. She frequently uses her considerable reach in social media to promote the various charitable causes she works with. (www.cocorocha.com and http://oh-so-coco.tumblr.com/)

About Senhoa

Senhoa (pronounced “suh-no-a”) is a combination of two Vietnamese words – “Sen” (lotus) and “Hoa” (flower). A lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with breathtaking beauty, untouched by its impure surroundings. It is against this precise imagery that “Senhoa” was conceptualized to represent women and children, vulnerable to sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

Senhoa supports victims of human trafficking by providing income-generating opportunities, social reintegration and programs for self- empowerment. Senhoa currently has three core programs in Cambodia to aid the rescue, rehabilitation and education of young women sold into slavery. Senhoa is unique in that it operates as a social enterprise. Our programs are designed to provide economic opportunities to the survivors of human trafficking and vulnerable young women by training them to make high-quality jewelry. 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of these individually handcrafted jewels go directly to fund Senhoa’s community development projects.

‘Why’ Statistics:

• Cambodia is ranked as a Tier II and on the Watch List by the US State Department in their Trafficking in Person’s Report dated June, 2010. In the same report, it was noted that “Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.” It is also known that “Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women from Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation.”
• It has been estimated that the number of ethnic-minority women who work as direct sex workers represent as high as 30% of the total number of commercial sex workers

Source: http://senhoa.org/projects.php

• People trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are enslaved, the fastest growing international crime, and one of the largest sources of income for organised crime
• 1.2 million children are trafficked every year (Estimate by UNICEF)
•  At least 12.4 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these 2.4 million are as a result of human trafficking.
• (A global alliance against forced labor, International Labour Organisation, 2005)
• 600,000-800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors
• US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2005)
•   Human trafficking is the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drug trafficking. (Belser 2005)

Source: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/humantrafficking/problem.aspx