At the shop, the Princess had a meeting with Bernard Kervyn, Director of the Mekong Quilts’ parent NGO Mekong Plus and the shop’s staff to talk about the impact of the project in Vietnam.
Princess Mathilde also met a quilt maker, whose family’s situation has got better after she got recruitment at Mekong Quilts. The Princess considerately and friendly asked the woman about the life of her and her family as well as the changes before and after she worked for the shop.
Founded in 2001, Mekong Quilts offers job for village women from rural areas in Vietnam and Cambodia. With 8 shops in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the project has provided full time employment to 350 women.
Princess Mathilde also expressed an interest in the shop’s products like bed covers, accessories, and gift wares hand-crafted, especially a bike with the frame made by bamboo.
One day before, Princess Mathilde also visited the HCMC-based Thao Dan Child Center in District 1 and the orphanage at the Dieu Giac Pagoda in District 2.
The visit to the city is part of the six-day official visit to Vietnam of Crown Prince Philippe and the Princess. Since March 11, the Prince and Princess have visited Hanoi’s famous destinations like Hoan Kiem Lake, Tran Temple and several northern provinces.
Princess Mathilde considerately and friendly asked a quilt maker, whose family’s situation has got better after she got recruitment at Mekong Quilts, about the life of her and her family.
Bernard Kervyn, Director of the Belgium NGO Mekong Plus introduced to Princess Mathilde a bike with the frame made by bamboo