– About David Filbeck – Brook Falls Handicrafts –
I am resident of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Born in Bangkok, I have spent the majority of my life in this wonderful country and speak, read, and write Thai. I honed leather crafting as a hobby after my involvement with the Far East Council Camporee held in Chiang Mai in 2019, where I was responsible for coordinating the Leatherwork Merit Badge. After the camp, I had lots of leftover leather and tools. I learned how to make purses and hats as gifts for friends and family.
In early 2020, I began to look at ways I could use my skills to help those facing adversity. The impact of COVID-19 on the local economy here in Thailand has been devastating. I researched how I could teach leather skills to others and how to provide a fair living wage. From this, the Brook Falls Handicrafts Community is being established.
You are supporting our community when you purchase one of our products.
– Who We Are –
Located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Brook Falls Handicrafts is a small family owned business striving to produce quality products while providing at-risk people with a fair living wage. Our goal is to bolster autonomy and self-efficacy in the people of Northern Thailand by teaching them marketable skills in craftsmanship. Brook Falls Handicrafts provides training, materials, tools, and marketing support. We then contract projects out to individuals in our craftsmanship community. The individual keeps 50% of gross sales price. Brook Falls uses 25% to cover overhead, training, and purchasing materials and tools. The remaining 25% puts food on our table.
All are welcome to join the Brook Falls community, giving preference to those who face these adversities : single parent families, unemployment, displaced youth, and those living with HIV. We strive to endow those at the margins of society with dignity, self esteem, and hope for a better future.
**Due to COVID-19 we currently do not have enough orders to contract projects out. As orders pick up we will train and equip individuals to be part of the Brook Falls Handicrafts Community. Your order(s) will provide autonomy, self-efficacy, and hope for impoverished, at-risk people by providing them with a fair living wage.
