Student sells Caring Chains to help Cambodian children

By Kate Foss

Collegian Reporter

University of Richmond senior Laura Musser worked to create programs for English-as-a-second-language for school children while interning in Cambodia for seven weeks this summer.

She was an intern for Caring for Cambodia, an organization that raises money for education programs there. And during her internship, Musser came up with an idea of how she could raise funds for CFC when she returned to Richmond. She decided to sell bracelets made in Cambodia under the name Caring Chains, with all the profits going directly to CFC.

The idea came to her when a group of Belgian volunteers brought bracelet materials to the school she was working at in Cambodia, Musser said. Musser saw her opportunity when she noticed how quickly the school children could make bracelets.

"I thought selling the bracelets would be a cool way to reach out to college students," Musser said.

The children have free time during the day to work on crafts, so Musser pitched the idea of selling their bracelets to her boss, and now, less than three months later, she has sold around 30 bracelets and has 250 more on the way. Musser plans on selling the bracelets in the Tyler Haynes Commons for $10 each.

Musser spent her summer in the province of Siem Reap, which is in North West Cambodia. She first learned about Caring for Cambodia from her aunt, Jamie Amelio, who founded the organization in 2003 after a vacation there. Musser said that while her aunt was visiting famous Cambodian temples, she had been moved by the hundreds of children crowding the street begging for money to use, among other things, the cost of school.

"She saw that they were in a rut for money, and she was overwhelmed by all the children begging," Musser said. "So, she became an education advocate."

Musser herself is now an advocate, and that is evident in the cards that come with the bracelets. The cards, which read "Caring Chains, made with care, wear with care," list the different benefits that the ten dollars the bracelets cost can provide: One English teacher's two-day salary, two school uniforms, 390 days of breakfast for one child and 20 toothbrushes.

Musser's internship advisor, Teresa Williams, the associate dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, said Caring Chains exemplified Musser's desire to make positive change during her internship.

"She wanted to have an impact on not only the organization but also the citizens and the community," Williams said. Musser recently presented her internship to Williams and 40 other internship students, and Williams said Musser's commitment to her cause was evident in the presentation.

"One reason Laura was so successful was that she has a true interest in global justice issues," Williams said.

Williams herself has ordered a bracelet from Caring Chains, and said the bracelets were nicely made and that she was confident Musser would be able to sell them all.

Senior Jennifer Lewis, who also purchased a bracelet from Musser, said she liked that the bracelets looked different.

"They look really cool," Lewis said. "And, they are nice and casual. Plus they are a fun conversation starter and they are unique enough to catch someone's eye."

Contact reporter Kate Foss at kate.foss@richmond.edu