By Michael Briones,
canada.com, Echo
A local entrepreneur wants to establish a vocational training centre for women in Cambodia.
Lisa Metz, who owns Tita's Mexican Restaurant in Courtenay, is hoping it will provide women who are recovering from sexual exploitation and trauma a safe place where they can heal, grow and build a new life.
"The objective is to empower women that have come through that situation of having to do sex work in a very exploitive environment," Metz explained.
"It's going to be a shelter and an on-site women-only training spa where they can learn a skill that will eventually take them to opening their own business."
Metz, who is also known as Freya, has developed a deep attachment to the Asian country since she was 10 years old when her parents adopted twin girls from Khmer, who eventually grew up here in the Comox Valley.
In the last five years, Metz has been traveling to Cambodia working as a volunteer in an orphanage. She discovered the cruel reality many Cambodian women who get trapped in the sex trade experienced.
Metz said a lot of women there at a very young age are often forced to work as prostitutes and when they get to leave the profession are often alienated from their families and ostracized in society.
The harsh fate of these women inspired Metz to initiate this project two years ago called "Banteay Srey" which means "women's temple" or "citadel of women."
The name was derived from a nearby Banteay Srey Hindu temple, located near Angkor Wat in Cambodia that was built in honor of female deities.
Metz's project aims to help women who are victims of the sex trade. The centre, which is poised to open soon will provide life skills instruction, age-appropriate spa skills and business training, exercises to strengthen personal boundaries and empowerment, somatic therapy to help heal the severe physical dissociation caused by sexual trauma, instruction in dance, yoga and meditation, English language lessons and computer training. The training lasts four to six months.
The centre will operate as a spa business where the women will earn a training wage and gain valuable jobs skills.
Metz said the spa business is popular in Cambodia. However, the quality of the service that most businesses provide is poor.
"Cambodia has a lot of foreigners either traveling or working there," said Metz. "A Massage run around $10 per hour but the standard is very low making it a very disappointing experience. Customers are complaining."
The goal is to provide women with proper training on specific modalities of massage therapy.
To operate the centre, Metz said they set a budget of around $1,500 a month. To fund the project, which Metz said is strictly non-profit, she is holding a Gathering and Fundraiser here in the Valley.
The social event will take place on Oct. 14, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tita's Mexican Restaurant. It will feature Cambodian tapas and goods. There will also be information about Cambodia and her project.
Donation is $20 and advance tickets can be purchased at the Laughing Oyster Bookstore on 286 5th St. Courtenay, Blue Heron Books on 1775 Comox Ave., and also at the door on the day of the event.
For more information check out the website http: //banteaysreyproject.org/
Lisa Metz, who owns Tita's Mexican Restaurant in Courtenay, is hoping it will provide women who are recovering from sexual exploitation and trauma a safe place where they can heal, grow and build a new life.
"The objective is to empower women that have come through that situation of having to do sex work in a very exploitive environment," Metz explained.
"It's going to be a shelter and an on-site women-only training spa where they can learn a skill that will eventually take them to opening their own business."
Metz, who is also known as Freya, has developed a deep attachment to the Asian country since she was 10 years old when her parents adopted twin girls from Khmer, who eventually grew up here in the Comox Valley.
In the last five years, Metz has been traveling to Cambodia working as a volunteer in an orphanage. She discovered the cruel reality many Cambodian women who get trapped in the sex trade experienced.
Metz said a lot of women there at a very young age are often forced to work as prostitutes and when they get to leave the profession are often alienated from their families and ostracized in society.
The harsh fate of these women inspired Metz to initiate this project two years ago called "Banteay Srey" which means "women's temple" or "citadel of women."
The name was derived from a nearby Banteay Srey Hindu temple, located near Angkor Wat in Cambodia that was built in honor of female deities.
Metz's project aims to help women who are victims of the sex trade. The centre, which is poised to open soon will provide life skills instruction, age-appropriate spa skills and business training, exercises to strengthen personal boundaries and empowerment, somatic therapy to help heal the severe physical dissociation caused by sexual trauma, instruction in dance, yoga and meditation, English language lessons and computer training. The training lasts four to six months.
The centre will operate as a spa business where the women will earn a training wage and gain valuable jobs skills.
Metz said the spa business is popular in Cambodia. However, the quality of the service that most businesses provide is poor.
"Cambodia has a lot of foreigners either traveling or working there," said Metz. "A Massage run around $10 per hour but the standard is very low making it a very disappointing experience. Customers are complaining."
The goal is to provide women with proper training on specific modalities of massage therapy.
To operate the centre, Metz said they set a budget of around $1,500 a month. To fund the project, which Metz said is strictly non-profit, she is holding a Gathering and Fundraiser here in the Valley.
The social event will take place on Oct. 14, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tita's Mexican Restaurant. It will feature Cambodian tapas and goods. There will also be information about Cambodia and her project.
Donation is $20 and advance tickets can be purchased at the Laughing Oyster Bookstore on 286 5th St. Courtenay, Blue Heron Books on 1775 Comox Ave., and also at the door on the day of the event.
For more information check out the website http: //banteaysreyproject.org/
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