KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 -- Paul Manio, 30, spent eight years in the corporate world in a multinational company before starting Ahkoon.
He thought that if he could make a difference in the corporate world, he could make a difference in growth countries like Cambodia.
Ahkoon empowers Cambodian children by providing them with an education through up-cycling used rice sacks and cement bags, turning them into guitar cases, messenger bags, wallets and pouches.
We chat with Manio about Ahkoon, and how he is changing Cambodian children’s lives, one up-cycled rice sack at a time.
1. Can you tell us what Ahkoon’s about?
Ahkoon means thank you in the Cambodian language (Khmer) and that is really the foundation of the company: bringing everyone back to humble beginnings and appreciating things we take for granted.
We are a full cycle company, which means we work from beginning to end. Our products are up-cycled from rice sacks and cement bags and we work with fair trade workers who hand-make our products in Cambodia.
When a product is sold, the proceeds help fund children’s education in Cambodia -- something very important to look at for a developing country, as the children are our future.
2. Why did you see the need to do this in Malaysia and Cambodia?
I’ve noticed that Malaysia is becoming more aware, educated and sensitive to the environment and I wanted to bring a product that added to this environmental awareness by the means of selling eye-catching useful apparel and accessories. Ahkoon products stand out on their own and when people find out that the material we use has been up-cycled, they are pleasantly surprised.
3. How did it all first started?
My co-founder Gabriel Lannerdorfer and I went on a holiday in Cambodia and saw one of these bags in a market. Every time we used the bags, we would get stopped and asked where we got it.
We thought it was pretty cool when we got it, but we never thought it would get so much attention from others. It made us do more research about the bag and after visiting a few manufacturers, we were inspired by the stories of the fair trade workers and also the positive opportunity to give back.
4. What’s the biggest challenge you face?
The biggest challenge is funding. We plan on expanding into two more countries in 2014: Australia and somewhere in Europe, but we don’t have the means to do it yet.
At the same time, we are trying to raise RM20,000 to start the foundation of a second school in Cambodia (currently we are at 24 per cent of that target).
5. So far, how’s the response in Malaysia?
The response in Malaysia has been great. People are starting to be more aware of our products and we are developing a loyal clientele. I was out once and someone came up to me asking, “Hey, aren’t you the owner of Ahkoon?” That compliment made my night!
6. Who helps out with the operations? Do you have volunteers?
I am the operations manager, the marketing manager, the secretary and the coffee runner. During bazaars and markets, I am fortunate to have a group of friends who support the company (of course with a beer bribe here and there).
Friends are key in start-ups and I am both thankful and lucky to have some great friends who are experts in different fields whom I can seek advice from when needed.
7. What makes Ahkoon different from other similar organisations?
Honestly, Ahkoon is no different from organizations like Toms or Warby Parker, where a product purchased gives back to the community. I do work very closely with the manufacturer of our products (down from quality control to design) and have visited the children whose education we help fund. In the future, I want to plan that every Ahkoon employee would partake in the hands-on-work that goes into a product. I want them to experience our product from beginning to end.
8. What else can we do to aid disadvantaged societies?
Share, educate and be more sustainable. We can share our expertise with those less privileged by doing something as simple as providing workshops within a local community or offering apprenticeships by taking someone under your wing.
Opening the doors for a child who cannot afford to go to school is key -- we can help through donations or by taking time off and teaching children basics like reading and writing.
Finally, being more environmentally conscious is another step; up-cycling is a fun way to turn something that had no use into something useful. So you should challenge yourself and your family to be more creative in finding new uses for things you may normally throw away!
9. Besides buying from Ahkoon, how can the public help out?
Starting February 1, Ahkoon will have an Indiegogo (a crowd funding site) campaign online. Visit our website www.ahkoon.com for more details. We also accept donations through Paypal.
But it doesn’t stop there: Ahkoon will soon have a portal to connect you to volunteer opportunities within Cambodia and Malaysia to share your expertise, teach at a school and hold workshops on sustainability!
10. What’s next for Ahkoon?
We are looking at creating a new product for Ahkoon. We are extremely excited as we are in the development stage of launching our new backpack.
We are also looking for more exposure within Malaysia (also across the world) and are looking for wholesalers, distributors or partners! If you or someone you know is interested, please contact us at [email protected]
This story was first published in Crave in the print edition of The Malay Mail on January 24, 2014.
