Background

Messenger Band

The Messenger Band, a garment worker girl band, grew from WAC’s long engagement in the self determination building among Cambodian garment workers. WAC’s approach has been doing to expose and consciencetise women workers in order for them to fully participate and determine their paths as a collective to bring positive change to workers as a social group and more broadly to challenge on gender stereo type, discrimination and violence in society.

Workers (MB) have been involved in data collections about working conditions, family life and migrant women’s problems, partly this information is utilised for research, advocacy and awareness raising activities. In addition the content of these stories (oral histories) form the themes of the songs, expressing emotional issues as well as political messages of oppression, hope and change.

Since its inception, the band advocates in various campaigns, workshop, public events, at the Drop-in Centers (DICs) of women garment factory workers, at the villages, in traditional festival in the villages through songs and performance on the issues faced by the poor and marginalised group such women workers, sex workers, farmers, HIV/AIDS positive people, landless household.

The Messenger Band listen to and empathise with people, especially women, in rural communities, garment factory DICs, sex workers, HIV people live in the communities, landless community through the various field visits it conducts. Upon hearing their stories the band gather the information and write songs about these peoples lives, sing back to the people the songs they previously composed about life of people in other previous visits.

Unsurprisingly, the issues that people are facing from place to place did not vary. This serve to help rural communities to understand that they are not alone in their daily struggles; the causes of deepening poverty, that women around Cambodia have equal rights and demand that these be respected.

Vision
The messenger Band envision a society where vulnerable group, especially women, are supported by public services, treated with respect and dignity and have the opportunity to equally participate in society free from discrimination.

Mission To give a voice through song to vulnerable groups and to raise awareness about the issue they face among the public. To motivate people to reduce social discrimination. To help to bring about positive change in society to end violence, exploitation and human abuse. The Messenger Band does not support any political party. It believes in working cooperatively for positive change.