Kate Davis {Inspirational Women}

Collective Humanity 

Words by Jess Hagemann Photos by Eric Morales 

From 1975-1979, the country of Cambodia suffered the third most deadly genocide in human history. Taking advantage of the political instability left in the wake of the Vietnam War, the brutal Khmer Rouge regime began methodically slaughtering doctors, lawyers, and intellects of all stripes, “including,” says Kate Davis, founder of Collective Humanity, “anyone who wore glasses or spoke French”—ultimately decimating more than one-fourth of the population. Those who survived struggled to rebuild Cambodia’s basic infrastructure (schools, hospitals) and economy. Many jobless parents were coerced into selling their children to human traffickers for small amounts of profit, naively hoping that the kids stood a chance at a better life. Today, that generation of poverty-stricken, uneducated, and, in some cases, enslaved children are in their mid-40s with children of their own, and are still seeking meaningful work.

Davis, 29, learned about Cambodia’s violent history on a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in 2015. Committed to exploring places “off the beaten path,” she and her now-fiancé toured the mostly rural villages of 8 or 9 countries before Cambodia literally stopped Davis in her tracks. “It was the first time I felt overwhelmed by the poverty of a country as a whole,” she recalls. “Kids as young as five approached me begging for money in a really desperate way. One girl came up to us carrying her baby brother and asking for milk.” These stark images contrasted sharply with “the grace, the kindness, and the joy” that Davis says “everyone in Cambodia embodies despite their situation.” It made her wonder what she could do to help.

Just before leaving on the four-month trip, Davis had quit her job in Austin. Post-Cambodia, she knew there was “no way” she could go back into sales. “[Cambodia] totally changed my perception of my place in the world and how privileged I am,” she admits. “I can’t believe that of all the places to be born, I was born in America.” She remembers the “reverse culture shock” she experienced upon returning home, and seeing “so many well-off people spending their hard-earned cash” at stores. “All of a sudden,” Davis says, “the world felt smaller. That little girl [with her brother] could have been my next-door neighbor. She could have been me.” At that moment, Davis felt inspired to find a way to leverage American consumption to help Cambodians in need of jobs.

Enter Collective Humanity: a fair trade nonprofit that sells Cambodian jewelry, bags, crocheted stuffed animals, and handwoven textiles—like caftans and blankets—made of 100% ethically-sourced, botanically-dyed cotton. Davis handpicked each Collective Humanity artisan herself, building relationships with and supporting the fair wages of more than 45 women on her quarterly visits back to the country. The women there tell her, “We don’t need handouts; we need jobs. Buy more blankets.” So Davis does.

Read about our other featured inspirational women here.

In 2019, Collective Humanity will open a training facility in Phnom Penh to teach even more Cambodian women skills like stitching and seamstress work, while offering evening classes in English, mathematics, and literacy. Donate to the campaign at collectivehu.org/job-training.

Contact:
collectivehu.org
@CollectiveHumanity