Meet the Artisans
Behind every piece of jewelry is the skilled artistry of a woman -- a woman and her story of redemption. We'd like to introduce you to the maker of your Landmine Design piece and give you a glimpse into her story.
Chi Chi
LOCATION AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Chi Chi is 23-years-old and has been part of the team for four years. She graduated from college in 2025 alongside her husband, earning a degree in General Management, while her husband completed his degree in Business. Together they are raising their daughter, Esther, and building a future grounded in stability and opportunity. Chi Chi loves the beauty of jewelry-making—how something as simple as paper can be transformed into something meaningful—and she is passionate about developing the women on her team, helping them grow in skills, confidence, and literacy.
Before joining LMD, Chi Chi lived with relatives while her parents worked in Thailand. During school breaks, she traveled to help her parents at a laundry shop, working at a young age without legal documentation and living in fear. Life at home was also difficult and unstable, yet she persevered and continued her education. Chi Chi often says she cannot imagine her life without LMD; she believes she would not have finished college and might still be working illegally abroad.
Her favorite part of LMD is watching the women laugh, care for one another, and grow together—especially when creating joyful marketing videos as a team. Looking ahead, Chi Chi dreams of starting a rice and clean water business with her husband. Above all, she continues her work at Landmine Design because of her deep love for the women she serves. We are incredibly proud of her leadership, resilience, and the strength she brings to the LMD family.
Kosal
LOCATION MANAGER
Lady Kosal is a 48-year-old manager at Landmine Design who has been part of the LMD family for 10 years. Married for 29 years after marrying at just 18, she is a proud mother of three sons, all now married, including one who is currently in university studying to become a police officer. Over the years, Lady Kosal has grown tremendously in confidence and leadership, even learning English through one of LMD’s partner schools. She loves working closely with the women on her team, encouraging them and helping them develop new skills that build both income and self-belief.
Before joining LMD, Lady Kosal worked long hours sewing pockets onto jeans from her home, earning only $0.25 per pair. Even after a full day of detailed, careful stitching, she would make just a few dollars—barely enough to get by. Without LMD, she believes she would still be sewing alone at home, struggling to provide for her family.
One of her favorite memories at LMD still makes her laugh: traveling to a village during flooding season, riding on a tractor through thick mud that nearly tipped over. What could have been stressful instead became a moment of shared laughter and joy. Looking ahead, Lady Kosal dreams of attending a concert for the very first time and one day visiting the United States. We are so proud of her steady leadership, her warm heart, and the care she shows to every woman she walks alongside at LMD.
Srey Lee
Srey Lee is a 38-year-old mother of eight who has been working with Landmine Design for the past 10 years. Before joining LMD, life was incredibly difficult for her family—there was often not enough food, her children had never been able to attend school, and she had no access to loans or support. With only her husband working, their income was never enough to meet their basic needs, and Srey Lee feared she would have to cross the border illegally in search of work. Since joining LMD, she has learned new skills, found stability, and takes great pride in completing production rounds alongside her team. One of her most treasured memories is attending an LMD retreat in Siem Reap—the first time she had ever traveled outside her village, an experience she describes as one of the happiest moments of her life. Srey Lee deeply loves her work at Landmine Design, and we are incredibly proud of the strength, confidence, and growth she has shown over the past 10 years as she continues to build a hopeful future for herself and her family.
Somphor
Somphor is a 25-year-old artisan who has been part of the Landmine Design family for 11 years, beginning her work with LMD at just 14 years old. Before joining LMD, she stayed at home and dreamed of traveling to Thailand to earn money, unaware of the risks of exploitation she could have faced. Through LMD, Samphor gained education and found a supportive community she describes as family. In the past year, she achieved a remarkable milestone by graduating from college, becoming part of the small percentage of Khmer people who are able to attend and complete higher education. She especially loves making jewelry—the many steps, the creative process, and the chance to sit together, talk, and create beautiful pieces as a team. Today, she uses her income to support her father and provide for daily living expenses, and she dreams of one day buying land near a school to open a small book and stationery shop. We are incredibly proud of Samphor’s resilience, dedication, and growth over the past 11 years.
Srey Mom
Srey Mom is a 27-year-old mother of two and one of the original members of Landmine Design, joining in 2013. Before returning to Cambodia and rejoining LMD, she worked under dangerous conditions on a banana plantation in Thailand, living in fear as an undocumented worker. Since coming back, Srey Mom has become one of our most skilled jewelers, especially rolling paper beads—likely crafting over four million in her career! She treasures her work and still remembers the pride of receiving her first salary, a small amount that meant the world to her at the time. Today, she dreams of building a comfortable home for her family. We are proud of her perseverance, skill, and the joy she brings to the LMD family.
Srey Ya
Srey Ya is a 45-year-old mother of six and one of the original employees of Landmine Design, having worked with LMD for 13 years. Before joining LMD, she worked in construction as a day laborer, enduring long hours of physically demanding work with little to no dependable income. She feared that without support, she would have had to bring her children along to whatever work she could find, and her kids would not have had the chance to attend school. When she asked for a job at LMD and was welcomed, it became a life-changing moment she will never forget. Today, Srey Ya loves cutting fabric for LMD’s products, taking pride in her work and the skills she has developed. Her greatest dream is simple but heartfelt—to continue working at Landmine Design for as long as possible. We are so proud of her dedication, resilience, and the growth she has shown over the past 13 years.
Pai
Pai is a 43-year-old mother who has been part of the Landmine Design family for 11 years. Before joining LMD, her life was marked by profound hardship. While pregnant with her first child, Pai and her husband were involved in a serious motorbike accident that left her husband hospitalized in a coma for months. Pai remained by his side daily, praying for his recovery, while also healing from her own injuries. The accident caused severe disabilities for her daughter, Ganya, and after her husband later left, Pai was left to care for her child alone. With no support and no income, she and Ganya lived in a small shack behind a family member’s home, often without enough food or safety during storms. When Pai asked for a job at Landmine Design, being welcomed and offered work became a turning point she still remembers as one of the happiest moments of her life. Through LMD, Pai found stability, dignity, and a place she describes as family. She especially enjoys sewing, valuing the focus and consistency it brings to her workdays. Since joining LMD, Pai has rebuilt her life, including marrying a kind and supportive husband and welcoming her son, Makara. Today, she continues to work faithfully and dreams of owning a reliable motorbike to support her family, and we are deeply proud of the strength, perseverance, and growth she has shown over the past 11 years.
So Payak
Sophek is a 36-year-old mother of five who has been part of Landmine Design for eight years. Before joining LMD, she worked in markets and construction, often traveling long distances for physically demanding work with little pay and facing exploitation in Thailand. At LMD, Sophek found stability, safety, and a community she describes as family. She especially loves sewing, enjoying the focus and ease it brings to her workdays. The encouragement, laughter, and care of her teammates make coming to work a joy, and today she dreams of owning a comfortable home. We are proud of Sophek’s resilience, dedication, and the growth she has shown over the past eight years.
So Thy
Meet So Thy! She works as the lead seamstress in our sewing program, Landmine Design “Dai”. So Thy is 42 years old, and the mother of four children. She became a widow a few years ago when her husband died in a traumatic accident. Since then, she has been the sole provider for her family. With great skill as a seamstress, she joined our program three years ago and excelled very quickly. She is incredibly talented and often the one who brings our designs to life! One day she dreams of opening her very own tailoring business. (We’re also celebrating with her, as she recently found love again and married a man who loves and cares for her and her children so, so well!)
E Pov
This is E Pov! She’s a sweet 50 year old, single mother of five. Before coming to work for Landmine Design, she sold vegetables that she grew from her home at the local market. A year and a half ago, we welcomed her to our team and she learned to sew. Now she earns a stable, dignified income in order to care for her family and work toward her dreams. She loves to cook and desires to one day open her very own restaurant.
Aya
Aya is a 47 year old single mom of three. Her story is one of exploitation and redemption, as she comes up on two years in our sewing program. You see, before her employment with Landmine Design, Aya worked for a factory sewing jean shorts for 29 cents a pair. On a good day, she made $1.45. Her boss earned double what she made, but did none of the work; taking advantage of a poor widow who was desperate. Now Aya uses her incredible skills as a seamstress to create beautiful textiles for us, and earns a dignified, fair wage. She dreams of one day opening her very own store!
Chan Bo
Chan Bo is a 34-year-old mother of three who has been working with Landmine Design for the past eight years. Married for 17 years, she and her husband—who works as a field harvester—have worked hard to provide for their family, with one daughter currently in school, one working in another city, and one helping care for their cows at home. Before joining LMD, Chan Bo traveled to Thailand for construction work, doing physically demanding labor while living in constant fear due to her undocumented status and often working long periods without pay. Since coming to LMD, she has found stability, safety, and a workplace she describes as family. She especially loves participating in sewing trainings, where she is able to grow her skills and gain confidence in her work. Chan Bo’s greatest hope is to earn a steady income that will allow her to pay off her loans and continue building a secure future for her family, and we are proud of the commitment and growth she has shown over her eight years with Landmine Design.
Karla
Founder & CEO
Having lived in three different continents so far, Karla has grown to love cultures and people from across the globe. With a degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University, Karla resides in Westminster, Colorado with her husband and three kids (all of whom are already grown up!). As a family, they love traveling around the world, but especially to Cambodia where they spend lots of time loving on children, serving, and helping with the development of this precious place.
Jordan
Creative Director
Jordan’s childhood looked a little different than most. From the time she was just six years old, she spent weeks—sometimes months—each year traveling with her family to Southeast Asia. Together they served in remote villages, at humble orphanages, or along filthy borders. While she didn’t have much say in the trips, she happily tagged along, and it was in these places that her heart was shaped—breaking for the hardships she witnessed and growing in a deep love for the people of Thailand and Cambodia. Having watched Landmine Design grow from the ground up, Jordan has carried a special affection for the work from the very beginning. Over the years, she has grown a desire to step in more fully, and today she serves as the Creative Director of Landmine Design. In this role, she brings together her creative eye and business mind overseeing design, marketing, and team culture. Her work at Landmine Design is a natural extension of the story that began in her childhood—a calling that continues to shape her life in meaningful ways.