Kerrie Meehan was a travel agent who travelled the world with her job. She visited many poor countries, but when she visited Cambodia it had an immediate and profound effect. And it was a lasting effect that was to change her life dramatically, along with the lives of many others.
When you meet someone who is actually talking the talk and changing the world, it is a wake up call. Kerrie Meehan is one of those people. She is quiet and unassuming, almost shy at times, as she talks to me at a café in the pretty Yarra Valley town of Healesville. And she certainly hates the limelight. Yet just below the surface lies a fierce advocate for the change that is needed in the world. ‘I can’t sit by and do nothing,’ she explained to me as the waitress brings our coffee order to us.
She feels ‘called’, which is not always easy. To the outsider, it may seem confusing why she would give up her safe, clean, comfortable way of life in Victoria’s beautiful Yarra Valley, to live an itinerant life, raising awareness for people suffering inequality in the world. ‘It’s hard to explain, but it’s not something I feel I’m choosing to do necessarily, it feels more like the need has chosen me. I know that probably sounds weird, but I just know I’m not meant to be here, I’m meant to be out there, doing something, and that something is BIG.’ She uses her hands to demonstrate how big and her eyes widen and light up at the thought. As soon as we’re off the subject of her, Kerrie the introvert disappears, and in her place is an expressive and passionate businesswoman, talking me through her business plans for Fairly Global, the expansion of her original business Fairly Cambodian.
‘It all started with a visit to Cambodia. I was a travel agent back then, and I got to see the world, which was brilliant. So I’d seen plenty of countries stricken with poverty and inequality but there was something different and powerful that struck me about Cambodia and it’s never left me. I left there knowing I needed to do something to help the incredible people I’d met. And that was how it all began – Fairly Cambodian, the store, was born. I’d met so many artists and artisan producers over there, in alleyways, by the temples, at street stalls, selling their hand made goods to tourists. And I realised that their products were so well made that they would sell well back home and I could increase their sales by giving them exposure in Australia – whilst raising awareness about their plight at the same time – it was a no brainer, or so I thought.’
There follows a pause as Kerrie smiles to herself. ‘Of course, I had no previous retail experience and certainly no idea about the bureaucracy and reams of paperwork I’d have to fill out, to export goods out of Cambodia.’ Now it doesn’t faze her, it’s all become second nature and every time she visits Cambodia, she takes on new product lines. ‘I’ve seen first hand how badly some Khmer employees are treated, so I only take on new products that I know have been made ethically, by people who are well treated and well paid. Often I deal direct with the artists and producers themselves. That way, I know the money gets back to him/her and doesn’t disappear into the wrong pocket. Sadly, Cambodia is still run unscrupulously, from the bent government officials who take bribes and steal regularly, to the shocking employers who violate their staff. And the more I read and learn about the world, the more I see that Cambodia’s problems are just the tip of the iceberg.’
When I ask Kerrie if she ever finds it too overwhelming, knowing the extent of the injustices in the world, she agrees before I’ve finished my question. ‘Of course I do, who wouldn’t? But if anything, it spurs me on to do more, to help more, because the larger the problem, the greater the need, so how could I not act? Inaction is not an option.’ She muses on that last statement and decides she likes it. ‘I’ll use that again’, she smiles, ‘that’s good!’
Fairly Global will be run along the same lines as Fairly Cambodian, it will sell items made around the world by people who are trying to earn a living, against harsh odds, in countries where inequality is rife. ‘Every time a potential customer comes into the store, or goes onto the website, it is an opportunity. An opportunity for these people’s stories to be heard, for their plight to be understood, for my customers to be moved to get involved and act.’
We wrap up the interview back at Kerrie’s store in Healesville’s bustling Main Street and as I’m browsing the gorgeous colourful products for sale, I overhear customers talking with the staff at Fairly Cambodian. ‘She does get asked that all the time, and yes, in fact, in January, she took seven customers she’d met here through the shop on tour to Cambodia. They volunteered at some of the charities we support and got really under the skin of the place.’ I look up at Kerrie questioningly, ‘Is she referring to you?’ Kerrie looks away, uncomfortable with my direct questioning. ‘Sure’ she said ‘Why not? It gave them an insight into Cambodia and I was going anyway!’ We say goodbye and straight away she’s off to help a customer. Perhaps it’s exactly this ‘take it in your stride’, ‘can do’ approach to life that enables Kerrie to achieve so much for so many? And thank goodness she does.
Kerrie Meehan runs Fairly Cambodian, a fair trade retail store in Healesville in Victoria’s Yarra Valley – an enterprise that sells beautiful hand crafted goods made by Cambodians. You can find stunning accessories such as silk purses, amazing jewellery, one off pieces of clothing, scarves and shoes, and home-wares such as cushions, candles, spices, recipe books, cards and Christmas decorations. You can buy from Fairly Cambodian from anywhere in Australia via her online shop and sign up to her newsletter or like her on Facebook for updates.
Article via Just Words.
