While serving a humanitarian LDS mission to Cambodia two years ago, Las Vegans Ronald and Judy Tobler saw staggering needs.
Brother Tobler taught dentistry and Sister Tobler taught English, but they were overwhelmed by the grinding poverty and lack of opportunity for the Cambodian people.
Their first desire was to bring the bright young people they met back to the United States, but they knew that would not help their struggling country. They resolved to help those living in Cambodia to obtain education and work.

The Toblers returned to Cambodia a year ago to implement a humanitarian import business to aid the people. While there, they met Chin Kong, and were so impressed by her products and business plan that they decided to sell the purses that Chin’s company makes.

When Chin was twelve years old, she went to gather firewood in the jungle and stepped on a landmine which blew off her right leg. At age eighteen she received a prosthesis and was able to walk again. She began vocational training as a seamstress, and took her natural flair for designing and started a retail business selling silk handbags and souvenirs.

In the years since, Chin has built a home to house many of her employees who are landmine survivors and polio victims. They live at her home, receive three meals a day and a salary. The other half of her employees work from home so they can care for their families.

The purses are made of silk that is produced, loomed and woven in Cambodia. They are beautiful, unique, and sturdy. (They make wonderful Christmas presents!)

All of the money that the Toblers receive from selling the handbags is donated to the Cambodian Educational Fund (CEF), a fund created by fellow Americans after their humanitarian mission. This fund provides scholarships for the returned-missionary students that the Toblers worked with and any other student that qualifies for the scholarship fund. It helps students get to the point in their schooling that they can apply for help from the Perpetual Education Fund of the LDS Church.

Visit the Khmy Bags online inventory at www.khmybags.com. Information about the CEF can be found on the site. The Toblers will be hosting a CEF benefit in their home, 7251 Del Rey Ave., Las Vegas, on Saturday, December 15, from 10 am to 3pm. All of the purses shown on their website will be available. All purchases will be tax deductible.