It’s Thursday, and time for our Global Activism series. Each Thursday we hear about an individual who’s decided to work to make the world a better place. Lia Valerio is one of the founders of Malia Designs. They’re a fair trade company that provides economic opportunities to women in Cambodia. Along with providing jobs, Malia Designs also donates a portion of their profits back to organizations in Cambodia.

Lia started Malia Designs after a trip to Cambodia. She had just finished up here stint with the Peace Corp and she had the option of getting a ticket back home or using the money for a ticket for some place else. She decided to travel across Southeast Asia. Valerio felt a strong connection with Cambodia.