About Us

The GreenHeart Foundation

The GreenHeart Foundation is dedicated to Lao cultural preservation through the promotion of Lao textile arts. It is our goal to economically and socially benefit Lao rural mountain artisans and thereby contribute to the wider community.

We provide training, initiate new production and assist in the marketing of textiles from six villages in North Eastern Laos.

We are committed to using locally grown natural fibers and dyes and maintaining traditional techniques.

The GreenHeart Foundation also supports community education at all levels, with special emphasis on the preservation of Lao cultural heritage through the textile arts. This enables local women to build a sustainable livelihood in an area plagued by child trafficking and opium production.

We recognize also the priority of unexploded ordnance (UXO) bomb removal, and actively promote an awareness campaign and promote safe UXO bomb removal.

GreenHeart launched its first textile gallery in January 2006 at Chan-a-Mar.

The founder of The GreenHeart Foundation, MarkO Bartholomew, has consulted on the following projects:

• Lao America Project
• Lao Women's Union
• Consortium/LEAPSS (Lao Economic Acceleration Program for the Silk Sector)