AUSTIN, Texas - Giving Tuesday has gone global in Austin as mindfully-made purchases are helping young women earn a living wage in Cambodia.

Cambodian women are breaking the cycle of poverty that has overwhelmed the country since the genocide of the late 1970's. 

A year after Collective Humanity was founded, Julie Worley decided she wanted to help, too. She spent two weeks in Cambodia learning how women support themselves as artisans weaving on giant looms.

"This is dyed using natural materials, and it's a really lengthy process. It takes about a day for one of these to be woven," said Worley.  

With the help of said Collective Humanity Founder Kate Davis, these women have been empowered to create. They make jewelry by hand, knit stuffed animals and sell it all here in Austin.

"Living in these rural areas without access to the internet or a market of people to sell to, their opportunity to make money is very, very limited. So, we help grow the demand for their blankets by offering them on our marketplace online here, as well as markets throughout the city of Austin," said Davis.  

Worley said her experience in Cambodia changed her.

"They don't want the same things that we want in this country. They honestly just want things like being able to send their kids to school. They want to be able to take care of their parents if they get sick," said Worley.  

People can shop the Cambodian artisans’ goods or make a Giving Tuesday donation to Collective Humanity by visiting collectivehu.org.