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Bagman Meets Rebel

Bagman meets Rebel

Co-founder of Laga Handbags is invited to meet with former rebel-turned governor of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia in San Francisco during his Business Development Tour of U.S.

Irvine, California – October 6, 2007

Roy van Broekhuizen, a.k.a. “The Bagman,” and CEO of Laga Designs International Inc. of Irvine was asked to speak about his involvement in Aceh, presenting “Post-Tsunami US Marketing of Aceh Handicrafts: A Case Study” at a Business Roundtable on Aceh Trade.
Van Broekhuizen received an unexpected telephone call from Thomas Fricke, Co-Founder of ForesTrade, requesting his presence at Business Roundtable discussions on Aceh Trade, Investment and Tourism, held in San Francisco in an effort to glean much needed information to promote better trade relations and marketing, after recognizing the significance of his work both in Aceh and in the US.
This invitation led to meeting the current governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf, the former rebel leader of the G.A.M. (Aceh Freedom Movement) and the man who holds in his hands the future hope of the Acehnese people. Yusuf commended Van Broekhuizen for his contribution to the people of Aceh and, together with some of the Aceh delegates, they hope to form a union to develop a long-term strategy for trade promotion.
Originally commissioned by Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, (Rick Warren, Sr. Pastor and author of best seller “The Purpose Driven Life”) to help in the hard-core relief work immediately following the 2004 tsunami and the largest natural disaster of our lifetime, Roy and his wife Louise, as a direct result of having read and put into practice the principles in the book written by their pastor, formed Laga Designs International Inc. Their personal commitment led them to an endeavor to provide continuing employment and income for survivors in Aceh province, the area most devastatingly affected by the tsunami.
They launched their company by taking out a 4-year lease on a building, hiring a manager/trainer and staff of 12 tsunami survivors, and partnering with an established local business team to open a training center and workshop to make handmade embroidered handbags, and importing them to the United States in hopes to create a consistent cash-flow system that would support their vision of helping 1200 survivors. As of August 2006, the date of its incorporation, Laga has thus far expanded to include help for approximately 130 survivors. In order to develop a consistent sales base here in the United States, Laga has developed a philanthropic home parties business which currently consists of 28 Laga Consultants throughout the country who show Laga bags in the home; this adding another dimension to a united effort to join hands across the globe toward restoration and hope.
After having spent the past three years dedicated to renewing hope and creating tangible solutions for its survivors, this invitation for Van Broekhuizen to be included in this government roundtable discussion officially substantiates their recognition of his value to the trade relation process.
The importance of Van Broekhuizen’s contribution to the economic redevelopment in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, which took the lives of about 170,000 people in Aceh, has distinguished him before its local government as well as those involved in intercontinental commerce here in the United States.
A successful cooperation between government officials in Aceh and the US is sure to be a stepping stone toward the bigger vision Laga was formed to accomplish. And the work which Roy has pioneered has set in motion a contagious excitement for change that is proving to be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to economic relief for victims of disaster.

Extending far beyond just the victims of the tsunami, as if that isn’t enough, Laga ultimately touches generations of families and the entire communities. And, when you consider the network of Consultants Laga is seeking to build in the United States, many more lives are affected for the betterment of humanity at large.

Tsunami Mortality Estimates and Vulnerability Mapping in Aceh, Indonesia -- Doocy et al. 97 (1): S146 -- American Journal of Public Health

Kiko's House: Bill Clinton Makes People Cry -- And Think

Kiko's House: Bill Clinton Makes People Cry -- And Think

TSUNAMI

On December 26, 2004 at about 8AM an earthquake measuring 9.0 moved the floor of the Indian Ocean almost 100 vertical feet. The depth of the ocean floor was over 6 miles and the massive land movement covered an area in length over 700 miles and 10 miles wide. This is over a third of the length of the United States. It resulted in Tsunami waves that traveled over 500 mph and crossed the ocean to Sri Lanka over 4,000 miles away. The epicenter was closer to Thailand and closest to Sumatra, the largest of the islands of Indonesia.

About 2 hours after the earthquake, a series of 3 Tsunami waves hit the northern end of Sumatra the hardest of all. Waves estimated over 60 feet high swept inland in some areas over 2 miles, destroying everything in it’s way. The northern end of Sumatra is the province of Aceh, an area about the size of Los Angeles County. The capital city of Banda Aceh is a seaside city on the tip of the northern end that had a population of about 250,000. The tsunami wiped out almost half of the city instantly. It took about 2 hours for the ocean to recede, taking debris and bodies with it.

The world was shocked. Everyone was asking what they could do. A week later Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA made a small announcement at all 6 regular services requesting donations for the survivors. In 1 week the church congregation donated over $1 million. The church then decided to send an initial small team to Indonesia to determine in what way medical teams and monies could be used to help.

On Monday an announcement was made in the church online bulletin.The team of 3 people had already been chosen, vaccinated for foreign travel, and had their tickets to leave Monday. The team was headed by a Dutch-Indonesian native, a chief fireman and the medical director of the church’s foreign mission programs.

I was the tsunami Relief Coordinator for Saddleback church in Lake Forest, California, this is my story. The first 3 months funds were used to feed about 50,000+ persons in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, then work on rebuilding and reconstruction. We were able to partner with experienced workers in Banda Aceh and started 3 internet cafes, 3 English language and Computer Learning Centers, rebuild a quilt factory and our latest venture, handbag factories. When my contract with Saddleback church ended, my wife Louise was so touched by the Acehnese people that she wanted to find a way to continue helping.

She started by bringing the traditional embroidered handbags and did a home party, which snowballed into a new business venture, Laga Designs International, Inc. The company incorporated August 2006 and now has 20 Laga handbag Consultants, a number of selective boutiques, and continuing to do home and office parties, events, and trade shows.

Laga continues to help the Acehnese by providing employment and hope for a better future. Laga will bring a tsunami survivor to its headquarters in Irvine, California, and she will be featured at AccessoriesTheShow in Las Vegas to show how the bags are embroidered. Laga is fulfilling her dream.