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Cambodia "Pathways" Report
Once a month we receive reports on the progress of our clients in Cambodia. The reports include photos, financials and comments from the mothers. Below are excerpts from a recent report received from Pathways to Development, the non-profit organization in Cambodia through which we work in the village communities of Tralach and Prey Sloak (click here to see the complete report from "Pathways"): "We're continuing the support for the previous group of Microloans for Mothers with 5 members who, having paid back their previous loans in full, will now receive $150 loans to continue to grow their businesses. These mothers are all living in Tralach commune of Treang district, Takeo Province. They are extremely grateful and happy to receive their loans to expand their small business. The picture below shows MfM Director, Mr. Born Thok, visiting the clients."  Mr. Born Thok with the mother clients "Mr. Born Thok joined monthly meeting with the group of Microloans for Mothers in Tralach commune. At the meeting he advised all mothers to dedicate themselves, and work hard while managing their small business. He also collected the loan principals, interests, and savings from the group manager who collected these things from all mothers in the group."  Mr. Born Thok meets with the group which is working well discussing their businesses. They are happy to be group members and shared the experience with each other in the meeting.
In the report there's also a compelling story about Srey Savan explaining her joy in having found our program. (The complete report can be view here.) Here's part of the story from the "Pathways" report: "Mrs. Srey Savan and her husband are farmers and they are fisherman / fisherwoman. She reported that her family is improving from day to day after she received a loan from Microloans for Mothers project. Before starting their small business, Mrs. Srey Savan and her family had nothing to do most of the year. Time was spent sitting around, waiting for harvesting or planting season. But now, she and husband can have an opportunity to go fishing with their nets. This activity can help them earn more income to support their family. They won't need to sell any rice to buy something for using. They can fish from 1 to 2 kg for their daily food and for selling in the local market or to their neighbors. If she wants to sell the fish, it cost 10,000riels ($2.50) per kilogram. So she can earn from 30,000 to 40,000riels ($7.50 to $10) per week." (Click to view the full report )
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Cambodia "Solidarity" Report
Another non-profit organization that we work through in Cambodia is called "Solidarity Fund for Rural Development". They work primarily in the village community of Kos Khel, which is located about twenty miles South of the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.
 MfM Director, Soy Leang, with the "Kos Khel" clients 
Manager, Sarm Vy, interviews a happy client, Sok Srey Leak
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Workshops in Vista Continue
Our local MfM program is moving along nicely. After the initial period of introduction and orientation we've formed a dedicated group of clients in Vista, California. The weekly meetings are going well with informative business topics conducted with the help manager, Joel Sierra, and volunteers, Allen McKay and Griselda Johnson. Below you see a photos of one of our workshop sessions.
 Allen McKay makes a point on cost analysis to clients,
Veronica Morales and Diana Sarabia. Joel Sierra looks on.  Griselda takes notes during a workshop session
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Wine Festival Fundraiser - June 1st
Save the date. We're starting to plan for our major fundraiser, the Encinitas Wine Festival. This year's event is set for June 1st, and we want to make it the best ever. The funds raised will be a big boost for our MfM programs, so please consider helping out in any way that you can.
Do you have access to some significant silent auction items that you could pass our way? Trips, airline tickets, hotel stays or time-share weeks? Give Niels a call at 760-436-3729 if you have connections to such items.
Also, there are lots of smaller ways to make a difference - restaurant meals and retail store merchandise gift certificates. Please do consider acquiring a few of these simple items for the event.
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MfM Theatre Night
We're planning a special night at the theatre on June 13 for friends of MfM. The play, Extraordinary Chambers, by David Wiener, has a Cambodia theme and is produced by the Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company. It will take place at the 10th Street Theatre in down town San Diego. The company has set aside one evening especially for MfM so please check your calendars and save the date: Thursday, June 13 (8 pm). We're planning an inspiring evening for our supporters. With tickets at only $30 we should have a very good response.
  EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERS is a contemporary story about an American couple who travel to Cambodia for an innocent business trip. While there, though, their Cambodian facilitator is indicted on war crimes and called to appear before the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia. The Americans soon realize they've become personally entangled with Khmer Rouge victims and survivors and how little they know or understand. To complicate things further, the wife of the American couple wants to adopt a boy from Cambodia. The genocide, complicity, what we do to survive and what we do for love are all explored in this complex play.
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Hi Everybody!
Our programs continue to progress and give life- changing advantage to our clients, both in Cambodia and here at home in San Diego County. As I mentioned last month, the reports I receive from Cambodia are always a real pleasure for me to see. One thing I didn't make available to our readers last month is full access to a complete report, so I'm doing it in this letter. We have three main areas where we work in Cambodia, all rural and very poor. They are both South of the capital city, Phnom Penh. One is in the village area of Kos Khel in Kandal province, and the other two are in the village areas of Tralach and Prey Sloak, in Takeo province. We manage the programs through two non-profit organizations. One is called "Pathways to Development", the other, "Solidarity Fund for Rural Development". Each has an MfM Director that is my contact to our programs. Also, we have three managers that conduct the meetings and collect the loan installments from our clients. To the left your see that I've first given some excerpts from the "Pathways" report, and then links from where you can access the full report. Our director at "Pathways" is Mr. Born Thok, and he does and excellent job for us. In the second section I've focused on some of the comments we receive in the report from the "Solidarity" non-profit. Our director there is Mr. Soy Leang, and he too does great work for us. I'm lucky to have found two such hard working trustworthy and dependable directors. Once you read through some of the material you may be inspired to help the process with a small donation. If so, it's very easy to do. Remember, any amount will be very much appreciated. Please donate here. ----------- Our local Vista program is moving along very nicely, as well. One of my good fortunes there is having found some excellent help from key individuals like Allen McKay, Joel Sierra and Griselda Johnson. They have been of immeasurable assistance as we move that program forward. We've received funding from the Encinitas Rotary Club and the larger Rotary District here in our area to help expand the local program. We're looking at possibilities in Escondido where a new group could be forming very soon. ------------- And how time passes. Yes, it's now February. Valentine's Day is this week, and our sites are set on plans for the coming Spring. For MfM it's the time to announce our major fundraiser that will be coming in June. For the past many years we have participated in the Encinitas Wine Festival as a beneficiary. And this year is no different. We're planning now for this popular garden party that does so well for our bottom line. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, June 1st. More detail will be coming in next month's news. Hope to see you there. In the section to the left you can view the promotion video from last year. Remember, the video is from last year. This year's event is June 1st. ----------------- And, here's another exciting event that we are in the process of planning. It's the first time we're trying it, and I'm sure that many of our supporters will want to participate. We're putting together a "theatre night" for Thursday, June 13. The play is a special production by the Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company that deals with the serious theme of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge period. As we know, Cambodia is a poor country still in recovery from that trying period in its history - one of the reasons MfM is there doing what we can to help the people. The Mo'olelo Company has seen our connection to Cambodia and has offered one of its evening performances as a special production for our MfM organization. Take a look at the detail of the production to the left in this newsletter, and I'm sure many will be inspired to join us. We want to make the evening as comfortable as possible for everyone, so we are hoping to offer group transportation by van or bus. You'll here more about this detail next month. For now, please save the date: Thursday, June 13 (8 pm). -------------------- So, we move on to plans for Spring. I look forward to working with my fabulous team both here and in Cambodia. Would anyone like to join us. There's a lot to be done, so if you become inspired to help, just give me a call.
Take care for now. Niels Niels Lund Executive Director Microloans For Mothers |
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