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The August Clients in Cambodia
Last August a new group of clients was added to our roster. They have all done very well in their businesses, and they are now at the stage in the program when the last month in the 6-month loan cycle has been reached. By the end of January their $100 loans will be completely repaid, at which time they will join together for a special luncheon celebration. They will have their accrued savings returned to them, along with a special "gift match" of their savings, and they will be ready to apply for their next loan of $150. It's a real thrill for the moms in Cambodia to come together in this way, and a delight for MfM to be a part of the celebration.
 The "August mothers" at the original orientation. After orientation they signed their contracts and gathered once again to receive their first loan of $100. Below are samples of shots taken as our MfM director, Suy Leang, distributes the funds. To the right in the photo we see our manager in training, Sok Srey Leak.
 Srey Im gave her traditional Cambodia "thank you" when she received her
loan back in August. (In the next posting we see her being featured with
her home sewing business - see the first photo)
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November Report from SFRD
We coordinate our activities in Cambodia through the local NGO (Non Government Organization) called Solidarity Fund for Rural Development (SFRD). It's a partnership that is working out very well for us. Each month we receive a full progress report with detailed financials. Also photos and comments from mother clients collected by our manager during her visit at the mother's business. Here are a few sample photos and mothers' comments from the November meetings. Click here for more photos and comments 
Manager, Sarm Vy, visits mother client, Srey Im
Pun Lork Srey Im (Sewing clothes): "I am happy to receive the loan from MfM , thank you for the loan. Without the loan, I can not buy or get fabric to make clothes. Now, I can sell some clothes to my clients. Thank you to MfM."
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MfM manager (left), Sarm Vy, visits Lach Vandy
Lach Vandy (Selling, rice, soft drinking and coffee): "I am doing fine for this month, I am operating small local restaurant to sell the food and soft drink to regular customers. I am earning some money this month. I am grateful for the loan! I am looking (forward) to seeing Mr. Niels in Cambodia in January."
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 MfM Director (right), Suy Leang, visits Chan Sok
Yin Chan Sok (Making dry fishes): "This season is good for me to buy some fishes to make dry fishes so that I can sell to local customers. Thank you for the loan. I am happy to know that Mr. Niels will visit our village in January."---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 MfM manager (left), Sarm Vy, visits the Sum Thy family
Sum Thy (Raising Pigs): "Thank you visited me today! I sold my pig so can earn some money. I am glad to receiving the fund from MfM ."
(The Sum Thy family is a recipient in our Latrine Sanitation Program. See the
next posting for details.)
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Cambodia Sanitation Project
Since the start of our latrine project word has spread in the community, and more applications have come in. We've now built
eight latrines. The one shown here is for the family of Sum Thy, who is one of our successful mother clients in the lending program. From the photos we can see the construction process and the excitement generated in her family. Sanitation and decent toilet facilities are big issues in most rural areas of Cambodia, and the Kos Khel community, where most of our MfM programs operate is no exception. The local coordination of the project is done through Solidarity Fund for Rural Development (SFRD), our non-profit partner in Cambodia. |
Workmen complete foundation and main latrine pit
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Brick foundation on which ceramic toilet top is to be mounted
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The ceramic toilet top is made ready for installation
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Enclosure is completed (door still to be installed)
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The Sum Thy family thanks the donor for the gift
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There is an urgent need for more latrines in the Kos Khel region where we do most of our work. You can make a real significant difference in the lives of these families by making a donation now. You can fund one complete latrine for $200, and in return receive a letter from the specific family that is the beneficiary of your generosity. Several of our donors have participated in this way. We hope you'll consider joining them. Click here to donate
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Hi Everybody!
Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for this new and beautiful year that is starting to unfold, and hope the holidays gave you time to relax with family and friends. I'm sure that for most of us it'll be good to get back to the grind once again.
For me it's particularly exciting because the plans are now in motion to get ready for my annual trip to Cambodia to visit our staff and clients. I leave on January 24, and return three weeks later. There will be a lot to do, and I'll be very busy. I will, however, have time to do a bit of a blog. If you want to follow me on my trip, keep an eye on Facebook . I'll try and post a new photo each day I'm there. And, yes, next month's newsletter will be coming to you from Cambodia.
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You may recall that last August we added several new clients that had been waiting for more donations to come into MfM so we could have the necessary funds to provide the loan principal. You can see them to the left when they gathered for their orientation, contract signing, and loan distribution. Well, the 6-month loan cycle is finishing this month, and we're getting ready for a luncheon to celebrate their accomplishments - and I'll be there to celebrate with them. It'll be a real treat for me. They've all done very well, and I'm so proud of each and every one of them.
I can't thank Suy Leang enough for the excellent job he is doing with everything. Remember who he is? Well, in case you haven't caught the detail on this here's the info once again: Generally, we work in Cambodia through the NGO, Solidarity Fund for Rural Development (SFRD), of which our MfM director, Suy Leang, is the founder. It's a good partnership system that solidifies our non-profit status in Cambodia. We've got a bright future ahead in this partnership.
Suy Leang is also the one who prepares the monthly report for me. He does an amazing job in collecting financial detail, and the photos and comments from our clients that he receives from the manager. Check out a few of the photos and comments in the second section to the left. Also, I've given you the link there to the full "mothers' report" for the month of November. Take a little time to read what these women are saying. I know it'll be worth your time.
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Another positive note is news about the real significant success with our Cambodia Sanitation Project. As I mentioned some time ago, we had planned an MfM Theatre Night to support this project, a program that supplies latrines to many needed families in poor rural areas. The Theatre Night was a huge success, and we raised enough money to start the process by building the first five latrines. Since then I've been getting the word out, and more interest has been developing. Several donors have come forward to help out. Specifically, I have received funds to cover seven more latrines, which leaves three that I'm hoping to collect funds for before I leave. Would you like to help out? You can click here and make your donation. In the photos to the left you can see the latrine we provided for one of our mother clients, Sum Thy, and her family - funded entirely by one of our loyal donors. Good sanitation is essential for health and well being, but it's not the norm in rural Cambodia. Old habits of poor hygiene, of using open fields in elimination of body waste, are still wide spread. The result is the contamination of streams and soils, the spread of disease, high rates of infant and young child mortality, and heavy caseloads of diarrhea and other infections.
According to the World Bank's Sanitation program (2008) only about 17% of Cambodian rural poor households have access to improved sanitation facilities, and by other studies it shows that among the very poor, fewer than 5% have access to a decent toilet facility.
I'm extremely pleased that we are able to provide a small measure of assistance in this complex issue. If you would like to help with this specific program please do consider a small donation.
Please donate here.
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So, we move on with plans for a great 2014. I look forward to visiting my fabulous team in Cambodia. I know it'll be a wonderful trip. Would anyone like to join me? Actually there are three of our MfM donors that will be joining me for part of my trip. You could too. So if you are inspired, just give me a call and we'll work out the details.
Take care for now.
Niels
Niels Lund
Executive Director
Microloans For Mothers
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