At 22 years old, Seng Pon never believed she would have such responsibility; she sits in a small bamboo and reed home calculating money in a well-worn ledger. It is hard to believe, because her circumstances were completely different the previous year.
Seng Pon becomes a savings group manager
Seng was offered the opportunity to take part in a special training course as part of a Farmer Field School (FFS), together with 5 063 Cambodian farmer families. It was an initiative of the Cambodian Government together with FAO.
Seng Pon becomes a savings group manager
Seng took part in forming a village saving group. Saving groups are an aspect of the SPFS that gives financial support to families so that they may apply what they have learned through Farmer Field Schools. Seng was voted the saving group’s manager by it’s members.
Seng Pon becomes a savings group manager
Seng was given training in simple book keeping. “We have 19 families in our saving group” says Seng, adding that each family was given a loan of US$20 dollars for a new income generating plan, such as buying new types of seeds, fertilizer or small animals.
Seng Pon becomes a savings group manager
Seng took out a small loan and purchased 5 chickens and the material for a chicken house. Five months later she had almost 50 chickens and had paid the loan back in full, with US$15 in savings.
Her ambition is to buy and sell chickens to save even more money so that she may become a hairdresser.
