This article was written in 2011 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Savings Group Leader
Dreams to Build a Small Bank for the Poor
“I am married with four children. My
family was very poor and my dream is for all of my children is to get higher
education,” shares Sokha Horm, 42, a leader of a self-help saving group.
The group is called “Farmer’s Buried Treasure” with more than ten members. Sokha has also worked as a volunteer for World Vision’s Sponsorship Program for years. Sokha does not know how to manage her income before, and can hardly read and write.
Her life is preoccupied with both motherhood and working with the community for World Vision. An unpaid volunteer, she finds fulfillment with what she does, working with children. Her life is daily struggle
Sokha is friendly and energetic keen to study and learn new things, she is optimistic that life will improve in due time.
Sokha says, “Before joining the saving group, I always depended from my parents. It was really hard. I am ashamed because I already have a family and I realized I should try to stand on my own and never to depend on my parents anymore.”
In 2002, the villagers were advised and encouraged by World Vision staff members to create Farmer’s Buried Treasure Saving Group. Sokha was one of its most active members and advocate. Her encouragement to other villagers to form the group succeeded, starting with only 2000 riels (0.50 USD) of savings from each member.
Honest and helpful, Sokha has good relationship with neighbors. When she was selected to lead the savings group, she rejected at first because she felt she has no idea on how to manage. She eventually agreed with a commitment to keep learning. Sokha has become a good leader, her passion on savings inspiring many women in the community.
“I am so proud to help others in my village because I know how it is to be poor. We are not rich but my family’s living condition is much better than many,” Sokha says, adding that, “Our savings group now has more than ten members and our money has grown to 7, 942, 600 riels (1986 USD. Our dream is for Farmer’s Buried Treasure Saving group to establish a small bank someday with lower interest, to help the poor”.
Aunty Sokha has also learned a lot from the group members as she listens to all of them. She always updates the group regularly about their group account and the savings transactions for transparency. They all share the dream to build a small bank someday.
“We meet in a group if someone in group wants to borrow money to pay for medicine or buy farming materials and fertilizers. I am happy that the members are willing to help a fellow member when needed. Saving money is important, and for us, also helped forge a good relationship. Now, we get along well with each other,” says Sokha.
Sokha’s husband, Sros Thoung, 46, a member of commune council of Sanlong commune, admires his wife very much. He smiles as he says “Before, I did not appreciate my wife’s goal to always improve herself and to get involved on the savings group. She even advocates to our children and me about the value of savings. Now, I am also a member of the saving group. She takes time to advise children to save and study hard to have a bright future. I love her and I have learned a lot from her.”
“She is helpful and always shares about the importance of saving money. I trust her and I hope our dream to build a small bank to help poor in the village will come true,” says Sokly, 48, a member of Farmer’s Buried Treasure group.
The group is called “Farmer’s Buried Treasure” with more than ten members. Sokha has also worked as a volunteer for World Vision’s Sponsorship Program for years. Sokha does not know how to manage her income before, and can hardly read and write.
Her life is preoccupied with both motherhood and working with the community for World Vision. An unpaid volunteer, she finds fulfillment with what she does, working with children. Her life is daily struggle
Sokha is friendly and energetic keen to study and learn new things, she is optimistic that life will improve in due time.
Sokha says, “Before joining the saving group, I always depended from my parents. It was really hard. I am ashamed because I already have a family and I realized I should try to stand on my own and never to depend on my parents anymore.”
In 2002, the villagers were advised and encouraged by World Vision staff members to create Farmer’s Buried Treasure Saving Group. Sokha was one of its most active members and advocate. Her encouragement to other villagers to form the group succeeded, starting with only 2000 riels (0.50 USD) of savings from each member.
Honest and helpful, Sokha has good relationship with neighbors. When she was selected to lead the savings group, she rejected at first because she felt she has no idea on how to manage. She eventually agreed with a commitment to keep learning. Sokha has become a good leader, her passion on savings inspiring many women in the community.
“I am so proud to help others in my village because I know how it is to be poor. We are not rich but my family’s living condition is much better than many,” Sokha says, adding that, “Our savings group now has more than ten members and our money has grown to 7, 942, 600 riels (1986 USD. Our dream is for Farmer’s Buried Treasure Saving group to establish a small bank someday with lower interest, to help the poor”.
Aunty Sokha has also learned a lot from the group members as she listens to all of them. She always updates the group regularly about their group account and the savings transactions for transparency. They all share the dream to build a small bank someday.
“We meet in a group if someone in group wants to borrow money to pay for medicine or buy farming materials and fertilizers. I am happy that the members are willing to help a fellow member when needed. Saving money is important, and for us, also helped forge a good relationship. Now, we get along well with each other,” says Sokha.
Sokha’s husband, Sros Thoung, 46, a member of commune council of Sanlong commune, admires his wife very much. He smiles as he says “Before, I did not appreciate my wife’s goal to always improve herself and to get involved on the savings group. She even advocates to our children and me about the value of savings. Now, I am also a member of the saving group. She takes time to advise children to save and study hard to have a bright future. I love her and I have learned a lot from her.”
“She is helpful and always shares about the importance of saving money. I trust her and I hope our dream to build a small bank to help poor in the village will come true,” says Sokly, 48, a member of Farmer’s Buried Treasure group.
-Ends-
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