Women ending poverty: WORTH notes from the field

Snapshots of three WORTH women: Cambodia

WORTH Program staff in Cambodia recently spoke with WORTH women in each of their three program areas. Here is what they had to say about their experience with WORTH Cambodia:

"Saving with WORTH has been good for me, because before I did not think it was possible. Now I see I have saved a lot of money in my group. When I save more money I earn more interest. I'm happy with my group because I have learned new skills. I really enjoyed the second book of the WORTH series, "Road to Wealth," and I will start the third book "Selling Made Simple" soon. Because of the WORTH program I am also more confident to share information with others in my community about the dangers of human trafficking and other issues critical to women in my community.

I am a silk weaver. Before I did not have my own capital; I bought silk from a middleman on credit at a high price. After I finished weaving, I had to sell my products to the same middleman at a lower price because they wanted to make a large profit on my product. If I did not follow their system, they would not allow me to get silk (raw materials) from them. The middleman profited off my powerlessness.  Now this has all changed. I borrow money from my group to buy silk at a low price for my weaving. Then I can directly sell my product to the buyer at a higher price, consistent with the market. I am making much more profit on my silk weaving than I ever was before, and I use these profits to improve the life of myself and my family."

- Ms. Mol .Sokhin, WORTH Treasurer of Strey Ekpheap group, Chheu Teal village, Thnot commune, Bati district, Takeo province.

"I'm happy to be part of my WORTH group because the other group members help each other learn literacy. We also share business knowledge and experiences with each other and through this support, we all get positive results together. I learned how to read, write, add and subtract by using the first and second books in the WORTH series. I have also learned about human trafficking and advocacy so I can protect myself, my family, and other people in my village. I took a loan from my group to expand my dessert business. Last year, my business was small. I sold only one kind of desert and made only a small profit. Now, because of the loan I got from my group, I sell many kinds of desserts and I have more customers. I have more profit, which helps me support my family."

~ Ms. Sok Eng, Rick Chamroer WORTH Group Leader, Kraleng Koet village, Lvea Leu commune, Chamkar Leu district, Kampong Cham Provice.

"Through WORTH I have learned literacy and business skills, and have a better understanding about women's issues in my local community, such as human trafficking, and domestic violence. I now know ways to prevent them peacefully.

I have not taken a loan from my group yet, but I'm proud that other women of my group have taken loans to run their small businesses and get more income to support their family.

Because of WORTH I feel that I have a strong personality and can speak well in public.  My neighbors and other villagers admire me because I'm active in supporting others in my community. I have a good reputation. Because of my experience in the WORTH women's group and my work in the community, other villagers encouraged me to run as a candidate for the Commune Council election in 2007. I had great success and was elected as a Commune Councilor for my own commune. I think that I will face many problems with my present position because I'm a member of the opposition party, but I am committed to helping my group and community have a better future."

~Ms. Pat Savy, Strey Reak Teak WORTH Group Treasurer, Roteang village, Phum Thom commune, Kien Svay district, Kandal province.

Stories collected by Sakphea Hor, WORTH Program Manager and Thavy Meas, WORTH Program Officer

 

Impact in Asia: Program successes from WORTH Cambodia

 "Close to 3,000 women are enrolled in 144 Women’s Empowerment Groups. WORTH participants have saved US$30,273 and made loans of US$24,292 to 1,415 women.

Each group has developed an action plan and rules and, with the assistance of Literacy Volunteers, has worked through the first literacy training book, “Our Group”.

Prior to starting literacy instruction, only 20% of Women’s Empowerment Group members were able to pass a literacy pre test; 75% of Women’s Empowerment Group members passed the literacy test after completing “Our Group”. “Our Group” is at grade level three. Unintended consequences of Women’s Empowerment Groups have included such indicators of empowerment as:

• WORTH members increasingly reporting attendance at local government meetings in their desire to participate in their communities.

• WORTH women running as candidates for the commune councilor election in 2007 with others elected to village chief and deputy village chief positions.

• A Women's Empowerment Group planning to contract with a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) to dig a well in their village with money for the well contributed by WORTH women, and another Women's Empowerment Group planning to contribute half the cost of rebuilding a road in their rural community with local government contributing the other half.

With these successes, more and more women and local authorities in villages nearby existing Women’s Empowerment Groups have requested that NGO partners assist them also to establish a WORTH project. The energy and strength nurtured among WORTH women has been notable during each of the 146 monthly mobile workshops.

These workshops have brought together representatives from each Woman’s Empowerment Group to share experiences and successes and to discuss important issues of importance to their groups or communities. Groups rotate responsibility for organizing the mobile workshops. More than 160 Family days have also been organized by Women’s Empowerment Groups to build support for WORTH among family members, local authorities and villagers. Family day gatherings often involve over 100 participants."

~ Keo Keang, Deputy Director WORTH Cambodia.

For more information about WORTH, please visit our website at: http://www.worthwomen.org