Oun Kheng's success story
Oun Kheng weaving her silk
VisionFund enables client to own silk shop
Oun Kheng, a 49-year-old widower in Daung commune, Bati district, Takeo province, had never been able to implement her business concept until 2002, when she first decided to receive VisionFund ’s loan service after hearing about it from World Vision staff.
Oun Kheng, a 49-year-old widower in Daung commune, Bati district, Takeo province, had never been able to implement her business concept until 2002, when she first decided to receive VisionFund ’s loan service after hearing about it from World Vision staff.
“Six years ago, I managed to put my long held idea into practice to run a weaving business when I took my first loan of KHR80,000 [US$ 20] to buy silk and some necessary weaving materials,” says Oun Kheng, who is supporting three children in Pramolsok village after her husband left her in 1999.
“Now I can earn nearly KHR20, 000 [US$ 5] a day. With such an amount of income, I can ensure my youngest child doesn’t have to quit school like his two elder siblings,” she says proudly.
One of Kheng’s three children, Chuong Ray, 23, has lived in a separate house since his marriage. The remaining two under her custody are Chuong Sarath, an 18-year-old weaver, and Chuong Pav, 13, who is now in grade 7. Chuong Pav is also under VisionFund’s Children Scholarship Program as part of one of the Client Awards, which his mother won for best performance in 2007. Chuong Pav annually receives school materials until grade 12.
When asked about her past before 2002, Kheng became extremely sad and burst into tears.
“Beside insufficient food, my house was so old. We were really afraid of the rain although we needed it badly for our rice field,” Kheng said slowly with tears dropping from her eyes. “Whenever it rained, we all got soaked. It was even worse if the rain fell at night as we all couldn’t sleep. Life was full of despair.”
Kheng had worked as a laborer for silk weaving production, earning US$ 0.25 a day. Her rice field yielded output only enough for household consumption. To make ends meet, she had resorted to borrowing US$ 2.5 from a local moneylender at the interest rate of 15 percent, a figure she knew was too high.
For the time being, Kheng has had the house repaired and can buy more food for Sarath and Pov thanks to benefits from VisionFund loans. “I’m very glad that we don’t have to worry when the rain is coming, and that my children can eat more and better.”
After the first loan from VisionFund in early 2002, Kheng took the second loan of US$ 100 late the same year to improve her weaving business. She borrowed US$ 100 in 2003 to build a well and buy a few piglets, then the same amount in 2004 to purchase more silk and a cow, and US$ 400 in 2006 to buy two looms for her business expansion.
In 2007, Kheng borrowed US$ 250 to buy two more looms for business expansion, which currently employs two neighbors.
“I’m confident to earn more income from my business because more retailers come to buy my scarves everyday to sell in the market,” she says grinningly.
“I want my son to complete higher education or at least finish high school. I wish to enable him to get education and a good job so that he won’t experience the terrible life I once did.”