VisionFund Cambodia Awards Best Clients and Children Scholarships

VisionFund Cambodia recently selected eight “Best Clients” for 2008 to serve as models for nearly 80,000 clients who have successfully used its financial services to improve their living standards, providing better opportunities for their children.

This year’s awards have brought the total number of VisionFund Cambodia’s best clients to 15 since the program launched in 2007. The program is designed to encourage clients to feel proud of what they have achieved through VisionFund Cambodia’s microfinance and use it more effectively and efficiently, and place importance on their children’s education.

A best client is rewarded prizes including the certificate of model client, VisionFund Cambodia merchandises, joining VisionFund Cambodia’s annual retreat and annual scholarship for one of their children. Currently, 14 children annually receive sponsorship worth US$ 100 in school materials until they graduate from high school, regardless of their grade level at the time of award.  Saving accounts are created for scholarship holders if their fees are not used up to cover the annual school expenses.

“I am very glad and pride myself of being one of the VisionFund model clients,” says Best Client Mean Vannak, who has a 4-year-old son. “Due to VisionFund loans, I have repaired the house and bought cows…. My living conditions are better; before I faced much difficulty.”

“In the future I want my son to study further; I don’t let him stop study. I think that the company [VisionFund Cambodia] is good as it helps the poor get out of poverty,” the 25-year-old woman adds.

With VisionFund scholarship, children of the best clients have been inspired to envisage future goals.  

“I want to finish my education and then find a job. I don’t want my mother to have difficulty,” insists Sreynis, who is a 12-year-old daughter of Best Client Sem Vannak and  now in grade 5.