Phos, age 39, welcomed us into her home the other day. We sat in the open living/ work space on the ground floor, underneath the raised wooden home above. Phos and her younger sister both weave at home, like many of the women in their commune on an island in the Mekong outside of Phnom Penh. They learned around 10 years ago from a neighbor as their mother died many years ago during the Khmer Rouge regime. Their father also passed away in '99 leaving the family of women and two brothers to take care of one another.
Phos loan of $500 is being repaid on schedule as of November. This is the second time she has taken out a loan through Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd. here in Cambodia. Previously, she had been borrowing money from a local bank but switched because it was time-consuming to go to Phnom Penh to make payments. She is very happy now borrowing through Maxima as they make house call's to collect the monthly payments. This has been helpful for her as she now doesn't have to lose a days work. This new loan, funded through Kiva, has enabled Phos to purchase more raw silk and a second loom.
Weaving is painstaking work. Phos says that she and her sister are each able to produce one piece of weaving every seven days. They sell their goods to the local buyer for around $35 USD each. This earns each of them around $2 USD per day. Both brothers are also employed. One is a farmer and raises cows in the village. The other is a construction worker who is currently working with her uncle in Phnom Penh. It is her hope that in the future she will be able to support her brother to learn carpentry, a higher paying trade, for the betterment of the family. (Photo: Sister weaving)
MAXIMA Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd.
Posted by Tami Rowan from Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia
Nov 12, 2007
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