Sophy, 42, smiled broadly as she welcomed us into her home, happy to answer our questions. We sat in the open living/ work space on the ground floor, underneath the raised wooden home above. Three looms sat nearby, threaded with brilliantly colored silk. Sophy has been a weaver for about 15 years. She weaves at home, like many of the women in her village on an island in the Mekong outside of Phnom Penh. She has eight children, seven of whom are still living at home. Two daughters, ages 17 and 18, weave with her. Two sons are grown and help farm. The youngest three still attend the local school. Sophy's husband is a fisherman and farmer of rice and vegetables.
Sophy's loan of $400 is being repaid on schedule as of November. This is the fifth time she has taken out a loan through Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd. here in Cambodia. This new loan, funded through Kiva, has enabled Sophy to buy silk in bulk from one of the larger district markets. This now ensures that she can keep their three looms supplied and increase both productivity and profits. Each woman is able to produce one basic piece every two days. She sells their goods to the local buyer earning them a profit of around $2.50 USD per person/per day.
In addition to her children, Sophy also supports her elderly mother (she was resting in a hammock nearby). She explained that her ability to borrow money over the years has made many changes in her life. Previously, Sophy was a farmer, but she slowly learned to weave from a woman in a neighboring village. When her skill level was sufficient, she took out a loan for a loom and materials and began working herself. Later, with subsequent loans, she added a second loom and then a third and taught her daughters to weave too. Though her oldest children were only able to have a sixth-grade education, she feels confident that she will be able to support her youngest to now stay in school and have the opportunity to be whatever they want.
MAXIMA Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd.
Posted by Tami Rowan from Muk Kampoul district, Cambodia
Nov 21, 2007
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