Ya, age 55, and her husband, 59, smiled shyly as they welcomed us into their home. We sat in the open living/ work space on the ground floor, underneath the raised wooden home above. They have five children (not 4 as previously reported), three of whom are still living at home. Two daughters are grown and working in Phnom Penh. One daughter, 17, is attending the local secondary school. Another daughter and their only son are both weavers. Ya's husband is a farmer and fisherman.
Ya's loan of $150 is being repaid on schedule as of November. This is the third time she has taken out a loan through Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd. here in Cambodia. This new loan, funded through Kiva, has enabled Ya to get a better price for raw silk as it is now more cost effective to travel to Phnom Penh and buy in bulk. Cambodia woven goods are in increasing demand, both from locals and tourists. However, the costs of silk materials are on the rise and the prices the buyers pay for completed products have not compensated the weavers for this increase. Most weavers we met, like Ya, complained that they require the loans just to get by as any profits they make must go back in to purchasing new materials or providing for their family's basic needs.
A portion of the loan was also used to purchase a new loom, for a total of three (previous loans were also used for the same purpose), so that they are now all able to weave full-time and increase their profits. Ya and her children weave a type of color-shifting silk that they are able to sell to the local buyer. This earns them around $2 profit per person, per day.
In the future, if Ya's business continues to grow, she hopes to save enough money to be able to support her youngest daughter to attend university, so that she has the opportunity to be whatever she wants. (Photo: Son weaving)
MAXIMA Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd.
Posted by Tami Rowan from Khsach Kandal district, Cambodia
Nov 12, 2007
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