Self-Help Groups mean independence in Cambodia

Koeun Leang, 28, lives in Sen Rung Roeung village in northern Cambodia with her husband, Chhin Tab, 29. Tab is a farmer who also works as a wage laborer. The couple has three children between four and nine, and the two older ones attend the village school.

Leang is a Village Health Volunteer, and she has been involved in CWS-supported activities since 2011. As a Volunteer, Leang has learned about maternal child health care – including antenatal and postnatal care – and chicken raising and vegetable and mushroom growing, especially to strengthen family diets.

Leang has also learned the benefit of having Self-Help Groups, and she was especially interested in helping form one. She believed that having a SHG would help promoted solidarity among the residents of her village. In her words, “We can save and help each other with low interest micro loans, and we are happy to use our mutual trust as collateral.” Before, families in need of money had to borrow from moneylenders or larger micro-finance institutions. Repaying these individuals or organizations was a challenge because of the high interest rates that they charge.

Leang worked with CWS staff and her village leader to form an SHG in 2013. That group now has 18 women and two men as members and a capital of $1,095! This sum has made it possible for members to borrow readily, and recently Leang said, “Even without CWS presence since June 2016, my group still functions well – all members understand and comply with group norms to save and also to repay loans. We meet regularly to update on account balances and loans – and to share ideas and information about our businesses and farming, plus social issues.”

This SHG has succeeded in all its aims. It has reduced dependency on moneylenders. It has enabled members to access loans readily – especially for health and medical situations. Leang is very proud that she has been part of this group since its beginning.