Mrs.Thorn Sopheavan, Small Coffee Shop Owner
“Thanks to LOLC loan, I have enough capital to start a new business, and money for my son go to school regularly,” Thorn Sopheavan described the changes in her family’s life since accessing LOLC loan in 2016.
Sopheavan lives in Wat Kandal village, Reang Kesei commune, Sangke district, Battambang province, she was a farmer to feed her family before approaching LOLC. “In the past, I could not support my family well since I could generate only USD 200 a month from our farming,” said 37-year-old Sopheavan.
Strongly wanting to move out of difficulty, Sopheavan and her husband, Chan Vutha, decided to approach LOLC to request a group loan of USD 375 to buy coffee shop items to set up a small coffee shop. Although it was not that big, this business was the turning point for their life to be better. Then she requested for second group loan was USD 500 in 2017 and third group loan of USD 2,000 in 2022 to buy more items to support her coffee shop business and to sell more foods.
I can earn around USD 500 per month, and I am very happy and strongly believe that the loan from LOLC is really improving my family's life”.
Lay, 37 years old, and his wife, Keang Phanny, 36 years old, are agricultural fertilizer and grocery sellers, and quick money transfer agents (True Money and eMoney)
Lay, 37 years old, and his wife, Keang Phanny, 36 years old, are agricultural fertilizer and grocery sellers, and quick money transfer agents (True Money and eMoney) located in Daun Meas 3 Village, Sre Char Commune, Snoul District, Kratie Province. Lay has 3 children; the first son,11 years old, is in fourth grade, the second son, 8 years old, is in second grade and the youngest son, 4 years old, is in kindergarten.
Lay told the Financial Sales Advisor that before becoming a LOLC client, his family's livelihood was not comfortable because the income just to cover the family expenses due to his business being still limited.
Later, Lay heard about LOLC from his neighbor. After consulting with the Financial Sales Advisors, he decided to apply for his first loan of USD 15,000 to increase investment in agricultural fertilizers and build a money transfer shop in 2021. Then, he requested a second loan of USD 12,000 to expand his business in 2022.
Today Lay’s living condition is much better because his business is growing gradually. Lay described with excited expression while cleaning his groceries that before becoming a LOLC customer, his income covered for his family expense only. However, after becoming a LOLC client, he was able to expand and set up new businesses that could increase more income, which afford to send their children to school regularly and save some money to continue expanding their business.
These are Lay's personal words; "I am very grateful to the LOLC loan that has changed my living progressively."
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