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Each month about 60 households graduate out of
poverty through the program.
Thi has multiplied his capital and shares
his experience.
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Our program to help the extremely poor is a
priority and a tremendous success at the same time. This is
good example. Two years ago his family budget was only of 30
€/month. -which in Europe would be equivalent to 300 €, after
taking into account the cost of living. He was amongst the 10%
poorest villagers, in a region where average incomes are
already about half the national average.
In 2 years Thi has doubled his income. Advise from our
technicians, regular follow-up, microcredit... One of the 4904
families assisted by the program. Every month on the average
60 households get out of deep poverty, each after 3-4 years of
hard work. Mekong Plus then takes up 60 new ones, or more,
depending on the funds available (it costs about 120
€/household over a full 3-4 year period). Usually the family
incomes increase by 25% every year. Thi has done a lot
better. He started with only 30 baby snakes bought from a
neighbor thanks to a microcredit of 25 €. After one year the
number of snakes had doubled and they had gained weight. An
adult snake sells for 12 €/kilo! It is a fine dish. The snakes
are really wonderful in that they swallow almost anything.
True recycling!
Whatever the success of a particular investment, Mekong
Plus always insists the farmers diversify their activities for
the next microcredit. With such a yield from his snakes Thi
was really tempted not to put more time and money in his paddy
fields. But who knows what could happen. Market prices could
fall. An epidemic could kill them all. Thi would then be back
to square one, discouraged. So Mekong Plus also helps him for
his crops.
This has succeeded but he does not forget to help his
neighbors. He has many visitors, it takes much of his time but
he shares it willingly. Farmers like Thi are in fact our best
trainers. They use the same words as the poor, and all know
how poor Thi was before. Sharing and solidarity are key
factors for sustainability.
Bernard Kervyn with To Trinh à Long My.
16/09/2009 |
