About Tabitha

Tabitha-Cambodia was founded my Janne, a Canadian with history in non profits over her career. The reach of Tabitha with in Cambodia is wide. Tabitha is known all over the country for the help they provide. Help is through savings programs each family starts and learn to save for the things they need. In 5-7 years the families are self sufficient. They have a system in place for building new wells, building new houses, creating a source of income for individual families, in the poorest villages in the country. They utilize native Cambodians to work in with the villages, builders and well drillers to get the trust, best price for goods as possible. Meanwhile employing more Cambodians at Cambodian wages to further the economic impact. Over 100 workers work with finding needy villages to set up the program. They speak with the elders of the village as to what the saving program can offer. Then they speak with the village as a whole. They goal is to work with the poorest families first, as the money will allow. The staff work with each family discussing their needs and wants, their dreams. Some is for new household items, the children to go to school, nets for fishing, a boat, a house.
They are taught about how interest works. The major funding for Tabitha goes to the interest paid every 6 weeks at 10 percent. INTEREST may be the first word they learn of English.
A big hurdle for the staff is overcoming the emotion impact they recent history of Cambodia. The devastation the leader Pol Pot and the Kmer Rouge inflicted on his own people resounds in the attitudes. They as a group don’t feel worthy of anything good. They are also hesitant of foreigners, The outside influence from the French to the US contribution of Pol Pot’s reign. That is way the presence of foreigners is so important in the house building projects. It may be the first time they have seen a Caucasian person. Also to show that we care and are willing to help.
Tabitha explains the problem and their answer…yes there is hope and help. In the short time I was there, I could see who so little, by our standards, can change so many peoples lives quickly and forever. We only get a glimpse of their lives from our short trips to the building village, weaving village and a village that has been through the Tabitha program successfully. It is from the notes of the savings program where we can understand the extent of their poverty. Where the most basic needs in our daily lives are still only a goal or even a dream for the Cambodians Tabitha is working with.