Need 3

Supplemental income for a large number of families is usually in the form of some type of buying and selling of fruits, vegetables etc. Before a family can start such a business in their home, it is essential that they have a weigh scales. If they cannot weight their produce, no-one will buy from them. Although farming provides the main source of income, for a family to work its way out of poverty, it is necessary to have a supplemental income. Tabitha families use the Savings Program to save to start up their own business or enlarge on existing business. Most economic activity occurs on market days, which are held three days a week. Without a stall, a vendor just sets up shop on the ground, but this is not as successful as having a stall. With a stall, a vendor is not subject to paying excessive bribes, nor can the local authorities expel them. The annul cost of a stall must be paid in advance. In most families the older girls have little opportunity to get a job other the on the farm. The purchase of a sewing machine allows these girls an independent income, which allows them the option of working in the garment industry in an urban centre or tailoring in their own neighborhood. The head weaver in a village buys all the raw silk and distributes it to the weavers at a charge of 10 percent per month, over and above the full premium, which has to repaid in one amount. The head weaver determines the selling price of the end product and the weavers are then repaid in more raw silk and perhaps a sack of rice. The silk is placed on consignment at local markets and takes an average of three months to sell.
Saving with Tabitha allows a weaver to pay off their debt to the lead head weaver and buy their own raw silk. Their finished product is primarily sold to Tabitha Cottage Industry. The original silk weavers, who graduated from the Tabitha program, are now considered middle class.
Due to the severe flooding that occurs in a number of Tabitha project areas, small boats are essential to move household goods to higher ground, as a means of transportation ( especially when someone is ill) and a source of getting food, other then fish. Cambodia is surrounded by water-e.g. Tonle Sap, Mekong-as well as irrigation ditches and ponds. During the six months of floods, fishing is the sole source of income for many families, so s fishing net is essential, especially in Prey Vang, Siem Reap, Kandal and the port families in Kompong Som. Many families living on the coast fish for crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans. This provides work for hundreds of Tabitha families, who live in or around fishing villages. These families buy the product from the fishermen, clean and shell them and then resell them to the canning factory fro a small profit.

Weddings - The institution of marriage is considered by Cambodians as a lifelong commitment. If women live with a man outside of matrimony, they are considered prostitutes and are banished from their immediate family and village. Most marriages are arranged, with couples often not meeting until the day of the marriage. Children are taught to expect and respect that tradition.
A traditional Khmer wedding requires four days and nights, during which everyone must be fed and monks perform blessings every four hours and music must be provided. In a true Buddhist ceremony, the bride must have 14 sets of clothes (which can be rented) and she must change into each one, as required, for each section of the ceremony.
Such a luxury is out of the question for the very poorest. A smaller, more modest, 24 hour service with all the attendant clothing rituals is aimed for, but even that will drain the funds of, not only the immediate family, but also the extended family.
Cambodia’s rural population is expanding at a rapid rate and so the land owned by each family is insufficient to divide amongst the children. Therefore, the debt of the wedding is often incurred by the young couple, with or without their consent. Someone who knows that they will be married in the coming year, without knowing whom, will start to save for the wedding so that they can embark on married life without being in debt. If this is not achieved, a young couple can find themselves in considerable debt and will have to spend their first years desperately trying to repay that debt.

National Holidays - all of us take time out of our lives to try and gather together with our extended family to celebrate life. All of us need to have days off work just to enjoy life and regenerate. Cambodians are no different. For Tabitha families, life is extremely difficult and they are unable to celebrate holidays. As a result many suffer emotional tiredness and enjoy no relief from the daily struggle to put food on the table. Tabitha’s believes that development without taking care of a person’s social needs is not development at all. Therefore, Tabitha encourages all its families to try and save for major holidays such as Khmer New Year, For many families savings has allowed them to see extended family who they may not have seen in years and to have several days a year when the house is full of food rather then children going to bed hungry. Savings allows them to buy “new” second hand clothes for all members of the family.

It is a rare opportunity to celebrate life together, to build good memories and to enjoy life rather then just exit.
Cost of enjoyment of life PRICELESS.