Journeys Within Our Community
End of Year Update 2013

Dear Friends of JWOC,

It's that time of year again, when we look back and reflect on the last twelve months. At JWOC it has been as eventful as ever! From sharing the JWOC story on a tour to the U.S, to responding to disastrous flooding, increasing nutritional intake in remote areas and offering training opportunities in Road Safey and Hospitality - 2013 has been a productive year! We have put great focus on deepening our relationships with local communities and building partnerships as well as strengthening our current initiatives by reviewing and refining existing training and monitoring methods. We welcomed a great new group of scholarship students who are settling into their teams well. With your continued support, we are excited to start another year together, moving forward with sustainable work within local communities.

I would like to extend a huge thanks on behalf of us all at JWOC. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season, and all the best for the New Year.

Kind Regards,

Alexandra Plummer

Managing Director JWOC.

Pig Skin  

A Small Idea +

A Small Loan =

A Big Impact 

By: Sovann, Microfinance Project Manager

With microloans as small as $50 our borrowers are able to reshape their futures for themselves and their families. Beyond this our borrowers inspire others to do the same; being key agents of change in their communities.

  Meet Sarorn Yem, a 52 years old widow living with 5 children. Her two daughters are married and she continues to support her three sons. Her business is making and selling crispy pork. She said that she got the idea of starting this business from discussing opportunities with friends. She started out with 5kg of pig skin. Although she found it hard to start because it was her first time. Once she got a loan from JWOC she was able to continue; it is now her fourth time receiving a loan from JWOC.  Her business is unique, in her village she is the only one doing this so she has many clients who order her products. She is very happy that she can run her business and JWOC is happy to support such an individual and thriving project

In 2013 our Microfinance program supported over 214 individuals with jump starting their own businesses, from this 206 are women.  We currently have 119 active borrowers, of which 113 are women.

As Sarorn Yem's story presents,   microloan initiatives like JWOC's provide enough capital for individuals to purchase the  materials, opportunity for expansion and is a beneficial tool to end the cycle of poverty.

Thank you for our exciting training opportunities...

This month we had a great opportunity to join with two other NGOs working in Siem Reap to join on a First Aid training offered by Angkor Hospital for Children. A big thank you to all our donors - your support enables us to utilize chances like this to continue growing our staff's capacity.


This rainy season we were hit with some severe flooding in Siem Reap. Thanks to your support we were able to respond to the flooding quickly and efficiently and provide hygiene packs for disease prevention to the communities we work in.Despite the severity of the situation all villagers remained positive; the sense of community excelled with glowing gratitude. A huge thank you is also extended to our JWOC program scholarship student teams who worked extremely hard, wading through deep and dirty water to provide assistance.  

 

 

 

Our Fondest Memories of 2013...

"While I was in a village I met a   grandmother who joined JWOC's  Home Garden Project. I saw how she worked very hard. She also told me about her grandson who was studying at university and finding money to support himself through working as a construction worker in Siem Reap. I registered his name in the Liaison beneficiary list and informed him to come and get a scholarship application form from JWOC He came right away.  He got a scholarship from JWOC and it made his mom and grandma cry with happiness! This was my fondest JWOC moment this year!" Konthea , Community, Liaison and Assistance

"I think my favorite JWOC memory this year is working in the village of Kork Thmey. Even though it was flooded in the village my team worked so hard and happily in the village.   Clean Water program can implement activities well because of  the team's  hard work."
Seng, Clean Water Program Manager.  



"Here is one of the things I remember. When one of my English classes finished their starter textbook. I am very proud of their progress. They started this textbook with very beginning level, but after about 7 months joining only an hour class a day, they have gained a lot of skills, and they even passed the final tests containing writing, reading, vocabulary, listening, and speaking tests. We also had a great time together while doing the course book. That are why I cannot forget them.
Somit, Free Classes Program Officer.



Vocational courses for income generation.  

  

Over the last few months our Free Classes Program has been as busy as ever. JWOC was very proud to celebrate the Sewing for Livelihoods Graduation recently. Thirteen students from impoverished backgrounds completed a 16 week course in advanced sewing skills. These students had previously completed JWOC's 16 week Basic Sewing Course. On this next level course students learnt how to create patterns and further technical skills required to make quality purses, bags, shirts, trousers, skirts and dresses.

Sewing student Phas spoke at the Graduation:
'I would like to thank both the teachers and JWOC for giving me this chance to improve my sewing skills and help me to earn money.'

Graduate Leankana explains the impact of the course on her:

'It means a lot to me. I have been changed by joining this course. I can make quality clothing improving my skills from the Basic course and I got ideas for designing clothing.'

 

So what's next? JWOC's sewing for livelihoods course aims for all of its students to earn an income within two months of graduating from the course. We work together with the students during the course and after to ensure that this can happen by building partners locally, creating alumni of students who can keep in touch and share opportunities and keeping up-to-date with the local job market.

 

What else? Graduate sewing students are able to take a 0% interest loan from JWOC's Microfinance Program to purchase a sewing machine to generate an income for themselves and their families with their newly perfected skills. Mao Channa shares her future aspirations

I will use my skills for running a small business at home, and I will design clothing. I will create new things based on the ideas I have gained from this course.'

A sneak Preview of 2014...

 

 

In 2014 we will be strengthening our Livelihoods course even further. Keep posted to see the emergence of small business start up loans for graduates, further collaboration making school uniforms for schools, and some more great graduate success stories!

 

 

Join Our Mailing List
Journeys Within Our Community

 Tel:  +855636784000
Stay In Touch

Facebook    Twitter    LinkedIn    Pinterest