Income Generation
We are able to help many released prisoners set up a small business through our income generation plan. It has proven to be quite successful, even though our clientele can offer more risk to this sort of service. Our loan sizes tend to be small, but we work with our clients to create well thought out plans and the results have been well worth any associated risk. Here are two of our recent successful clients.
We give tools to make a living. This client was released from prison last year from CC3 prison where he had become good at wood work. At his release he accessed the reintegration services of the PFC overnight-stay house near CC3 and then he came to Phnom Penh to stay a few days at Blue Gate House. At BGH he took time to discuss his plan with social worker, receive a medical check and a take home basic aids pack. Then a month later, Samol, his case manager went to visit him to follow up. Client needed tools to make a living using his wood-working skills and so we decide to provide him with carpentry tools for income generation. When Samol and the social worker manager went to visit the client they saw him working with his tools and he is making 5 dollars per day for income.
One man was able to support his family by raising chickens. The neighbours gave him some more chickens and later on he was able to buy a piglet to raise to increase his earning ability.
Other cases include:
A $25 loan for a bicycle to collect more recyclable materials - earning capacity was doubled from $40 to $80 the first month, the client requested to pay back the loan at twice the agreed rate in order to qualify for a new loan for a new business that would free their daughter up to go to school.
A man working as a labourer for minimal wages and unable to feed his family was given a $25 loan to purchase tile laying equipment - he paid back his loan in 5 months and now has consistent work and can support his family fully.
Two mechanics course graduates and subsequent apprentices were given a loan of $160 to set up a motorbike repair business together. It has been slow work getting a good client base, however they are paying back their loan consistently.