“My family is so poor; I cannot focus on my studies, so I had poor results. I was preferably interested in vocational training skills to run a business to support my young brothers and sister to continue and graduate their studies,” Lars said. Long Lars dropped out of school in grade 10, and he is now 20 years old. Lars lives in Siem Reap province. He has three siblings, Long Lov, a 12-year old boy; Long Loy, an 11-year old boy; and Long Sophorn, a six-year old girl.
Due to his family’s low income, they did not have enough food to eat, no proper clothes, and even could not afford the basic preventive hygiene kits during the COVID-19 pandemic in the village. Long Lars’s family was transferred to the project by the FCF | REACT’s partner, This Life Cambodia, for the Child-Sensitive Cash program, simultaneously with the cash assistance support. He also received motor repair technical training, supported by the LEAP project. USAID-CLA project, in addition, provided him with soft skill capacity building on Business Management and Financial Literacy to apply to his business transaction.
As a result, the project staff initiated to start up his motor shop near his location. In October 2021, his parents took a loan of 1,200,000 riels (USD 300) from their relative to purchase materials to build a shop under labour support from villagers, community partners, and local authorities. With the support of the USAID-CLA project, he can have motor repairing supplies to set up his shop.
(Lars with his siblings and mother at his motor repair shop)
Currently, he can generate daily incomes from the business average of 70,000 riels (USD 17.50) to 80,000 riels (USD 20) per day, contributing to daily food consumption and schooling for his siblings. He also deposits saving of around 50,000 riels (USD 12.5) for business expansion and loan repayment.
“Even though my income is not quite high yet, I am delighted as I can contribute to my family, my mother’s health care, having enough food every day and support my young brothers and sister for their studies,” said Lar.
One of his brothers, Long Loy, expresses his happiness and tells about his future dream as a teacher “I will study hard to be a teacher in the future.”
On the other hand, project community partners visit his store and family every month to provide coaching and support on business recordkeeping. “Lars has very well operated his business and paid more attention to the project’s requirements and recommendations. He is hard-working in his business,” said Mrs. Yung Khey, a community partner. Lars intends to improve his technical skills in the future so that he may fix modern technology motors to meet market demand in his area.
Finally, he and his mother are grateful to the project, which always cares for and supports their family. “I thank the organization (World Vision) and all teachers (Project Coordinator) who always support my children, especially the donor (Save the Children, FCF | REACT, EU and USAID) who provides funding for my son to have certain skills and run his business. This is vital for his future and better living for my family,” said Lar’s mother.
* Story and Photo by World Vision