01-đông Sơn Group

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to 01-Đông Sơn Group, consisting of Khuyên Hoàng Thị, Thanh Nguyễn Thị, Toan Vũ Thị, Hằng Nguyễn Thị, Hoe Nguyễn Thị, Minh Nguyễn Thị by Fund for Thanh Hoa Poor Women (TCVM), a partner of Save the Children in Viet Nam. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the 11 months of this loan, Fund for Thanh Hoa Poor Women (TCVM), a partner of Save the Children will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Dear Lender,

Thank you for supporting the Fund for Thanh Hoa Poor Women!

The Fund for Thanh Hoa Poor Women (FPW) is a relatively new partner to the Kiva platform, having posted its first loan in November 2008. Since then, FPW staff have worked diligently to integrate Kiva into their operations and we are happy to announce that FPW has recently been approved for active field partner status on Kiva! Expect to see an increase in FPW activity on Kiva.org over the next few months.

Since February 2009, I have been serving in Thanh Hoa as a Kiva Fellow, assisting FPW through this process. Now that I’m at the end of my fellowship, I would like to share a simple revelation. What I have discovered through meeting and speaking with the borrowers here is that although the current financial crisis may suggest otherwise, finance, and in this case microfinance, in Thanh Hoa, is not always that dramatic. I am not leaving here as expected, with hallmark stories of adversities conquered, but I have met real women and seen how these simple, elegant loans return to them a small but significant power.

The need and impact of micro loans is known to differ from borrower to borrower. FPW’s clients represent women with differing circumstances and vary in the degree to which their loans have impacted their life. This microfinance mosaic of users, uses and value is well represented by the women from Group 41 Quang Hung, one of the first groups that I visited in Thanh Hoa.

Ms. Vũ Thị Kim Chung is the leader of Group 41 Quang Hung Commune and represents one end of the spectrum. Ms. Chung, like most Vietnamese women, engages in multiple income producing activities. She is primarily a worker in Le Mon Industrial Zone, working 18-20 days a month, transporting fertilizer on and off train cars and earning a relatively high income of ~1.800.000 VND ($103 USD) per month. The work is hard and she sounds like someone who understands the weight of world finances when she states plainly that “it’s a job” and she’s grateful for it. Although her family could survive without any additional income, Ms. Chung still chose to take out a loan and increase her workload voluntarily to, on a good day, earn an additional ~60.000 VND ($3.50 USD) by selling fruit and raising animals.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have Ms. Hương Nguyễn Thị. Ms. Hương lives in the same commune as Ms. Chung but her economic position is quite different. Ordinarily, she works in her family’s woodworking shop and raises animals for resale. Together, the family is able to generate sufficient income. This past year, however, her family has faced extraordinary circumstances, with her eldest son (aged 4) falling ill with an ocular condition in April 2008. The family traveled to Hanoi for treatment, only to find that their son was too young to have the surgery. Although her son’s base medical expenses were covered by the government, the costs of transportation, accommodation and food were left to the family. Her previous loans from FPW and this most recent loan from Kiva have helped her and her family manage these sudden expenses.

Reflecting on the two loans above, Ms. Hương’s story is more akin to those you read in Muhammad Yunus’s books, but Ms. Chung’s story is the norm here at FPW. The loan has not saved her from starvation, homelessness or illness, but has simply given her the option to earn a little more. Though a seemingly small return on her investment, it represents her hard work and most importantly, access to the resources and right to earn it.

Thank you again for providing the capital to lend to women in Thanh Hoa! Please consider lending to one of the currently fundraising loans from FPW.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.

I recently had the chance to visit members of 1-Dong Son Group and would like to share an update with you. As we approached the market where members of 1-Don Son Group live, the strong smell of fish sauce (nuoc mam) infused the air.

Several members in 1-Dong Son Group sell fish sauce (nuoc mam) and shrimp sauce (mam tom), including Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh. At the meeting, I learned that Ms. Thanh had passed away several months ago. After the meeting ended, Ms. Ha (the FPW credit officer) and I went to Ms. Thanh’s fish sauce stand and met her daughter, Ms. Huong. She was kind enough to talk to me about the business. Ms. Huong is now managing her mother’s fish sauce stand and will be responsible for paying back the loan from FPW. She told me that one liter of nuoc mam can be sold for a profit of 5,000 VND ($0.30 USD). She has a son who is 6 years old and a daughter who is 21 years old and attending university. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her family has encountered much hardship since the passing of her mother. It has been difficult to pay for the children’s school fee with only one salary.

Ms. Hoang Thi Khuyen is the leader of this group. She sells vegetables and fruits at the Dong Son market and in front of her house. She says her profit of 1,500,000 VND ($87) is just enough to cover living costs and pay interest on the loan from FPW. Ms. Khuyen has an adorable four-year-old son who was running around as we talked. She also takes care of her elderly mother. Ms. Khuyen’s husband owns a car that he uses to drive customers around.

Ms. Vu Thi Toan also sells fish sauce, a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. She was at home during our visit to the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh was busy at her vermicelli shop. She used her money to purchase raw materials.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was not at the market, but I was told that she travels to different areas in the countryside to purchase products for resale in the city.

Our last stop was to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoe’s motorbike and bicycle repair shop, in front of her home near the market. Her son, who is currently studying to become a mechanic, was out front helping a customer as we approached the house. Her two older daughters both have families of their own. Ms. Hoe tells me that her dream is to grow her business and for her son to have a steady job. She has used the loan money to purchase motorbike parts. Each month, the repair shop brings in a profit of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD). This income is supplemented by the retirement income that her husband receives of 1,000,000 VND ($58 USD).

It was a pleasure to visit this group of ladies and learn about their businesses. Thank you for lending to entrepreneurs from the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women!

---

I will be serving as a Kiva fellow from June through August at the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women. Lack of capital is the most common challenge for the poor households in this area of Vietnam. FPW provides client-oriented financial services to a large number of poor women who have ability to work but lack loan capital and women who cannot access any formal finance services.

Please consider joining our new lending team, Fans of the Thanh Hoa Fund for Poor Women, to support more entrepreneurs in Thanh Hoa! To view a list of the currently fundraising loans from FPW, click here

Read more about the Kiva Fellows’ experiences across the world on the Kiva Fellows Blog.