Vision Fund

The innovative microfinance approach, the first of itskind in Cambodia, continues and even expands furtherwith WVC until today. We’ve currently served 191 HIV/AIDS affected and OVC households (US$34,685 loanportfolio) in all the provinces/ cities we operate. Withmicrofinance, the typically marginalized groups canincrease their income, better adhere to antiretroviraltherapy, experience less stigma and discrimination andregain optimism for their lives.LOAN TO PROMOTE CHILDREN’SRIGHTSVisionFund Cambodia collaborates with the nationaloffices of the International Labor Organization (ILO)and Plan International Cambodia to provide loans tofamilies in impoverished households with the aim togenerate income and with an emphasis on protectingthe rights of children.The partnerships are intended to enable vulnerablechildren to enjoy better opportunities including accessto education instead of needing to work to supporttheir families. An estimated 12,190 children werecurrently impacted by the loans of US$199,050 givento the families of the targeted groups in Phnom Penh,its outskirts and Kampong Cham and Siem Reap.CHILD SCHOLARSHIP/ BEST CLIENTPROGRAMTo help instil hope and aspiration for Cambodia’snext generation, VisionFund Cambodia has offeredscholarship to children of clients since 2007. To date,46 children of our clients have received annual cashscholarship worth US$100 to go toward schoolmaterials while the remaining funds are kept as child’ssavings till the completion of their high school.The scholarship inspires clients, especially ruralvillagers, to place greater value and importance on theirchild’s education, which often is given lower priority inrural areas. It is one of the benefits given to our bestclients selected annually based on a number of criteriaincluding their success in using the loan in generatingfar-reaching impact for their own households. Anoutstanding client who uses our financial serviceseffectively serves as a role model to inspire success inothers by using financial services effectively. Over thepast four years, 56 of our best performing clients havebeen selected to represent the majority of VisionFundCambodia’s clients who have enjoyed better livingstandards thanks to our loans.FINANCIAL EDUCATION ANDDEVELOPMENT MESSAGESAs part of improving loan quality with a strong socialfocus, VisionFund Cambodia has on top of its financialservice delivery provided financial education anddevelopment messages to create financial strength,one client at a time. Clients receive consultations onbusinesses and cash management including tips forcost minimization and profit maximization. VisionFundCambodia staff also actively promote social messageseducating clients about domestic violence, HIV & AIDSVISIONFUND CAMBODIA ANNUAL REPORT 2012 37