Update on Soeurn Sal

Update on Soeurn Sal
Entrepreneur: Soeurn Sal
Location: Ta Khmao district, Cambodia
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14011

This entrepreneur is funded by a Kiva loan administered by Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd. here in Cambodia. Soeurn lives in a fertile farming area surrounding National Road 2 several kilometers south of Phnom Penh. This is the fourth loan he has taken out with Maxima. His loan is being paid off on schedule.

Though, Soeurn and his family derive their primary income from his motorbike repair business, they used just over half of the funds from this loan to buy two cows. He spent the balance on spare parts and equipment for moto repair. Soeurn and his wife have six children, of whom three study in the village school.

We stopped by Soeurn’s house first to visit his wife, who takes care of the house, the children, grows some vegetables and tends the animals. She said they have been raising cows off and of for about five years. The two new beasts were tied to a small tree in their front yard. They bought the cows as calves for (US) $280 each. When they are full grown, they can sell each for slaughter or breeding for about $800. Beef is still a luxury in Cambodia but is growing in popularity in parallel with the economy. She explained that the cows (barring anything going wrong with their health) are her family’s savings.

We moved on to Soeurn’s shop – one in a long row of wall-less sheds lining National Road 2 in front of a very large wat (Buddhist temple). We picked him out by the large air compressor sitting under an orange umbrella covered in Khmer writing (see photo). Soeurn greeted us with the invariable smile and hands pressed together in prayer form used in most formal meetings. The formality might have seemed a little incongruous given his greasy appearance but Khmers (Cambodians) possess a graceful manner that most diplomats would be hard-pressed to equal. Evidently, it’s true even of Khmer mechanics.

Soeurn offered us chairs in the shade of his shed. We had to speak loudly to be heard over the passing traffic of motorbikes, buses and diesel trucks. The roads and streets of Cambodia, like much of Asia, run thick with small, 100-125 cc motorbikes. Probably two-thirds to three-quarters of the traffic in Cambodia is motos, most made in Japan, Korea, Thailand and China. Got job security? They are remarkably dependable but constant use leads to the need for periodic maintenance. He’s been repairing motos for about twenty-five years – a skill he learned (and practices with tools he bought) from a neighbor. Though it looked like he could fix most problems that happen with a moto, Soeurn said his most common were repair of flat tires and replacement of drive chains. The most common bike he repairs is a version a the classic Honda Cub made by a South Korean company called Daelim.

His business helps to support eight people – Soeurn, his wife and their six children. Three of his daughters work outside the home in a local garment factory. For the future, Soeurn hopes to maintain his business so he can continue to help pay for the schooling of the remaining children who study.

Posted by Darin Greyerbiehl from Ta Khmao district, Cambodia
Nov 21, 2007