In Poan Srey’s village, charcoal is a valuable commodity: environmental laws forbid collecting firewood there, and even the wealthiest families rely on charcoal to prepare traditional Cambodian food. With that in mind, Srey and her husband - who used to support the family of seven by selling coconuts - used their Trickle Up grant to start a business selling charcoal.

With their first check the two purchased burlap sacks and, on a borrowed motorcycle, drove to nearby Bantey Srei market. They purchased sacks of charcoal there for $3 each, which they sell to their fellow villagers for about $3.75 per sack, or for even as much as $5 during the rainy season.  They purchase ten bags of charcoal per trip to market, and are able to sell them quite easily.  The $7.50 profit that they are taking home on each load means that their family is well-provided for: breakfast in the village costs roughly 12 cents.

Srey used her second Trickle Up installment to launch a business cooking fish porridge, which she sells from home. She bought silverware, cups, storage containers, and other goods to prepare this traditional breakfast meal in bulk. The fish porridge business has the added benefit of enabling Srey to feed her large family with ease.

Because Srey cannot manage both businesses at once – both she and her husband are needed for the trip to Bantey Srei market – the couple alternates between the two depending on market fluctuations.

“Our profits go toward sending our four children to school and paying for their supplies,” says the couple.  To keep capital flowing through their businesses, they borrow money from the bank, typically in 10-month loan cycles. They report that for the first time in their lives, they’ve succeeded in saving money.  Currently the family lives in a brick house that overheats during the dry season. They plan to build a new house made from wood, which is more expensive than brick but much more comfortable year-round.