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Gnel Sopheap is 25 years old and from Tanorn Village in Bati District, Takeo Province, about an hour outside of Phnom Penh. She has been weaving silk for the past year after she received technical training from the Tanorn Weaving Skills workshop in her village. While attending the training, she learned how to dye the silk thread, and design her own patterns on the silk. After completing the training, the center loaned her a loom and thread spinning machine for her to work at home.
In order to set up her business, she borrowed KHR 300,000(USD 75) from TPC to buy the silk thread needed for weaving. It takes her about 3 weeks to make one piece of silk long enough to make a traditional sampot (long skirt). A wholesale vender comes to the village every month to purchase her finished pieces. Sometimes the vendor will request to special order a piece but usually she is free to design her own work. Many of these pieces will end up in the specialty silk stores in Phnom Penh for sale to tourists. Sopheap joined the TPC solidarity group two years ago and is on her third loan cycle.
Sopheap is married and has two small boys. She is very happy with what she has been able to accomplish and how her life has changed for the better through her weaving business. She believes she could not have even begun to weave if she had not been able to attain a loan for the necessary materials. The access to funding has enabled her to improve her life and earn more income for her family.
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