8.12.08
Potential Expansion Area - Mae Wang
The staff of Common Interest are busy researching new areas for expansion in and around Chiang Mai. Recently, this took them to the Mae Wang district. Mae Wang is popular with some tourists for its elephant riding and bamboo rafting experiences. However; it is also a farming district with many ethnic minority groups (esp. Karen). During our visit to Mae Wang on Dec 1, we were able to observe the rice harvest. Common Interest has yet to decide on whether it will expand into this region. However; we thought that many of you would enjoy seeing some photos and videos of this potential area.
Farmers in the rice fields
Typical homes in Mae Wang
27.11.08
Santisuk (Mae Pung) in Phrao
The leaders of the Mae Pung Village Bank record their members' savings.
Mae Pung Village Bank's first membersDuring the past month, the staff of Common Interest have been busy researching new areas for expansion. Most of these areas are remote districts with significant hilltribe populations. However; in some of our existing areas, villages have been requesting our programme as well. Mae Pung (Santisuk) is an example of a Thai village that contacted us to start a village bank. After two informational workshops, interested members met today to vote on leadership and bylaws. The group has agreed to each save 50 baht ($1.42 USD) per month. Next month, they intend to use their savings to provide loans back to the members at an interest rate of 1% per month. Common Interest has not provided funds to this group of as Nov 2008. If the Village Bank can save and lend together, they will be eligible for additional funds sometime in the New Year. All the best Mae Pung!
10.11.08
Baan Sop Leum Village Bank
Baan Sop Leum is located in the Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai not too far from a unique tourist site called Pun Pun. A group of 21 women started saving together in mid-July and had accumulated over 3000 baht by mid-October. Rather than putting the money in the bank, the group lent the money back to some of its members for farming expenses. In November, the group requested additional funds from our programme in order to help cover the demands from the group during their early start-up. Common Interest provided a loan of 105 000 baht ($3000 USD) to the group which is to be re-paid in 6 months time.23.7.08
Baan Wang Dang Village Bank
July was another busy month for us. 5 new village banks were started and 4 received additional funds from us to help them start. Baan Wang Dang is one such village. This group from Mae Taeng are primarily longan and potato farmers. They received a loan of 95,000 baht ($3000 USD) to help their village bank get started with providing loans to their members. Common Interest staff noted that this group are hard workers and want the extra funds to help buy materials like fertilizer before the prices rise too much. Women from this village are usually in the fields from dawn to dusk.
27.6.08
New Village Banks - June
June was a busy month for us as we established 6 new Village Banks (as well as a few that are in process). Phrao and Mae Taeng are becoming very popular areas for our programs. Most of the villagers are Thais, not hilltribe groups but some individual members are ethnic minorities. The groups of women are quite diverse - young, elderly, physically challenged, small market vendors, farmers, living with HIV and housewives. This month, 134 new members were added to our list. All members are saving monthly and most of them have received their first loan from Common Interest as well. During June, we ended up disbursing 665 000 baht to the 6 new villages. Pictured below are a few of our new groups:
Baan Kwam Pracha (Phrao)
Baan Nong On (Mae Taeng)
Baan Pa Sao (Mae Taeng)
Baan Mong Come (Mae Taeng)
