Update September 05

We have a new website so check it out!

http://carpets.wyps.org


Excepts from the September report for those interested int eh details of what we are doing and achieving:



# Participant Families
(# school-aged children)

July..................................7

August/August Goal.............8/11

Project expansion was delayed due to issues with the mat and stitching material. The issues must be resolved before CfC can guarantee regular work to more than its current participants.



Avg Monthly Income from CfC

July.................................600B

August/August Goal........1065B/1200B

Income increased dramatically from July, as August was the first full month that participants had regular work. CfC fell short of its goal, as some women opted not to work on carpets full-time; some balance carpets with other work. Ngean Ouk earned the most money in August with 2085 B; Sreymom, a new participant, the least, with 470 B.

[Note: $1 AUD = 31B THB]



% Children Enrolled in School

July................................100%

August/August Goal........85%/80%


As of August, Sreymom’s four siblings had not been enrolled in school. Their school, Wat Thmey, is on holiday and will resume at the end of September.


Average Attendance Rate

July...............................85%

August/August Goal.......89%/85%

Overall, the children’s attendance is regular. Some have missed school due to illness.


Participants are generally happy with the program. All continue to be interested in making carpets and look for ways to improve their productivity and maximize their income. More importantly, all see the value in sending their children to school and take this aspect of CfC seriously. On several occasions, the husbands of CfC participants have thanked CfC staff, indicating that their livelihoods have improved since their wives have been making carpets and that their children are happy to be attending school regularly.


September Objectives (in order of priority)

• Achieve 100% school enrollment and 90% average school attendance for participant children
• Test new materials in the field and provide results, in the form of 3 finished 2.4x1.7m carpets, to Inter Krai.
• Matting with better uniformity and less elasticity
• Stitching materials that Inter Krai cannot machine
• Determine and implement payment structure that will minimize taxes for all CfC partners
• Resolve pricing issue with Inter Krai
• Hire a social worker
• Conduct a baseline survey through interviews with at least 100 families in CfC target areas
• Interview at least 40 families as potential participants
• Get Cambodian Customs’ approval to waive all import and export duties
• Finalize the process for backing cotton carpets

Let us know if you are passing through Cambodia, we love to host volunteers.