“My first day of grocery selling was incredibly difficult. I felt ashamed as buyers laughed at me for using a broken baby bucket to carry my items. I didn’t know what a fair price for my goods should be, but within a week, I managed to figure it out. Soon, I was making good deals and saved up enough money—$15—to buy a proper bucket, and people stopped laughing. I used to think the world was small and closed to me, but I realized it was my own fear holding me back. Thanks to the $300 financial support from Krousar Thmey’s Income Generation Activity, I was able to reunite with my family and face any challenges that came my way. I failed at several small businesses, but I never gave up. I watched others, learned, and kept trying until I built a successful business of my own,” said Chenda, smiling as she shared her story.
Chenda, a 33-year-old married mother of two, grew up with her aunt and four siblings in Wat Svay village, Sala Kamoeuk commune. Originally from Siem Reap, her parents separated when she was pregnant with her third child. She used to work as a kitchen helper at the Stung Siem Reap hotel, where she met her husband, an electrician. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, she moved to Puok district to live with her mother-in-law, about 20 kilometers from the city, after losing her job during the pandemic’s second year. Her husband still works in Siem Reap and sends money home, but his income barely covers their needs, supporting his mother, Chenda, and their two children.
In 2023, Chenda met a social worker from Krousar Thmey during an outreach activity. They discussed the possible support she could receive, and Chenda shared her dream of opening a dessert stall. She spent a week learning to make desserts from her neighbors for free and then moved to Siem Reap with her children to begin selling. Despite guidance and regular visits from Krousar Thmey staff, her dessert business did not succeed as expected, earning only $2.5 to $3.5 daily. Many locals preferred to eat in busier areas, and the elderly didn’t often buy desserts. Undeterred, Chenda pivoted to selling shaved ice syrup, meatballs, and papaya salad, which did better initially but only lasted two months, as sales depended heavily on the nearby school’s schedule. She faced yet another setback.
Chenda’s resilience kept her going. Inspired by others selling vegetables and meat from motorbikes, she decided to try the same. After consulting with Krousar Thmey, she borrowed an additional 300,000 riels ($75) to add to her remaining 200,000 riels ($50) from Krousar Thmey’s original support and started her business again. This time, she succeeded.
“Every day, I wake up at 4 a.m. to buy items at the market and prepare everything by 6:30 a.m. I drive from one location to another, visiting my regular customers, and spend about five and a half hours before returning home. I sell around 70% of my items and reserve the rest for evening sales at my house. I earn between 150,000 and 170,000 riels ($37.5 – $42.5) daily, with a net income of 30,000 to 35,000 riels ($7.5 – $8.75). This income allows me to save for healthcare and future needs. Before, I couldn’t afford snacks for my kids or buy more than 100 grams of pork. Now, I can buy 500 grams and better provide for my family. I’ve been selling vegetables and meat on the move for nearly a year and a half since 2023, and I’m proud of the income I generate. ‘Everyone can make their own path, and there’s no success without effort,’” said Chenda.
In the future, Chenda hopes to see her two children become teachers or nurses, like her sisters, Vichekar and Tola, who are studying nursing with Krousar Thmey’s Academic and Career Counseling support at Kampong Cham Regional Training Centre for Health.
