To make a community more resilient, economic opportunities are of great importance. Yet many people in areas like Andong face economic exclusion. This is where Stellar, with the support of DARA Europe, has been offering a helping hand to the revolving fund since 2022. Through interest-free microcredits, families receive the resources to increase their income step by step. The system works as a continuous cycle: participants repay a portion of their loan every month, allowing others in the community to benefit as well.
Mrs. Ret’s story
One of the 20 participants who has since received a loan is Mrs. Ret. She lives in Andong and sells accessories and small household items. Her previous earnings were just enough for daily needs, but left no room for unexpected costs or savings.
When she heard about the interest-free community fund during a parent meeting at Stellar in 2024, she immediately saw an opportunity to expand her business. Her goal? To generate more income, rent a better room and save for her children’s future. Thanks to the revolving fund, she was given the chance to turn her dreams into concrete steps. Today, she sees her goals coming closer and closer.
Thanks to the fund, Mrs. Ret now lives in a better accommodation. Moreover, she is already teaching her children how important financial stability is: her daughter Srey Pov (grade 2) receives a little pocket money every day, which she faithfully puts into a piggy bank for later. Her son Davy is in kindergarten; Ret’s biggest dream is for both children to finish school and find a good job.
Tangible change
The impact of the program therefore goes beyond just improving the current living conditions of her family alone. It gives room to believe in a better future again. Mrs. Ret says: “Where the community of Andong used to struggle with major challenges such as gambling and alcohol addictions, the education and financial support from Stellar is now bringing a tangible positive change.”
“Where the community of Andong used to struggle with major challenges such as gambling and alcohol addictions, the education and financial support from Stellar is now bringing a tangible positive change.”
Step by step, families are building a hopeful future.
For people like Mrs. Ret, the community fund is a valuable tool to strengthen their own potential. The impact of this support begins with individual families, but reaches much further. When families can increase their income and build more financial stability, new opportunities also arise for the community as a whole. This support is particularly important in areas like Andong, where many families deal with economic uncertainty, social exclusion, and limited access to education every day.
For years, Stellar has been committed to addressing these challenges through education and family support. The community fund aligns seamlessly with this: it offers families not only direct financial support, but also the opportunity to continue building a more stable and hopeful future themselves.
With the support of DARA Europe and the commitment of the community itself, not only financial stability is growing in Andong, but also trust, resilience, and the future perspective for the next generation.