Today we visited three families who all received microloans from Thien Chi, which they are using to raise chickens.
The first family consists of a couple and their two daughters, both currently studying in Ho Chi Minh City. One of them has just graduated, while the other still has a few years to go and continues to depend on her parents’ support. While the government covers tuition fees, all living expenses must be paid by the family.
The mother suffers from a back condition and can only work from home, while the father works in rice production. Together, they earn around 5,000,000 VND (about 165€) per month, most of which goes toward supporting their daughters. Once both daughters have completed their studies and found jobs, the family will no longer need support from Thien Chi.
Until then, they receive microloans to invest in chicken farming and rice production. They currently raise more than 100 chickens and keep two cows in their garden. One cow was provided by the government, and the second was kept after it gave birth.
I have to admit, I completely fell in love with them. They also have incubators and many baby chicks.
In this area, raising chickens and pigs is very common. The next woman we visited also keeps both. In addition, she takes care of her three grandchildren while their mother, her daughter, works in the kitchen of a kindergarten. During the visit, the Thien Chi staff encouraged her to adopt improved farming methods using rice rusk and biological bedding. These methods are more hygienic, better for the animals, and more environmentally friendly.
Raising pigs was also the focus of our final visit. We met a woman who lost part of her lower leg in a motorcycle accident. She lives with her son and three grandchildren, whom she largely takes care of, as their father works as a truck driver in Ho Chi Minh City. One of her grandsons receives a scholarship from Thien Chi.
In her garden, she raises four adult pigs and two piglets. One of the pigs is currently pregnant, and she plans to expand her pig farming. For this reason, she is building a larger pigsty and has requested financial support from Thien Chi.
What I found particularly interesting is that Thien Chi does not only provide loans in the form of money, but also in the form of livestock. Families can borrow pigs, usually for breeding, and after some time return them. In the process, piglets are born, which can then be passed on to support other families.