Micro-finance in rural Cambodian communities

Today I travelled with the Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) up the Mekong to a village that can only be accessed by boat. CRDT have been working here for several years to improve the social, health and environmental conditions.
The first item on the agenda was the monthly micro-finance meeting (hence the keen interest).

Here community members are able to save small amounts of money each month (max $5), earning a reasonable interest (3% each month). Likewise small loans are also provided to members when needed. Although these schemes still have some way to go they offer a fantastic opportunity for these rural communities. Coupled with development and training in health, agricultural practices and environmental awareness, this offers these communities a genuinely sustainable future and one where they are not dependant on (the often sporadic) charitable giving.