Meet everyone at DEVI House. If interested in becoming part of the Devi team, email us at deviwomen(at)gmail.com
Mu Sokhim: Business Manager
Reaksmey Arun: CEO
Victoria Petitjean: Program Coordinator
Megan Clavier: Graphic Designer and Volunteer Coordinator
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Trainees
Bon Soty: First DEVI trainee in Phnom Penh
Her Story:
Mrs. Bon Soty, 30 years old, is our first DEVI in Phnom Penh. She is married to Rim Ourng, 32 years old. Together they have 2 children, the first one is 7 years old and the second one is 5 years old. Before working for DEVI Business, they lived in Kom Pong Kreng village, Tek Chou Commune, Kom Pong Kreng District. She sold bananas fried with flour and meat balls for 6 years, making a profit between 3000 Riel to 10000 Riel a day. Her husband is a driver who used to transport vegetables but his income was unstable due to fluctuating prices and job opportunities. Together, they could not earn a decent living for themselves and to raise their two boys.
Then, in 2009, Bon Soty met Aunty Khim in Kampot, who introduced her and her family to DEVI and hired them. Aunty Khim sought to help them by introducing them to know about business, how to deal with the customers and how to keep the food clean. Bon Soty and her husband started to work for DEVI Cookies on 7th January 2010.
Bon Soty and her family moved properly to Phnom Penh in May of this year – she sells the products in the different markets of the city, accompanied and supported by Khim, and her husband is the DEVI Tuk Tuk driver who takes care of delivering the orders to cafes, restaurants, and hotels.
From selling the cookies, she now earns between 100.000 Riel and 120.000 Riel per working day out of which she gets around 15.000 Riel to 20.000Riel as her net income. In addition, during “special days” such as the celebration of ceremonies she earns up to 180.000 Riel; approximately 50% more than she used to (and at a stable rate), and 25% more than the average salary other women sellers get from other businesses.
Mrs Bon Soty herself comments: “If I compare what I do now to other possible careers, it is easier because I do not have to bring in the original capital as it is provided for by the organization including the cookies themselves [produced in Kampot]. I’ve made a good business and I am being trained to be a professional seller by Strey Khmer Organization and look at important things like:
- Beautiful Packaging
- High sanitation
- Helping women
- Taste
- Customer service (Patience, Clear and Good explanations).
Bon Soty now feels she earns a decent living, as her and her husband are able to save some money, send their children to school, have enough food, pay back the debt that they owed from a long time ago from their previous businesses. Together, they have plans to buy a new house, once the benefits are substantial enough, and also maybe one day, have their own franchise or independent business.
