Since 1994, LO has depended on donors for much of its financing—though we’ve also tried to be as sustainable as possible. In 2012, for example, we built a large cassava starch factory in Battambang. The income from this supported our vocational training centre in Battambang, and operational expenses at our Phnom Penh HQ. The project was highly successful for four years (till the cassava market changed significantly).
We continue to pursue the ideas of being self-sustaining, and of contributing to Cambodia’s general social prosperity.
Seeing the demand for professional skills in the construction sector, and the shortage of local contractors, we’re forming construction teams that are taking on small construction projects—working with small household clients instead of big projects that usually require higher responsibility and more resources.