Kamphoeun Nang Nga during the training. Photo: Botom Mune/Oxfam
Oxfam, in collaboration with Good Return, 3S Rivers Protection Network (3SPN), Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA), and My Village (MVi), with funding support from Development Bank of the Netherlands (FMO), organized a five-day Training of Trainers in June on Consumer Awareness and Financial Empowerment (CAFE) in Phnom Penh.
The training brought 25 participants from four provinces to strengthen their financial education, build facilitation skills, and increase confidence in using digital tools for monitoring and reporting. Participants also developed practical action plans to deliver financial education within their communities, while promoting inclusion, child protection, and gender equality.
Kamphoeun Nang Nga, a 25 years old Indigenous Lun woman from Vern Sai district, Ratanakiri province, said that CAFE training was an opportunity to gain new experiences, meet new people, and strengthen her understanding of financial management. She was especially interested in learning how people can spend money wisely, manage their finances effectively, and plan for a more secure future.
Before attending the training, Nga had witnessed many financial challenges in her community. As most families rely on farming and earn irregular incomes, managing finances can be difficult. Many households depend on both formal and informal loans, yet often don't understand loan agreements and borrowing conditions, leaving them vulnerable to debt and financial stress. Informal lending, with its high interest rates, has become a particularly serious problem.
“Money is hard to earn, but if we spend it without thinking and spend more than we earn, it will make life difficult. The CAFE training helped me understand how to manage money, save money, and prepare for the future.”
One of the most meaningful lessons for Nga was understanding the difference between “necessary and unnecessary spending“ and how people are often tempted to buy things simply because others have them, even when those purchases are not essential.
At the beginning of the training, Nga felt nervous and uncertain. Financial education was entirely new to her, and she was concerned about using e-learning tools and applying for the lessons in communities where internet access is limited. However, as the training progressed, her confidence grew.
“Financial education was completely new to me. My fear disappeared because the CAFE App and e-learning lessons were clear and easy to understand.”
Today, Nga is determined to use what she learned to help others. She plans to share financial knowledge with young people, women, and families in her community so they understand better the risks of informal loans, encouraging responsible spending, and helping people understanding loan documents.
Looking ahead, Nga hopes that Indigenous communities will gradually change their spending behavior, reduce unnecessary expenses, and build stronger financial futures.
“As an Indigenous person, I am proud and happy because I'll be able to help the people in my community. I want to help them understand their strengths and weaknesses so they can manage money, save for the future, and live a more comfortable life.”