Name: Gradmother Ngiam

Age: 76

Occupation: Grandma Ngiam is recognized as one of the finest embroiderers and dressmakers in our “70 Rai” neighborhood. She has been creating intricately beautiful embroideries since a young child. Today she helps make traditional Thai clothing and hand-made bags and purses for our Women’s Group. We sell traditional Thai products made by Grandma Ngiam and other group members to local residents and wholesalers as a way to give our members extra income.

Grandma Ngiam says that she is too old to use a machine, and thus she stitches every piece by hand.

Family: She currently lives with a cousin here in our 70 Rai neighborhood. She has several children living in the provinces, especially in her home province of Saraburi.

Her Position in Our Women’s Group: Grandmom Ngiam is one of 687 Mercy Women’s Group Members. Her primary reason for joining is to save money at a favorable savings rate, and to take out loans, if necessary, at a low interest rate.

She comes to work at Mercy Centre whenever she wishes, and we are grateful because we always need her skills.

More About our Women’s Group: Our Women’s Group serves to financially empower poor women, primarily the elderly, who are the heads of large, extended families. When our members need to take out loans, they can come to us rather than local loan sharks, who charge usurious rates that are often impossible to pay back.

Reasons for Taking Out Loans: Emergencies; school fees for children and grandchildren; housing (fixing a leaking roof or installing a toilet), unforeseen monthly expenses (health problems, funerals, etc.); and paying back loans of family members, especially loans made by loan sharks. The average Women's Group loan is approximately $250.

Photo below: Malika, who manages our Women's Groups, displays a selection of items for sale.