Our most ambitious project yet, the 0.9 hectare micro-farm is underway. The farm will become our new project base and is an essential part of our programme expansion and long term sustainability.

The first hurdle was to plough and check the farm for land mines - a legacy of the three decades of civil war and unrest Cambodia endured. As one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, Cambodia has the highest per capita number of amputees globally - nearly 40,000 Cambodians have lost limbs, including Ben Toch, a current microfranchisee, who lost a leg after stepping on a mine during the conflict. A further 19,660 Cambodians have been killed by landmines since 1979.

With the land now mine-free, we plan to build twelve new chicken coops to increase the number of chicks we can raise and supply to franchisees. Phirun, our field manager, is in the process of setting up the infrastructure (including connecting power and digging a well for water supply). Meanwhile, board member Dave Champion has been working hard on the farm layout design (see layout plan below).

We've outgrown our current base at World Education School in Chhouk, and we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the farm set up, which will now make it possible to scale the number of franchisees.

We urgently need your help, so we can help more ultra-poor villagers work their way out of poverty. It's easy and rewarding, click here to 'Fund a family'.