Blog

Dear Better Lives, My name is Mark Frankenberg. I graduated from Los Alamitos High School, and attended college at Northern Arizona University. I’m very grateful...

Siem Reap, KH – Lifelong Peaksneng residents see life-changing opportunity in Rent-to-Own – 1 Apr 2019

01 Apr 2019

Mr. LKR was born in Peaksneng 30 years ago and has lived there ever since. He sees Peaknsneng Thormacheat’s Rent-to-Own affordable housing program as a...

Kikondo, UG – GRY family uses savings and income to invest in home improvements – 31 Mar 2019

31 Mar 2019

The GRY family needs more space to acccommodate all nine family members. They have been saving money with their VICOBA community banking group for over...

Battambang, KH – Education assistance leads to a University scholarship – March 31, 2019

31 Mar 2019

Mouyteang was awarded a full scholarship to Build Bright University by Great Peace Cambodia, a Korean NGO, when she left high school. This year she...

Battambang, KH – Brother and sister walk together to school – 30 Mar 2019

30 Mar 2019

PC and PB are 14 and 5 years old, in grade 7 and kindergarden. When she can, sister PB likes to walk with her brother...

Moshi, TZ – Irrigation improvements expand school gardens – 22 Mar2019

22 Mar 2019

Tupendane and Kahe Primary School completed construction of a tank stand and 10,000 liter water tank at the school. The raised water tank feeds...

Kilimanjaro, TZ – Family’s income generation advances the next generation of Tanzanians by paying school fees – 21 Mar 2019

21 Mar 2019

Mr. POK earned 1,200,000 TZS (US $538) when he sold a cow a four pigs. He used the money to send his oldest son to...

Siem Reap, KH – From day laborer to employer, Mr. NN is improving life for himself, his family, and his community – 15 Mar 2019

15 Mar 2019

When the NN family moved into the Peaksneng Rent-to-Own community, Mr. NN dreamed of finding steady employment. Now, he is responsible for building the Rent-to-Own...

Ngara, TZ – SODAT changes landscape to provide future breakfast at schools – 15 Mar 2019

15 Mar 2019

At the end of 2018, SODAT made a strategic plan to expand school farms and plant beans at three primary schools. In March, SODAT and the...

Battambang, KH – Living in their own home is like living in a dream – 27 Feb 2019

27 Feb 2019

Three months after moving into their new home, the CP family still feels like they are dreaming. They never believed they would live in their...

Mt Kilimanjaro, TZ – Family expands livestock project to help cover school fees – 20 Feb 2019

20 Feb 2019

The ADK family has successfully paid for their son’s first year of vocational school by selling chickens and pigs. The family began keeping livestock after...

Siem Reap, KH – Income and savings from garden enable investments in home and income – 15 Feb 2019

15 Feb 2019

The PWP family has worked hard and saved money since they started their organic vegetable garden in 2015. The family’s diligence is paying off. In...

Ngara, TZ – Kabalenzi Primary School takes Initiative to protect its harvest – 15 Feb 2019

15 Feb 2019

Kabalenzi recently completed a standalone storage project to protect their corn harvest from loss. Using wooden poles, tin sheets, and initiative, the school committee came...

Moshi, TZ – Mawala Primary School renovates school toilets – 15 Feb 2019

15 Feb 2019

Tupendane completed maintenance and improvements to the Mawala Primary School toilet block to increase the longevity and sanitation of the toilet. Additionally, The storage room was...

Kikondo, UG – Mother uses animal husbandry to improve income, home, and her son’s education – 12 Feb 2019

12 Feb 2019

The SOS Family successfully completed a trial pig loan program with Wamukisa. In addition to learning pig-rearing skills, Mama SOS also earned money to send her...

Siem Reap, KH – Correlation between participation in Peaksneng programs and higher school attendance – 5 Feb 2019

04 Feb 2019

There is an intuitive correlation between a parent’s ability to provide food, income, and a home for their children, and a child’s ability to attend...

Kikondo, UG – Family increases their income and improves their home – 30, January 2019

30 Jan 2019

The LBL Family increased their monthly savings by eating vegetables from their home garden and selling vegetables from an income-generating extension garden. They used their...

Battambang, KH – Grandparents want to invest for their grandchildren’s education – 20 Jan 2019

20 Jan 2019

KJ dreams of investing in a small tractor called a “cow machine” so that he can earn the additional income needed to educate his grandchildren....

Moshi, TZ – Housing improvements help bring more teachers to Mwangaria Primary School – 15 Jan 2019

Three new teachers have started working at Mwangaria Primary School since Tupendane finished improving one of the teacher housing units at the school. Two more...

Ngara, TZ – Students begin reaping harvests from banana trees, improving school breakfast – 15 Jan 2019

After a year of properly maintaining their banana trees, students at Kabalenzi and Mukirehe Primary Schools are harvesting and serving bananas in their school breakfasts. The...

Siem Reap, KH – Rent-To-Own home property means family has space for both fruits and vegetables – 15 Jan 2019

The CMC family moved into their Rent-to-Own home in November 2018. They are excited about the new home because it fulfills so many of their...

Kilimanjaro, TZ – OFM Family Maintains Small Sustainable Efforts to Reach Goal – 15 Feb 2019

Over the past year, Mama OFM saved money by eating and selling extra vegetables from her Family Garden instead of purchasing them from the market....

Battambang, KH – Dreaming of a bicycle and extra classes – 31 Dec 2018

31 Dec 2018

LS is in grade 5 and rather small for her age of 11 years. She is working hard but finding it difficult to do well...

Siem Reap, KH – Home improvements for an enjoyable future – 31 Dec 2018

31 Dec 2018

Sareun recently improved his home by adding a covered entryway and a coat of varnish. The covered entryway keeps the home both cooler and dryer....

Battambang, KH – Personal support helps Phanit take responsibility for his education – 26 Dec 2018

26 Dec 2018

Phanit is one of the most improved students at Children’s Future (CFI) school in Battambang. He is 15 years old. He studies grade 10 at...

Kikondo, UG – Family’s extension garden creates path for future income – 21, December 2018

21 Dec 2018

The SBA family has saved 180,000 UGS (US $48) since learning organic gardening best practices from Wamukisa in August 2018. The family started with a...

Ngara, TZ – Income generation loan enables Shafan to improve home and income – 15 Dec 2018

17 Dec 2018

In October 2018 Shafan finished repaying the small-business loan he received in November 2017. The purpose of the loan was to expand his small retail...

Siem Reap, KH – Store enables family to buy land – 30 Nov 2018

30 Nov 2018

The LC family has been able to buy a lot of land with earnings from their small neighborhood retail shop. This is because the shop...

Kikondo, UG – Grandmother takes care of 5 with help from vegetable garden – 19 Nov 2018

19 Nov 2018