Microcredit is not the only kind of loan that Thien Chi provides to the local communities. Livestock can represent a way out of poverty for several families. The center finances two breeding pigs (up to 10,000,000 VND) and gives them to the families. In exchange, the families will take care of them and of their piglets. Amongst these piglets, Thien Chi gets back as many as needed to equal the value of the first animals. The family can keep the other children and the breeding animals.
The conditions to get the loan are strict. Buying pigs represents a significant investment for the Thien Chi Center. The animals must be given to the people than can make it worth it. One of the prerequisites for being granted the pigs is to have a pig pen. Surveys are conducted to make sure that the families already have experience in raising pigs, this is essential.
Since Thien Chi is repayed with baby animals, they can be sold and with the money, new breeding animals are bought and given to other families. So this program creates a virtuous cycle for the beneficiairies, but also for the community as a whole. In October 2023, more than 20 families benefit from the program.
The livestock band is part of the overall projet of Thien Chi: the idea is to give people the necessary tools to break the poverty cycle. The beneficiairies of the livestock programs can capitalize on the first loan and create a new source of income.