ss        • Social & Economic     • Partnership     • Water & Sanitation      • Peace & Democracy     • Mine Action      • Emergencies

Make a difference after having safe and accessible land

Partnership in challenges and success

CWS Increased Capacity of Woman in KNTO and Community

Funeral Association in Beng Popoul Village Makes New Hope for its Villagers


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

PARTNERSHIP IN CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS

In Cambodia, CWS prides itself on its leading partnership program strongly supported by the ecumenical partners since 1997, in the past EED and ICCO, as well as AJWS. Currently the northwest partnership program receives funding 60% from SED, 27 % from ICCO and 13% from CWSNZL. CFEDA is one of the grass roots organizations that CWS is pleased to work with through direct accompaniment in community development models, organizational development and value based work specifically including peace, gender and democracy building encouraging work with the newly established commune councils.

CFEDA implements its integrated community development program both in former Khmer rouge and non Khmer rouge in 16 villages in O’Chrev and Malai Districts in Banteay Meanchey Province to improve the living standard of poor and vulnerable people in the area. The Program currently directly benefits 1,328 families (7,778 persons; 3,844 women), while indirectly benefiting 1,895 families (9,366 persons; 4,659 women). Here is the story of one of those families. Three CWS Cambodian staff are directly involved in the local institution development for CFEDA.

Mean Tob is blind. He is married with 7 children. His wife, Mrs. Loch Savun, is 46 years old. They live in a post armed conflict village in Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. Three of their daughters are married and live separately. He was a former soldier of KPNLF opposition from camp “Soksan camp”, located along Cambodia-Thai border. After the Paris Peace Accord in 1991, as other refugees living in camps along the Cambodia-Thai border, he and his family were repatriated and they to Thmenh Trei village in 1992.

1. Why did you decide to participate in the project?

I wanted to participate in CFEDA’s land distribution project1 because we had no land. We lived along the roadside. We were able to acquire a plot of land (400 m2) and were given the know how to plant a home garden and raise, animals. Another way were ere helped as a family is by teaching about how to improve our health overall. CFEDA also supported us in improving the livelihood of my family.

2. Have there been any changes in your life as a result of your participation in the project? How has it affected your family?
  • I feel safer now because I own a land plot to build a house with the tree seedlings and vegetable seeds I am growing things.
  • The health situation of my family members is improved since we received a water filter and jar, kettle and mosquito net. You know malaria is a huge killer here.
  • My dream is for my children that they have a better chance; they got school supplies that we could never afford to buy and clothes so they are not ashamed to go to school.
  • But the main thing for me as the head of the family is that CFEDA staff got my eyes treated at the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Referral Hospital and I was able to regain some use of my right eye.
  • I live in a new community (community-distributed land) with other 17 families who also received similar plots. In the community CFEDA facilitated and made possible the digging of a needed pond for water. We also got a hand pump to get the water. Now we have water available to use near our house and as so many of us really do not have enough to eat, CFEDA used a ‘food for work support’ to our community to dig a new road. Life is hard here.
  • My family is one of 18 family members of the “Landed Families” group that CFEDA staff set up; we can build needed relationships as well as have access to a savings scheme. No one thinks poor people can save money and usually we can’t. In out “Landed Families Group” we have opportunity to discuss with other members on problems faced, solutions, and ways to help one another. It is easier to think about helping your neighbor when you have something in your hand- like my house. This group is also a place where we get information about health. And we heard about women’s rights and discussed domestic violence. These are things we have never talked about in the past.
3. How have your plans for the future been changed by your participation in the project?
• It makes me and my wife hope for better future life because we live on our own land and belong in this new community.

4. What is the importance of the project to your community?
• Distribution plots of land to landless families that let them escape from the roadside.
• Improve living conditions of landless and poor people. We have more chance to get exposed to new understanding in health prevention, and agriculture, and gender.

5. Has your participation in the project changed your role in the community? How?
• I joined the project in February 2007. I feel respected and recognized as others in the community. Before, my family was looked down on and isolated. In November 2007, I joined the Self Help Group with other landed families.
• I appreciate CFEDA who gave me a chance to join this project and now I can take care of my family. 2 hope: the combination of desire and anticipation