The Chi Kreng community programme
The Chi Kreng community development programme is located in Chi
Kreng district, Siem Reap province, Cambodia. The programme reaches
16 villages with a total population of 23,936. World Vision's
partnership with Chi Kreng started in 2008 and is envisaged to
continue until 2023, when the community will be fully equipped with
the resources and skills to take ownership of its own development.
The main focus in the first five years of the project will be on
advocacy and community mobilisation to help strengthen community
capacity.
Issues covered: Community
mobilisation, health and nutrition
Updates on World Vision's work
Advocacy and awareness raising
- 57 members of small community groups conducted
awareness-raising sessions, involving 1270 people, on improved
hygiene and sanitation, and the importance of promoting children's
rights, such as the right to protection, education and
healthcare.
- World Vision worked alongside village chiefs to introduce the
concept of community small groups in the villages, and integrate
development plans into village development plans. As a result 27
community small groups were established that will facilitate action
to address different development issues, such as water and
sanitation, and child protection.
Community mobilisation
- World Vision worked with community transformational development
facilitators to organise 12 orientation sessions on Child
Sponsorship for village chiefs, children's groups, and parents and
caregivers. As a result, children and youth groups were
established, trained, and coached to help identify children and
young people's development needs.
- 530 families affected by floods in 2011 received assistance to
recover their livelihoods, and also received training in disaster
management and preparedness.
The Chi Kreng community is in the fifth year of its development
journey with World Vision.
Life on
the ground in Chi Kreng
A life without stigma
A smiling 9-year-old Srey Neth* (front left) with
her school friends and teacher, Lon, 76.
For 9-year-old Srey Neth*, World Vision education programmes
about HIV and AIDS have helped her and her family to live with hope
again, and be free of stigma. Srey Neth's parents are farmers, and
make a living from growing rice and catching fish. Sadly, her
parents were diagnosed as HIV-positive. Srey Neth, her older sister
and two older brothers, and their parents became isolated, as they
were avoided by fellow villagers. The parents also lost interest in
their children, and gave up farming and fishing. The siblings went
hungry and dropped out of school. World Vision and the Cambodian
Red Cross joined forces to support both the family and the village.
Community members were educated on HIV and AIDS, and encouraged not
to stigmatise against Srey Neth's parents. They, in turn, were
assisted to resume their daily activities to take care of their
children. Srey Neth is back in school. Her teacher, 76-year-old
Lon, says: "Srey Neth is an outstanding student and her parents
always advise her to study hard. The community no longer
discriminates against her family; instead, everybody is helping."
And Srey Neth? "I am very happy, because I have friends again," she
says.
*not her real name
Cambodia at a glance
Cambodia is slowly recovering from devastation caused by the
Khmer Rouge and civil war. An estimated six million undetonated
landmines still dot the countryside, covering land that could be
used for agriculture and causing hundreds of injuries and deaths
every year.
The community no linger discriminates against the family
[because of HIV and AIDS]; instead, everybody is helping.
- Lon, 76, who teaches a student whose parents
are living with HIV and AIDS