How does change kick-in for a poor, remote Cambodian village? Funding from World Vision NZ supporters enables Neov Bunna to focus his development expertise on four struggling villages. Hear about his work to date and dreams for one particular village, which features in the latest World Vision NZ television commercials:

Name:	Neov Bunna
Age:	42
Family:	Married with 3 children
Education:	Agricultural Degree, Phnom Penh
Role:	Transformational Development Facilitator, Stong ADP
At World Vision:	Almost 4 years
Village size:	71 families in 69 houses

A: There was domestic violence, and hygiene awareness was not practiced. It was dirty everywhere. Now, all these issues have gradually reduced. Before, the people here did not plant corn in the dry season, but now they are starting to plant corn and rice twice a year.

This is a major mindset change. Before, the children did not have a road to go to school on. World Vision spoke to the local authority then worked with the local community to encourage them to sacrifice a little part of their land to make this possible. It used to be just a walkway, and often flooded. We had the road built up and now cars and other vehicles and buffalo-drawn vehicles can use this.

A: Yes, at first. Another Christian organization had come here previously and it hadn’t gone well. But over time, they saw our behaviour and our attitude. They accepted us. We showed respect to people in the community, to older people and to the children.

A: I wanted to know the real situation in the village. You can’t know everything by just being with them during the day. Staying overnight in the village built relationships. Once the relationships were in place, we were able to achieve changes in hygiene, sanitation, gardening and agriculture, for example.

We explained how it is useful to live in a clean environment, and the negative impact of abusing alcohol or smoking. We then explained to them they can get income from rearing animals like chickens and pigs, and from home gardening. This was the purpose of staying overnight in the community. It led to transformation.

A: We provided sanitation training for a week, and after that, in just a 4 month period, this village went from having no latrines to every home having one. They built them. They saw the value and paid for them. Establishing a savings group has led to a weaving group getting started.

This has meant people have income and can bring their older children back from Phnom Penh factories to work here, and they can send their younger children to school.

A: It is, but by name only. Once you send children to school you have to give them some money for eating, for books, for clothes, to help support the teacher. Also, if they are in school, children are not available to earn money.

A: Firstly, I believe this is my calling from God. And secondly, I was an orphan, and when I came to this village it reminded me of my life as an orphan. So whatever I have learnt in the past – about education, agriculture, hygiene skills – I want to share these things with the community.

That’s why I work for World Vision. We want to help the poor and the vulnerable people. This is the aim for my life. I will continue to stay here with World Vision.

A: I am thankful to New Zealanders because you have a country which is also small like us. I appreciate your sacrifice for the poor. I think it’s very lucky for this village and for Cambodia to have kind people in New Zealand who will lend a hand, and for our village to be shown on television in New Zealand. I hope it makes it clear that every gift that the donor gives will indeed directly impact on this community.

A: Our strategy is to see each village with specialized products, then they can network and trade together, so their income will be enhanced. We want the products being sold to the market so there is movement and an exchange of goods.

We hope more girls will be involved in the weaving, and more villagers will do home gardening. We will encourage them not to use chemical fertilizer so that they can take organic products to sell at a premium in the market. But first of all we need them to have enough food and good health.

They usually have fish or rice, but it’s not nutritious food. Compared to the past it is better, but they don’t have many vegetables. The children lack nutritious food, unlike most children in the city. We want to fix that.