YOUR COMMUNITY IN KOH ANDAET

Koh Andaet Area Development Programme (ADP) is located in Koh Andaet district of Takeo Province, in southern Cambodia. Initial activities of the ADP, which began child sponsorship late-2006, focus on 16 villages in three communes (local government administrative areas). By the end of the project, it is expected that all six of the district’s communes will be covered by development activities, with 52,500 people benefiting from World Vision’s assistance.

Agriculture and income-generation

Agriculture is the main productive activity for most households. Some engage in fishing or run small businesses. Although the soil is rich, most families face food shortages each year; seasonal flooding worsens the situation. Farmers have to pay a high price for water used in irrigation.

Business people lack access to capital or skills training. There are few income-generating opportunities for young people, and many are forced to migrate, seasonally or permanently, to Phnom Penh or neighbouring provinces in search of work.

World Vision will repair road-side drains and culverts to protect fields from flood waters. It will work with the community to find effective long-term alternatives to current irrigation arrangements. The ADP will promote animal husbandry for income-generation and train selected farmers to provide veterinary services in their villages. World Vision’s microfinance arm, VisionFund, will provide people who run small businesses with access to low-interest credit so they can expand their activities.

Health

There are only three health centres in the whole of Koh Andaet district and all are short of medicines. Some families seek medical advice from Kru Khmer (traditional healers) rather than travel to a health centre. Many children are malnourished and respiratory and skin infections are common. Around 40 per cent of young women migrate to the city to work in garment and construction industries – their vulnerability in the city puts them at high risk of contracting HIV.

While the rainy season brings large quantities of water, even flooding six of the villages for half the year, there is little access to safe drinking water. People generally do not boil water to make it safe for drinking, so diarrhoea, typhoid and parasites are common.

World Vision staff educate community members about health and hygiene. The ADP will work with an existing group to educate the community about HIV prevention and support people living with AIDS. It will form water user committees and work with them to increase water access, promote the use of water filters and construct improved sanitation facilities.

Community leadership

World Vision plans to train community leaders to initiate, manage and evaluate development activities. In time they will form community-based organisations to run projects in their villages. The ADP also works to strengthen the ability of existing organisations and local government to meet the needs of the community.

Education

Of every seven children from Koh Andaet, one won’t ever start school and four more will drop out of school before completing their primary education. The poor condition of roads makes it difficult for children to travel to school, so some children stop attending and many more repeat levels. School buildings are in poor condition and teachers are poorly trained and paid.

In its early stages, Koh Andaet ADP will assess the reasons behind poor educational achievement, and work with the communities to find solutions.

Faith

Most of the people in Koh Andaet are Buddhist. A Christian house church operates in one village. The ADP will provide leadership training for Christian leaders. World Vision works with everyone in the community, regardless of their faith.

Sustainable development

It is envisaged that by September 2022 the community will be resourced and able to continue managing development initiatives without World Vision’s direct assistance. We will keep you updated on the community’s progress.