ChildFund moving from Svay Rieng
CHILDFUND Cambodia has announced that it will shift its focus from Svay Rieng province to other impoverished areas.
The Cambodian branch of the Australian NGO began its operations in Svay Rieng in 2007, and has since extended its programmes to Battambang, Kratie and Prey Veng provinces.
“ChildFund has made the decision to shift focus from the province to other impoverished locations. It has made considerable investments and been able to have a desirable impact in education, child protection, youth empowerment, clean water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction for the past 15 years in the province,” said its May 18 press release.
“In addition, ChildFund collaborated closely with the government to battle the Covid-19 outbreak and make emergency preparations,” it added.
Its country representative Prashant Verma explained that the organisation initially worked in six communes of Svay Chrum district, then expanded to another seven communes in Romeas Haek district a few years later.
“The first province in Cambodia to be deemed free of open defecation [ODF] in 2022 was Svay Rieng. The first remote New Generation School [a model school similar to Sisowath High School in Phnom
Penh] opened in Svay Rieng, with the highest school enrolment rates ever,” he said, noting some of the achievements that ChildFund has contributed to.
Tith Dou, a primary school principal in Svay Rieng, said her school was in extremely poor condition when ChildFund began their operations.
“Without ChildFund’s involvement, I don’t know if the school would be as modern as it is today. We now have a green environment with a safe playground, latrines, a bio-garden, colourful classroom decorations, skilful teachers and a very engaged school leadership team, as well as a cuttingedge library with a TV, tablets, and computer, and other amenities,” she explained.
A former student who gave only her first name as Phalla dropped out of school in 2003 to go to work in a garment factory in Phnom Penh. Thanks to a ChildFund youth programme, she was able to return to Svay Rieng and open a tailors. She also completed her high school education, which led her to higher education, and her selection as a member of her commune council.
“This would have been nothing but a dream if not for ChildFund,” she said.