Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1112 Issue Date: 24 Mar, 2024

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Local house before partnering with CFS

Cambodia Family Support projects

House building team members were given the opportunity to travel to Battambang province to see the work of Dr Samnang and Cambodia Family Support (CFS). 

We met Dr Samnang and he told us about CFS and how it focuses on the most vulnerable: the disabled, child-only families, women, and children. Areas of activity include Economic and Community Development, including formation and mentoring of Village Self-Help groups, Animal Bank, Income Generation initiatives and Emergency Assistance; Basic Education and Literacy in villages where there is no school; Improving Community Awareness of Basic Rights, human-trafficking and safe migration, domestic violence; and Improving water, sanitation and hygiene.

CFS works with each family to determine what they want and need to improve their life and set priorities with them and then works together to make that happen. It's very much a fair exchange system...rarely is anyone given anything with no return. In the initial stages, the villages may have nothing to offer however they are expected to clean up the village or their particular area so it is free from rubbish. Dr Samnang may then 'give' a family a cow however the family must given Dr Samnang two cows in return. He can then give these cows to other families. Working this way gives the families the opportunity to build up their wealth....they can buy and breed chickens and ducks, plant gardens, buy a pig. 

We then travelled to a village CFS has been working with for just over a year to see the success of this type of program. Mike and Corinne visited the village about a year ago and could not believe the changes in the village. The rubbish had been removed, families with water had established gardens, both for produce and some decorative, children are attending school, many homes had flocks on ducks and chickens. A number had several cows so the program is working well.

Children in the new school

House, garden and yard after working with CFS

A constant water supply is very important in all of Cambodia as, even though there is heavy rainfall in the wet, in the dry, due to lack of storage, many people do not have access to water. In this village, there are many large water pots bearing Rotary logos however many more are required. Mike is also looking into affordable water tanks so rainwater can be collected for use in the dry.

We visited the new school and saw the old one initially established by Dr Samnang. A team of house builders raised the funds to build the new school and Rotary provided funds for the undercover area, the toilets and water tanks. Along with their literacy lessons, the children are taught basic sanitation.

We then moved on to a village CFS has just started working with and it's clear to see the difference between the two. Some of the villagers have been able to build chicken and ducks runs and one of the villagers was proud to show us some the eggs he collected.

We felt very privileged to meet Dr Samnang and hear about the work of CFS and the drive and passion he puts into his work. It would be good to our club supporting some of his proejcts.

Author: Judy Dinnison

Published: 24 October, 2016

 


Meeting Rosters
Date
Host
Thanks & Cleanup
3 minute bio
Setup
Writer
26 Mar, 24
Marcus Harris
 
 
Laurie Glossop
Jennifer Lee
02 Apr, 24
Michael Lee
Michael Lee
 
Donna Thornton
Barrie Heald
09 Apr, 24
 
 
Marina Berzins
 
Judy Dinnison
17 Apr, 24
 
 
 
 
 
14 May, 24
Laurie Glossop
 
 
 
Judy Dinnison
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