Celebration of achievements and phase out
“No more discrimination. People living with HIV and AIDS, orphan and vulnerable children are closely paid attention. We are supported both mental and physical. Our family economy is much better through self-help group. Our children especially vulnerable children are encouraged to go to school. That’s because of World Vision intervention in our communities,” Pol Sophay women representative said.
“We have enough food to eat, good hygiene, clean water to drink. Poor families have better living,” Sros Sreyneang, 16, studying in 9th grade, said on behalf of her friends.
These are statement of community people did during the celebration of achievements and phase out for Samrong Tong area development program (ADP) of World Vision in Samrong Tong district after the fifteen years working in the area. The ceremony is presided over H.E Pen Sambo deputy Kampong Speu provincial governor.
Sreyneang continued, “Even if World Vision leaves Samrong Tong district, but it still continues to develop other places and we will continue to work for development in our community.”
H.E Sambo said, “It is more that we described. Behavior of our community people changes and improves a lot via education and advice from World Vision staff.”
According to Davit Choun, for Samrong Tong ADP manager, said that goal of the World Vision work in the district is to improve living condition standard of community people, especially vulnerable children and build stakeholder capacity toward sustainability and ownership of the development process.
To achieve the goal World Vision implemented four projects such as food, water and sanitation, health and nutrition and sponsorship in Trapaing Korng, Voal Sor, Sambo and Samrong Tong commune.
“Our celebration would not be possible today without the strong leadership and close partnership of all relevant provincial departments such as dept of rural development, water resources and meteorology, provincial health department, health operational district, women affair department and all relevant district offices,” said Evans Jason, country director of World Vision Cambodia.
After community group shared stories of changes Siobhan McKenna country program manager, representative of World Vision News Zealand did remark that, “families in the community has granted access to safe drinking water. They have increased access through interest borrowing from community saving network. Livelihood has been improved to enhance understanding of modern agriculture message. Children life of community has also been transformed. We can see this in the substantial increase in school attendance rate, increase of immunization rate and decrease rate of infection disease like dengue fever, diarrhea.”
The ceremony lasted for a half day and concluded with a celebration of handing recognition award to support office and World Vision in Cambodia. At the end, youths handed their drawings to representatives of World Vision Cambodia, World Vision News Zealand and government. Their drawings describe about their community change due to the contribution of community people, World Vision and local authorities.
Around 500 people participant are comprised of government officials, World Vision staff, commune councils, children, village help self groups, villages chiefs, village development committee, people living with HIV and AIDS, teachers and Infant Development Non-government organization and Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC).
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