Beyond Building
the land they live in will be seized by the government soon. This prompted him to apply for a house grant with Habitat for Humanity. “We felt very happy when we heard about Habitat’s project of building a house for us this month. It gives us peace of mind knowing that we will be able to leave our four children with a secure home,” he shared.
Voeun Sam Art and wife Eng Sopheap at the house dedication
Chok Sarom timidly controlled his excitement as he made his way to the group. He and his fellow home partners were to meet with the Habitat team for a build orientation. For Sarom, this build was far from the ordinary. He was building his own home. There was no denying of his delight – he happily volunteered to watch over the storage room that was being prepared for the build and committed to help tidy up the site by picking litter, clearing debris and clearing the pathways, “We have to keep the site clean and ready. They (volunteers) are arriving soon.” Chok Sarom and his wife Houn Saroeun and 3 other families - Nget Phy, Hai Srey, Sok Sophan - have been preparing for the build that will lead them to starting anew. March 30, the conclusion of the 5-day Hands and Hearts Build, marked the tipping point in their lives. They finally have a stronger sense of security, they finally own their homes. Issu e 39 |
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HIV has made Chok Sarom and his wife’s lives very difficult yet they remain thankful, “We are thankful that our children do not have HIV, but we still fear how our disease affects their day-to-day lives. They experience discrimination from other neighbors. We worry every day about how they will live when our times come as we don’t have relatives whom they can approach for help.” The couple was provided welfare support, and with their industrious nature, they were able to build a thatched house in a small plot of land for their four small children and receive a grant to buy a second hand motorbike. They work as fisher folks in the monsoon season and become lotus bulb collectors during dry season. Chok Sarom also works as a public motorcycle driver. Sometimes his wife makes time to peddle clothes in nearby villages. Just as they feared, Chok Sarom found out that
The 27 Australian volunteers have also been preparing months and months back for their trip to Cambodia. They individually cameup with creative ways just to be able to raise funds to help many families such as organizing a ‘Clean-Up Drive for Cambodia’, a charity dinner and golf tournament, an auction, among many others. The build experience they gained affirmed their drive to help. More than laying bricks or building a foundation or simply mixing cement, the volunteers’ contribution and enthusiasm at the build site and during fund raising inspired home partners like Chok Sarom and many more volunteers who are considering volunteering and offering their time, money and skills to help change people’s lives for the better. The Hands and Hearts Build commenced with the volunteers’ tour at important historic sites in Phnom Penh, allowing them to know more about the country. An orientation was conducted by Habitat Cambodia and Australia staff, which helped volunteers know more about the projects and prepared them for the build. Volunteers were eager to get their hands dirty on the first day when they were greeted by
the home partners, skilled workers and the community people. During the week, they visited the Steoung Meanchey dumpsite to understand more about the housing situation in Cambodia and a Habitat home partner Phoat Horn - who happily showed them how to make fabric flower as her form of livelihood. One volunteer, Glenn Schultz shared, “It’s hard to put in to words the experience of participating in the Hearts and Hands Build. There are lows - seeing the living conditions and learning about Cambodia’s dark past and the highs
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- handing over the House, interacting with the local kids and working as Team with people you did not know prior. It’s hard work, in hot humid conditions and I came here not knowing what to expect, but you just can’t help fall in love with this place. The laughter and smiles from the Cambodian people fill the room and they are so friendly. I can easily say this is one of the proudest moments of my life. If you ever get an opportunity to go on a build, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you could imagine.’’
On the final day, volunteers gaily decorated the homes. Photos were taken, simple gifts where shared, birds and flowers were released for good luck, prayers, well-wishes, warm hugs and tears of joy were shared. For the Hands and Hearts Build volunteers, and home partners like Chok Sarom, this was not the end. This was just the beginning. *The HFH Cambodia home partner names in the story are not their real names.
Highlights
HFH Cambodia represented in Community Development Foundation
More Disaster Response Capacity Building to Permanance.
Ms. Bernadette Bolo-Duthy, HFH Cambodia Country Director, was invited by Community Development Foundation (CDF), to be a board member of the newly founded organization, as an international organization representative. The opportunity will contribute to Habitat Cambodia’s efforts of strengthens its network capacity and expanding its presence in community development. As a board member, Habitat will be part of discussions on current community development issues, organization guidelines, programs and projects partnership opportunities, and proposal collaborations. CDF is a new local organization founded with the purpose of helping Cambodia people in the communities, particularly, villagers in the rural areas with welfare support , infrastructure upgrading, human resource development, and microfinance.
The workshop included discussions on globally-accepted guiding principles, standards, coordination mechanisms and program “products” for the post-disaster shelter and settlements sector.
Workshop discussions
Building on HFH Cambodia’s first DR project, and the promising results of recent DR M&E activities and Reflection workshop, colleagues from Habitat for Humanity International, Mario Flores from the Atlanta office and James Samuel from HFH AP conducted a one day DR workshop. The workshop was arranged to synchronize and strengthen HFHC’s understanding of the HFH strategy for disaster response as guided by the Pathways
WATSAN Exposure Visit
Watsan group meeting
Habitat for Humanity Cambodia team in Siem Reap organized an exposure trip this month aimed at advancing water and sanitation project capacity. WatSan stakeholders such as Sanitation Action Groups (SAGs), School Water Sanitation and Hygiene (SWASH), and local authorities joined the visit to a project by Plan International Cambodia in cooperation with Siem Reap Provincial Department of Rural Development (PDRD), Issue 39 |
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Successful latrine building
located in Banteay Srey district. The trip encouraged and motivated the participants to learn best practices from successful Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) efforts. The other purpose of the exposure visit is to learn from worthy lessons learned and take note from experiences shared by direct implementers and villagers who now have im-
The specific objectives of of the workshop include reach consensus on strategic opportunities posed by early engagement in post-disaster shelter assistance through implementation of program interventions consistent with latest sector trends, access to new resource development opportunities, and execution of partnerships and grants agreements in support of these interventions. Participants of the workshop were some key management staff of HFH Cambodia and the DR Ad Hoc team.
proved living and health conditions due to their creative toilets, hand washing stations, and the knowledge they have strictly put in practice on proper handling of drinking water. Mr. Samrith Sophat, HFH Cambodia WatSan CLTS Specialist shared his thoughts after the experience, “This one day visit is very useful, the team learned various things including effective leadership, a better and more practical way of setting up hand washing station, proper waste management, and demonstration of behaviour change among SAG members and effective promotion of latrine construction. The team received a practically reinforcement of its knowledge about the sanitation ladder techniques. We are optimistic we can improve our WATSAN project in our target areas in Siem Reap to strengthen our capabilities of serving our home partners.”
Viva Volunteers Volunteers Viva Global Village Wrap Up
GLOBAL VILLAGE TEAMS
March 19 to April 02: A Global Village volunteer team from Japan formed a group of twenty one members, which they called ‘Hamakko Build’, came together to work alongside the home partner to construct one brick house in Pouk District, Siem Reap. On the last day of their building schedule, the team took the opportunity to visit Tier Banh Kumrou Primary School to understand the education system in rural Cambodia. They headed back to the site to prepare for their house dedication ceremony.
Teamwork
Very systematic!
During the emotional dedication, team member were excited to take the chance to share about their experiences with home partners and skilled workers. At the very end of the program, the team fondly dressed up with the locals on Khmer traditional wedding dresses which perfectly matched the traditional songs and dancing. During a non-build day, the team took the time for sightseeing around Phnom Penh such as Russian market, Genocide Museum, Toul Sleng, Wat Phnom and Royal Palace.
Helping each other
Khmer traditional dancing (rom vong)
After a touching house dedication, where everyone had the opportunity to share about their feeling during the week, the team invited home partners, skilled workers and Habitat staff to join them for lunch at the resort nearby the build site. Outdoor activity with students
Completing the mission
“I feel very happy that volunteers come to help build my house. They really do a lot for us. Meanwhile we learn to know each other more. They are very friendly and loving.” Seng Vichet, HFH Cambodia home partner Starting the wall
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Experience Khmer Tuk-tuk
Volunteers’ Voice April 01 to 07: A twenty-member volunteer team from Shanghai American High School, China, joined Habitat once again bringing with it another group of students that built two brick houses in Vimean Trung Community, Phnom Penh. After a touching house dedication, where everyone had the opportunity to share about their feelings during the week, the team invited home partners, skilled workers and Habitat staff to join them for lunch at the resort nearby the build site.
Smile!
House dedication celebration
The team also enjoyed a tour of the city during the non-build day. If you would like to make a difference and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Cambodia as a Global Village volunteer, visit this site for more information: http://www.habitat.org/gv/ Khmer traditional welcome (som peas)
Group posing!
Close-Up
JACOB DYER
ANGELINE CHEN
G W E N PA K
How do you feel with the build work? I think it’s great as I have a chance to work directly with the home partners, and able to see the house building progress daily instead of just sending out the donation and you have no idea where your money goes and how it is used to help others.
How many times you have been volunteering with Habitat? This is my first time to volunteer with Habitat
What make you interested with Habitat? Besides helping, it’s an opportunity to travel to different areas of the world to understand the life of the people that living in various places on earth.
What do you think about Cambodia and the people? Cambodia is a very nice and beautiful country. The people are very friendly and welcoming. I feel like I am home here, very comfortable. What do you think about the house dedication? It is fun. I like the part of releasing the birds which is symbolic of releasing the bad things and gain luck for the family, they are warm and always smiling. Issu e 39 |
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How do you feel with the build work? The build work is fun despite of being tired due to the heat, but it was very rewarding to me because I have had a chance to work with my classmate to help people, and make new friends with people in the community. Building with home partners and skilled worker is really fun even if we couldn’t understand each other’s language. What is your favourite construction activity? Laying brick because I can see the progress of my work and I feel actually building a real house than other activities. people in the community.
How do you feel working with Habitat? I feel good to get to know the need and condition of other people; have had a chance to have fun with children and meet families. What do you think about the house dedication program? The house dedication is great. I didn’t get to experience it during my first Habitat trip to another country. It was a great experience, and pretty emotional when everyone share about their experience and feelings. We got so close to the family and everyone, so it was quite hard for us to say goodbye
Khmer Harvest Build KHB Family Update Solar Power for Khmer Harvest Build Community
24 solar lamps and two boards of 135 Watt solar power were installed and put into use at the Khmer Harvest Build Community Center by Khmer Solar Company on 27 March. Svay Sreyneth and her four children while cooking lunch
Svay Sreyneth and her four children, Yu Bovatey (9), Yu Bovatha (7), Yu Bolina (5) and Soeun Phasan (2) made a move to their new home in KHB Community (Holistic Hope Community) right after the build was completed.
nity leader to assist in community work by taking account of and assisting community people need. She helps in by advising people in the community on how to run formal application forms to the authorities. She also maintains the plants in the community center. After the installation of solar lamps After about five months of living in their new Sreyneth was also appointed to take care of home, Sreyneth and her children are more the solar and solar lamps and report in case secure, “this new house helps my family a lot. problems occur. I do not need to pay for water and electricity, especially the rent. The thought of getting Above and beyond her expectation, her chilkicked-out of the house by the landlord nev- dren are also very happy with their move. er crosses our mind anymore. We live in our They now have friends and are able to foown now,” she proudly and playfully shared. cus on their studies. They also have a wider As a mother of four children, Sreyneth and really clean space to roam around with. shows a strong sense of responsibility of tak- “Before when we were living at the dumpsite, ing care of her daughters and sons, and their while we sat, we would spend loads of time house. Besides her housework, Sreyneth has swatting flies.” Yu Bovatey, the oldest daughbeen selected and assigned by the commu- ter shared.
Khmer Solar lights up 20 families Khmer solar donated 20 1.3 watt solar lanterns to HFH Cambodia. The full charge lantern can be used for 24 hours. The lanterns will serve EHOPHHS project families in Phnom Penh, especially Prey Veng. They can now access electricity. Our thanks to Khmer Solar! Issu e 39 |
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The solar lamps are now being used by the community members allowing them an extended time and secure to walk around the community at night time. The lamps were installed right before the Khmer New Year. The community people were very happy to be able to celebrate the New Year together.
Special Feature Upcoming Events and Legal Holiday Pour Flash Latrine: from 30 minutes to 30 seconds Ms. Chhoeun Pea (40) is a rice farmer who lives with her elder sister (53) in Svay Chum village. Just like many villagers in rural Cambodia, Ms. Chhoeun and her sister did not have access to improved sanitary facility and practiced open defecation. It used to take her at least 30 minutes for them to walk to the nearest empty field to defecate and walk back home. “I was afraid of snakes and it was difficult especially when it rained every day,” Ms. Chhoeun said. Over a year ago, she was invited by local Sanitation Action Group (SAG) members to attend a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) workshop facilitated by HFHC. She learned about the importance of adequate sanitation practice and decided to build a dry pit latrine using local resources. After using the dry pit latrine for a year and demonstrating her ability to maintain and sustain open defecation free practice, she decided to build a pour flush latrine with her self-fund she was saving for a long time. Ms. Chhoeun actively participated in construction which took place in February while receiving technical guidance from skilled workers; she dug, collected and carried the materials, and made a cement foundation. She proudly told us that it only took 5 days to complete the construction with her playing a key role in managing the construction and mobilizing local resources such as sand from her rice fields and woods to make a door. The difference the new latrine has made in her life is already significant. She can now conveniently go to bathroom within 30 seconds – a great improvement from her the previous 30 minutes! She no longer has to worry about the rain. Not only does she expect the reduced incidence of sickness and medical cost for her and her sister, she is also motivated to educate her neighbours about the importance and convenience of having a family latrine. The Habitat Siem Reap team was thrilled to know that the project can certainly mobilize women as skilled workers and ally with them to promote latrine construction in target communities.
01 May International Labor Day 07 May Visak Bochea 13 – 19 May Global Village Team from Singapore in Siem Reap
14 – 16 May King Norodom Sihamony’s Birthday
19 – 25 May Global Village Team from Australia in Sirem Reap
19 – 27 May Global Village Team from Korea in Phnom Penh
21 – 27 May Global Village Team from Singapore in Siem Reap
New Faces
Please contact Saborn at bun_saborn@habitatcambodia.org
Please join HFH Cambodia in welcoming Bun Saborn our newest Project Officer for PPCDP based in Phnom Penh. Saborn brings with him ten years experience working with NGOs.
Please contact Muny at eb_muny@habitatcambodia. org Chhoeun Pea and her elder sister in front of the newly built latrine
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Welcome Eb Muny, our newest Construction Supervisor for Siem Reap Project. Muny Brings with him years of experiecne working on construction.
Or Kun! Habitat for Humanity Cambodia says thank you to our corporate and international partners and our affiliate tithe donors. Together, we will continue improving lives and building communities in Cambodia. A F F I L I AT E D O N O R S : Habitat for Humanity GREATER LOS ANGELES
Habitat for Humanity AUSTRALIA
Habitat for Humanity GREATER LOWELL
Habitat for Humanity GREAT BRITAIN
Habitat for Humanity GREATER BOSTON
Habitat for Humanity NEW ZEALAND
Habitat for Humanity EAGLE & LAKE COUNTIES Habitat for Humanity INLAND VALLEY Habitat for Humanity DESERT FOOTHILLS Habitat for Humanity NORTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY Habitat for Humanity DOUGLAS COUNTY Habitat for Humanity METRO DENVER Habitat for Humanity METRO WEST / GREATER WORCESTER Habitat for Humanity WEST HAWAII Habitat for Humanity OAKLAND COUNTY, MI WEST PASCO Habitat for Humanity ST. JOSEPH Habitat for Humanity, MO Habitat for Humanity GREATER BIRMINGHAM Habitat for Humanity GUAM Daimler Financial Services, GERMANY
I N T E R N AT I O N A L PA R T N E R S :
Habitat for Humanity CANADA SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity MALAYSIA UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURG Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity of ST VRAIN VALLEY WESTMINSTER COLLEGE Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity GERMANY HONOLULU Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity SEATTLE / SOUTH KING COUNTY CENTRAL DELAWARE Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity ANCHORAGE SAN DIEGO Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International - USA Global Village Volunteers Habitat for Humanity CHINA (Hong Kong)
The Charitable Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, International Children’s Care Australia, World Bank, Japan Social Development Fund, Asian Development Bank, Paul and Aileen Munn and World Vision Cambodia
C O R P O R AT E PA R T N E R S :
ANZ Royal Bank, Khmer Solar, Davies Paints Philippines, Hotel Cambodiana
U N I V E R S I T I E S A N D S C H O O L PA R N T E R S :
Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Norton University, Build Bright University, Royal University School of Social Work, Logos International School, Northbridge International School, University of Cambodia, Collaborative Studio
Join HFH Cambodia’s Social Media Network! Become a Fan or join our Cause on Facebook http://www.causes.com/causes/260473-habitat-for-humanity-cambodia Follow Habitat Cambodia Tweets http://twitter.com/#!/HabitatCambodia Visit our website http://www.habitatcambodia.org HFH Cambodia address: #35Bis, St. 478, Phsar Duem Tkov Commune, Chamkar Mon District, Phnom Penh City, P.O Box: 2452 Phnom Penh 3 Tel/Fax: (855) 23 997 840 E-mail: info@habitatcambodia.org