BUNGE and HFH Cambodia: Providing 10,000 Liters of Clean Water to 1,200 Rural Children and Families havior changes for 5 years in villages in Angkor Chum district to help increase villagers’ productivity and improve their health and wellbeing. This is the second year Bunge is sponsoring the provision of Aqua Tower to a school in rural Siem Reap in collaboration with Planet Water Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Cambodia.
Bunge Team headed by Frans Mol joins the school children during the ribbon cutting
BUNGE and Habitat for Humanity Cambodia inaugurated a new Aqua Tower at Kouk Dong Primary School in Angkor Chum district, Siem Reap. The Aqua Tower will provide more than 600 school children and over 600 villagers access to safe, clean water to help improve their health, productivity and wellbeing. The Angkor Chum District governor, Mr. Roth Chum and Mr. Frans Mol, Representative of Bunge Asia Executive Committee attended the inauguration. “Bunge is proud to sponsor this Aqua Tower and to help provide a source of clean and safe water for the residents of Kouk Dong,” said Mr. Frans Mol. “As a major agri-business company, Bunge acts in a responsible way with respect to its own water consumption Issu e 40 |
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and is engaged in improving conditions in the communities where we operate. Too many people in rural Cambodia suffer from health problems related to poor water quality, so improvements like this Aqua Tower make a big difference in their wellbeing and daily lives,” he added. “The Aqua Tower is able to produce 10,000 liters of clean water every day enough to serve upto 2,000 community children and people in a day. With enough clean water to use, health challenges such as diarrhea, malaria and other kinds of diseases caused by unhygienic water will be reduced,” according to Mr. Chan Sokhoeun, HFH Cambodia WatSan Project Officer. Habitat for Humanity Cambodia has been promoting water, sanitation and hygiene be-
Apart from the Aqua Tower hand-over, the team also conducted a hand washing training along with HFHC to school students to teach them the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation. Students were taught proper use and maintenance of their toilet. They were also taught how to cut nails, how to brush their teeth, and how to keep their body clean. This initiative is part of the Bunge 10 campaign, the company’s celebration of the 10year Anniversary of the listing of its shares in the New York Stock Exchange on August 2, 2011. Employee-led Bunge 10 community projects continue throughout 2012, “Helping Our People Help Their Communities” around the world.
Building Skills, Improving Quality As the first phase of the EHOPHHS (Enhancing HIV/Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme with Holistic Housing Solutions) project draws to a close, independent reviews of the houses were carried out by the construction team in Phnom Penh, Kandal Province and Prey Veng Province.
isting designs and the quality of construction. Members of the construction team were able to share their experiences and views on important construction issues. To strengthen its initiative of improving construction outputs, HFHC construction team agreed to conduct training with skilled workers in Trapaing Anchang on May 10 and 11. The aim of the training was to teach skilled workers to carry out thorough and effective inspections on Habitat houses. Eight skilled workers were present during the training. Checklists were created to allow skilled workers to inspect the houses in a systematic method.
During the inspection, sixty houses were selected and inspected over a seven-day period. The inspection team which consisted of Mr. Sok Chandarith, HFHC Construction Team Leader and Kelvin Au, Construction Advisor from Engineers without Borders, drew a list of recommendations and presented these in a meeting to the rest of the construction team for further consideration and to apply lessons One of the recommendations of the inspection learned to all active construction projects of team was that every house should be reviewed independently. During the training, skilled HFHC. workers were taught how to identify construcThe entire construction team was present dur- tion and repair needs and to discuss these with ing the meeting and had an open and lively home owners to determine how it may affect discussion to examine ways of improving ex- their lives. Skilled workers were also taught
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how to estimate the cost of repair for some of the houses. A practical session was held to guide the workers through the process to ensure they have a clear understanding of the inspection process. In sum, the team will use the lessons learned from the recent construction activities to further enhance the existing construction techniques and designs employed by HFHC. The items that the team discussed include ways to improve quality of construction, the quality of building materials and ways to strengthen the buildings in case of natural disaster. As a result, all of the new houses in Phnom Penh and Kandal Province have been thoroughly reviewed. One hundred and eighty houses were built and an additional one hundred and fifty-eight houses were repaired under EHOPHHS project between January 2011 and April 2012.
Highlights VP-GV Program: Working to Improve Hosting Standards
Project Exchange Visit with World Bank and LASED
Two Volunteer Program-Global Village (VP-GV) workshops were conducted among HFH Cambodia staff in Phnom Penh on April 26 and27 and in Battambang on May 4 to strengthen participants’ capacity in hosting Global Village volunteers and in articulating HFH mission and the role of VP-GV program in HFH mission. The workshop created a venue for members from Volunteer Program, Resource Development, Construction and Programs to exchange ideas on how GV hosting and implementation can be improved. Through the workshop, the group was able to reinforce their understanding of the VP-GV program, systems, procedures, standards, and requirements. They also shared valuable VP-GV related experiences, learning, and challenges, and most importantly, identify solutions to usual challenges encountered during builds and resolve other significant issues raised. “From my observation, the training helped clarify the roles of each department involved in preparing to host volunteer teams. The other good thing, for the Battambang session, was that we had community leaders join the training. So we will have fantastic support from the community when teams build in Battambang next year,” Hanzel Sarceda, Volunteer Program Marketing Coordinator from HFH Asia Pacific shared after the workshop.
Visiting WATSAN Project in Siem Reap
Ms. Bernadette Bolo-Duthy, HFH Cambodia Country Director joined representatives from World Bank, Ministry of Interior of Cambodia (MOI), and Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction-LASED Project in a 2-day exchange project visit to HFH Cambodia project on Social Land Concession (SLC) in Battambang, Water and Sanitation Project in Siem Reap, and LASED project in Kompong Thom.
mune council, staff from HFHC Battambang Office and community members of savings groups formed with the project. The main purpose of the trip is to understand more about housing loan, Social Land Concession (SLC), livelihood improvement and saving group facilitation through other development projects.
The study tour had 28 participants from the Battambang Municipal Technical Working Group (MTWG), the Prek Preahsdach com3
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“I learned a lot of new things in this trip such as new and low price technology created by villagers and how loan projects are efficiently and effectively handled by other projects. All in all, it was a successful trip,” Dr. Sareth Boramy shares after the visit.
Battambang Team on a Field Exposure to Increase Capacity
With the aim of increasing the capacity of all project stakeholders, relevant staff from the national, provincial and municipal governments, members of the commune council and community representatives including HFHC Battambang staff took a 4-day exposure visit to Oudong Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Sihanoukville, May 8 to 11.
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Team checks project map of Battambang project
The purpose of the project exchange visit is to look deeply into worthy lessons learned and take note of experiences shared by direct project implementers and apply learning for further project improvement.
Mr. Heng Bunny, Project Manager for HFH Cambodia Battambang project shared, “through this study tour, the team has learned more practically about urban resettlement projects. We are able to look into different ways of offering loans for house construction. We also gained, understanding on SLC implementation in rural areas, and understand the problems faced by other Saving Groups and what has been done to solve relevant issues.” The team concluded their exposure visit in Sihanouk Ville to discussed the lessons learnt and evaluate their experience before heading back to Battambang.
Khmer Harvest Build 100 Latrines for Blue Tent Community Launched The construction of 100 toilets in Blue Tent Community was launched on May 25 in Ponnhear Leu district, Oudongm Kandal Province. The latrines will be constructed by Habitat for Humanity Cambodia and granted to the relocated families living in the Blue Tent Community living without access to proper sanitation facilities through Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope. The donation of the latrines is an initiative of
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Eunice Olsen, Miss Singapore 2000, who is now an actress, writer, and a film producer in Singapore. She assembled individual donors from Singapore. “I used to visit Cambodia and did some small projects such as providing books and clothes for children in public schools. This time, on my return, we want to do something more sustainable and more useful for people’s daily lives. I decided to support this toilet project, and I believe after the toilets are built, the sanitation and hygiene condition in this community will definitely improve. Partnership with other
NGOs is key to filling-in the gaps,” Ms. Olsen said. The project allows HFH Cambodia to practice further Construction Technical Assistance to worthy cause such as this. Families in the Blue Tent Community will contribute to the project through sweat equity during construction. Project is targeted to finish on July 2012. The Blue Tent Community is located nearby the Khmer Harvest Build Community.
Special Feature Upcoming Events and Battambang Opens Global Village Volunteer Slots for 2013 One of HFH Cambodia’s unique program themes on Strengthening Civil Society Government Partnership to Deliver Secure Land Tenure in Battambang is preparing to host Global Village volunteers in 2013. With the on-going infrastructure work – roads, drainage system, families are also getting ready to move to their newly allocated land plots. After receiving solid support from the government of formalizing land ownership of over 300 families within the project area, HFH Cambodia is now in the process of dividing legal land plots for families to build their formal houses. This boundary mark activity is expected to reach its completion this year, paving the way to building activities that also opens the project’s doors to hosting international volunteers. Taking this opportunity, HFH Cambodia would like to announce the opening of GV slots in Battambang. The project area will be ready to host volunteers from different parts of the world by 2013. “We hope many volunteer teams will come to Battambang to help families build their homes in secure land. We are already excited to activate the program’s hosting capacity,” says Bernadette Bolo-Duthy, HFHC Country Director. The Battambang project is an innovative partnership between the Government, World Bank and Habitat Cambodia which aims to deliver secure land tenure to families informally settled in urban area.
Legal Holidays 01 June International Children’s Day 03 June Cambodia Prakas Commune Elections 04 – 07 June Market Training Workshop in India 05 June WSSS Meeting at Ministry of Rural Development
11 – 12 June Housing Finance Training in India
11– 15 June GOAC WATSAN Project Training in Siem REap
15 – 24 June Global Village Team from United States in Siem Reap
Please contact Ratanak at sok_ratanak@habitatcambodia.org
HFHC welcomes another Finance and Admin Assistant based in Takeo. Please join us in welcoming Sok Ratanak. Ratanak has worked for Oxfam and other local NGOs in the same field.
The pole boundary installation in Battambang project area
New Faces
Please contact Penh at sao_penh@habitatcambodia. org
Please join HFH Cambodia in welcoming Sao Penh our new Finance Manager. Penh brings with him years of experience working with NGOs like Care and Rhacc in both Administration and Finance. Issu e 40 |
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Please contact Sokunthea at so_sokunthea@habitatcambodia.org
Welcome So Sokunthea who joins HFH Cambodia as Finance and Admin Assistant. Sokunthea has three years of experience working with a local company and an NGO as a Finance and Admin Assistant.
Please contact Horl at chheng_horl@habitatcambodia.org
We welcome another Finance and Admin Assistant, Chheng Horl. He joined HFHC’s Chab Pdoem Chivit Thmey Project based in Phnom Penh. Horl has six years of experience working with SCC, a local NGO.
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, Bunge, Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation
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