Cambodia
We have worked in Cambodia since 1992, and now focus our efforts on 60 rural villages in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces, where we:
- support village-based Older People's Associations - groups which help older people look after and empower each other
- maintain collective holdings of rice and cows, and provide agricultural training
- improve people's access to clean drinking water by providing ponds, wells, water filters, as well as information about sanitation and water safety
- run bi-monthly health camps to advise older people on looking after themselves and acessing health services
- provide small business start-up grants and training to help older people become financially independent
- offer care at home for the most vulnerable older people in the community through our Sponsor a Grandparent scheme.
The difference we made in 2009-10
- We have provided grants and training to more than 200 older people in 32 villages - helping them use skills like weaving or mechanics to provide for themselves.
- Through bi-monthly health camps held in 60 villages, we have provided more than 2,500 older people with check-ups, advice on looking after themselves and accessing health services, and information on age-related conditions.
- We marked the country's first celebration of the International Day of Older People on 1 October 2009 - taking part in a ceremony in which members of Older People's Associations spoke alongside government officials.
What next?
- We will provide more care at home for older people, train community volunteers to visit them, help them with housework and advise on accessing healthcare.
- Through our Sponsor a Grandparent programme, and a welfare fund managed by the Older People's Associations, we'll continue to give financial help to very poor older people, so they can buy essentials for themselves and their families.
- We will provide literacy training for 300 older people, mostly women, in 30 villages.
Our partners
Village Support Group (VSG), Khmer Rural Development Association (KRDA), Khmer Kom Nit Thmey (KNTO), Khmer Farmer Development (KFD)