Cambodia
We have worked in Cambodia since 1992 and now focus our efforts on 120 rural villages in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces, where we:
- Support village-based older people's associations - groups that foster social bonds and help older people to look after and empower each other.
- Offer an effective and sustainable model for providing care at home for the most vulnerable older people.
- Help older people become financially independent through income-generating activities such as agriculture training, training in pesticide-free farming methods and the provision of agriculture tools, quality seeds and cash grants.
Life story: Bou Phann, 85
A home care volunteer visits an older woman at home.
Leang Saorey/ HelpAge International
Bou Phann is 85 and lives in Battambang province.
She cares for her three great-grandchildren each day while their mother is at work.
Before she had no help, but now she receives visits from a HelpAge home care volunteer.
She says: "My own life was lonely and almost crazy. I had bad health but had to cook and chop wood by myself. I now have a volunteer.
"I feel very much happier and looked after. She helps me with tasks such as cooking and boiling water.
"She gives me massages and sometimes helps me buy medicine. My health is better now I am not lonely.
"I feel warm in my heart and am no longer worried. The past was very different from the present."
The difference we made in 2010-11
- We have trained 1,680 older people's association leaders, 280 village health volunteers, 30 health centre staff on primary healthcare and older people's health problems and 280 home based care volunteers to assist home bound older people.
- We have trained 325 older people's association members on farming techniques to improve rice yield and 540 members on how to manage home gardening and vegetable growing.
- Following our six-month literacy training course, 95% of the 300 attendants reported improved skills in reading and writing simple letters and understanding simple sentences about their daily life. The participants said this not only meant they were able to read and write for themselves, but could also teach their children and grandchildren.
What next?
- We will provide more home care for older people and advocate to the Cambodian government to accept home care as a viable government policy.
- We will help vulnerable older people through income generating activities in 16 rural villages.
- We will help to develop community-based organisations led by older people. These will form stronger links with local governments and help community development in poor areas.
See how older people's associations help
communities in Cambodia
Our partners
Village Support Group (VSG), Khmer Rural Development Association (KRDA), Khmer Kom Nit Thmey (KNTO), Khmer Farmer Development (KFD)
Our donors
European Commission, HelpAge Korea, Korean Technical Cooperation
