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Page 1: Moul Matte No44_English

Moul Matte vol. 44 March 2012 1

Volume 44 March 2012

World Vision Concert in Preah Vihear Promotes

Health and Sanitation

> Page 3

Water Brings Children Health and SafetyBy: Ratana Lay, Communications Officer

Ponhea Lue ADP Celebrates WASH Success

“Many families changed from their old habits to cleaning the environment around their homes, boiling water and washing hands before eating.” > Page 4

The Water Issue

Drink MORE WATER for a Better Life

> Page 8

Two sponsored children, Soung Sreynet, 12, and her younger brother Narak, 8, who live in

Ponhea Lue District, Kandal province, love to carry drinking water from home whenever they go to school. Sreynet’s family drinks water from a water filter donated by World Vision Cambodia.

“Since we received the water filter, my children have enjoyed good health and we haven’t wasted money,” says Peng Soknouek, Sreynet’s mother. “Before, my children got sick easily. They often had diarrhea. I spent at least 100 thousands

riel (25USD) each time we saw the doctor.”

About 45 kilometers from Phnom Penh, many communities in Ponhea Leu lacked access to clean water, sanitation facilities and good hygiene behavior, which can lead to poor health, especially in the dry season.

“The absence of water and sanitation facilities increased living costs for the poor, reduced income earning potential, damaged well being and made life more risky, especially for children,” says Nong

Davith, Programme Manager for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene of World Vision.

Sreynet and Narak used to drink unclean water. Soknouek says, “When my children were thirsty, they were always in a hurry to drink. They drank water before boiling.”

Souknouek adds, “Now with the water filter, I don’t have to waste time to boil water or spend time looking for fire wood as before.”

World Vision also built two wells in Sreynet’s village. Sreynet’s family and neighbors get water from the well right behind her house.

Sreynet says, “I have used the water from the borehole for cooking rice, washing cloth, dishes, showering.”

Sokouek says, “Before having the well, I had to walk to a pond which is about 100 meters from home. To reach the pond, we need to pass by the thick

Since we received the water filter, my children

have enjoyed good health and we haven’t

wasted money

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Moul Matte vol. 44 March 20122

bush. And sometimes, leechs bite us. I did have a bath only once in the early evening. And I had to go with my friends and my older sister.”

“I was afraid of walking to the ponds alone…I was afraid of being raped,” she says.

During the dry season, the pond did not have enough water for her villagers to use and drink. Most of them were able to shower only once a day.

“My children are very lucky, especially my daughter because they have enough water to use. If there is no well, I would worry so much if she had to go to the pond for taking a bath or collecting water.”

Soknouek also boasts about her villagers’ behavior change. She says, “My villagers have better understanding about health and pay attention to their children’s health, such as the cleanliness of their children’s bodies. They shower and clean their children’s bodies regularly, which is different from before. Children especially have learned the habit of washing their hands before meals.”

Besides using the water for showering and washing clothes, Sreynet understands the importance of keeping herself clean, which she learned from her children club meetings. She says, “I always wash my hands after leaving toilet and before having a meal.”

To ensure the health of community people, especially children, World Vision has built 67 wells and provided trainings and awareness on good sanitation and hygiene in Ponhea Lue ADP.

In 2004 less than 5 percent of the poorest people (households in the lowest wealth quintile) had access to good sanitation facilities compared to 24 percent for the richest people (households in the highest wealth quintile).

Davith says, “Our work is to ensure that communities, especially children, have access to safe, sufficient quantity, good quality, convenient and affordable drinking water.”

Health and Nutrition the Focus at World Vision Concert in Battambang TownBy: Um Vanndeth, Communication and Publications Intern

World Vision Cambodia’s Optimizing Growth and Development Potential for

Young Children Project in cooperation with Battambang Health Operational District organized a concert on health and nutrition at Poutivong temple, Sangkhat Chamkar Samrong, Battambang Town, Battambang province on February 16, 2012.

The special concert aimed to increase the knowledge of mothers and communities on proper infant care especially, breastfeeding, complimentary feeding and sprinkles. These practices are necessary for the reduction of maternal mortality

and child mortality for children under 5 years of age.

“I am so glad that I could come to watch the concert,” said Sopheap Am, 28. “The special porridge that I made for my nine month old son; I have eggs, fish, pork, and all kind of green vegetable and I will combine the special porridge with sprinkle. Beside the porridge, I will prepare cooked banana for my son as well.”

The concert featured singing performances, a slide presentation, comedy role-play, banner displays, a video show, leaflets, and a question and answer session with prizes from World Vision.

There were about 2000 participants taking part in this concert including community people, government officials and World Vision staff.

Chandara Meas, Medical Assistant and vice director of Battambang Health Operational District, said, “We encourage all pregnant women to go to the health care centre for regular exams and to receive iron supplements. Women should also deliver at the health centre for the safety of mother and child. Then after birth, we ask new mothers to exclusively breast feed for at the least the first six months.”

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World Vision Cambodia’s Sustainable Actions to Fight Poverty Hunger and

Malnutrition Project (SAFPHAM) and Farmer Livelihood Development in cooperation with Preah Vihear Health Department and Rural Development Department organized special concerts to promote health and sanitation under the theme “Our Health and Community Sanitation.”

The concert took place in two villages: Narong village, Chheab II Commune, Chheab District, Preah Vihear province on February 9 and Yeang Village, Yeang Commune, Chhamksan District Preah Vihear province on February 11. More than 800 people joined the concert in Narong village and 1,200 in Yeang village. The respective audiences included local community people, government officials, and World Vision staff.

The event aimed to raise awareness on essential maternal and child health, nutrition, hygiene, water sanitation, disease prevention, and to discourage unsafe migration to other countries through closed borders.

“I am so happy that I can join this concert. I am aware of getting regular check ups at the health care center, drinking clean water, and sleeping under treated mosquito nets,” said Vann Thany, 19, who is currently pregnant.

The concert featured singing performances, comedy role-play, banner displays, a video show, and a question and answer session with the Provincial Health Department, Rural Development Department and other stakeholders.

“I was impressed with the concert as I saw that around the villages there are a lot of forest, so I can imagine during rainy season the high risks of malaria and dengue fever. Therefore, all community people must pay attention to the potential spread of these diseases,” said Dr. Deng Angkea Bous. “World Vision’s SAFPHAM project created banners that include key health care messages. All of us must be part of the health solution in partnership with NGOs.”

SAFPHAM project is funded by the European Union.

World Vision Concert in Preah Vihear Promotes Health and SanitationBy: Um Vanndeth, Communication and Publications Intern

Public Awareness

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Ponhea Lue ADP Celebrates WASH SuccessBy Nav Chantharith, Office Assistant for Writing

ADP Profile

Ponhea Leu Area Development Program of World Vision started in 2006 with funding from World

Vision Canada and World Vision United States. Presently, the ADP is funded by WV Japan. The ADP is currently implementing Community Mobilization Project, Sponsorship Project, Health and Nutrition Project, Food Security Project and Water and Sanitation Hygiene Project (WASH) in 34 villages. Three communes are also receiving funding from World Vision Japan to improve the sustainable livelihoods of children and their families and to increase ownership of communities.

As communities lack access to clean water, sanitation facilities and good hygiene behavior leading to poor health, WASH plays a key role in Ponhea Leu ADP.

Chouk Samnang, project coordinator for WASH says, “The objective of our WASH

project is to provide access to water and sanitation, raise awareness about health and hygiene, and keeping food and environment clean around the home. We also encourage families to be open defecation free.”

Ponhea Lue ADP’s WASH project started in 2009 with the cooperation with Ministry of Rural Development, local authorities, schoolteachers, and community people. There have been many achievements including the construction of 67 wells, 4 rain water tanks and 7 latrines for schools, 3 pond equipped rope pumps, the distribution of 640 ceramic water filters and hygiene education for community people. There were 7 villages that became open defecation free out of 34 villages. World Vision did not spend any money to build the toilets for the villagers but by just educating them and providing moral support, the villagers gladly owned

it. The ADP achieved villages to become ODF in year 2010-2011, Samnang said.

Prak Soeun, Ponhea Leu ADP manager says, “I am really proud of the villagers who accepted the new water and sanitation practices and understood the importance of good health and hygiene behaviors.”

Many families changed from their old habits to cleaning the environment around their homes, boiling water and washing hands before eating. Community people are now able to save time and money, and especially avoid preventable illnesses.

Next year, World Vision will continue to work with authorities and other stakeholders to build 19 wells, 4 ponds, 1 school latrine and continue to raise awareness on hygiene and train community leaders in an additional 5 villages to become open defecation free.

Using the toilet outdoors can have negative effects on health, dignity and individual safety for community people.

As the feces flows freely, it can carry dangerous bacteria to water resources causing people and cattle to easily get sick or polluting the air with bad smells. More importantly, without toilets at home, people, especially children, are at risk of getting bitten by snakes, sexual exploitation, and other hazards. To reduce the risk from open free defecation, World Vision works with partners and authorities to educate community people to understand the importance of having toilet at home.

Nong DavithWASH Programme Manager

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Moul Matte vol. 44 March 2012 5

Youth Voice

Cambodian Youth Takes Stand Against Trafficking in HanoiBy: Albert Yu, Communications and Media Relations Manager

“Migration causes many young people to become vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking,” said Din Channarith,

22, to a group of high-ranking government officials at the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 8) and Inter Ministerial Meeting (IMM3) during 14-16 February 2012 in Hanoi Vietnam.

“Youth participation in raising awareness and educating children in communities is very important to mitigate the risk of their migration,” Channarith said during his address.

“We want to see the governments of the six (Mekong regional) countries increase resources to combat trafficking by raising awareness in schools, building youth capacity, enforcing laws related to human trafficking and allowing youth and children to raise their voices in senior meetings.”

After the three day meeting, Channarith returned home with new experiences and a new appreciation for his responsibilities as a youth advocate.

“I have learnt about what issues youths from the other five countries face. I have learnt to cooperate with other countries to join voices for advocacy and more techniques to deal with issues related to trafficking and migration. I have especially learnt how to identify priority issues,” said Channarith.

Channarith and 25 friends in his youth club have been working to raise awareness on violence, human trafficking, migration, and child rights to his community people, especially children, through public forums, meetings, art performance and marching.

Channarith, who lives in Phnom Penh, has been involved with World Vision Cambodia since early 2008. He attended various

trainings organised by World Vision on child rights, child protection, anti human trafficking and advocacy. He is one of the most active youth advocates working in his community as a peer educator. He also received training on physical theatre and organised theatre productions in his community to highlight issues related to child trafficking. He also attended the National Youth Forum on Trafficking and Migration in 2010. The national youth forum provided him opportunities to represent the youth of his community at the national forum.

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During their visit to Boribor II ADP in early February, Kevin Chiu, CEO of World Vision Hong Kong and two board members gained better understanding

for how community mobilisation has impacted the well-being of children through child sponsorship.

They met with community volunteers who established a kindergarten for young children and an after school youth program that taught kids about basic life-skills such as proper hygiene practices. Kevin and the board members also dropped by a child-monitoring meeting where a community group was reviewing the status of registered children and sharing challenges that have arisen.

Over the three-day visit with World Vision Cambodia, the WVHK delegation also visited the Street Children Transformation Project, Trauma Recovery Project, and VisionFund activities.

On February 16, Rich Stearns, President of World Vision United States and a group of 14 major donors marched with hundreds of youth in Laek Daek ADP

to raise awareness on child protection with special focus on child labor. Holding signs and chanting along with the youth advocates, Rich, his wife and daughter, and the donors raised their voices for the rights of children and urged the community to ensure children stay in school. The donor group also joined an advocacy campaign event organized by the youth featureing a role-play that highlighted the risks of domestic violence and trafficking.

The march and campaign event took place on the last day of the major donors’ five day experience with World Vision Cambodia where they also visited the Street Children Transformation Project, Trauma Recovery Project, Children of Hope ADP’s economic development activities, and VisionFund activities in Hope and Peace ADP.

The major donors were part of WVUS’s National Leadership Council who support the For Every Child campaign, which funds child protection programmes around the world.

Special thanks and appreciation to all programme and ADP managers, and project staff who helped make this visit a smashing success!

WV Hong Kong CEO and Board Members See Benefits of Community MobilisationBy: Albert Yu, Communications and Media Relations Manager

WVUS Major Donors Join Advocacy March for Child ProtectionBy: Albert Yu, Communications and Media Relations Manager

Our Guests

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Neang is a single mother with five daughters. Her husband died of malaria leaving them with virtually

nothing other than a few tattered bags of personal belongings.

The oldest daughter is 9 years old, her name is Sreynou; the second daughter, Sreyny, 8; the third daughter, Sreyva, 5; the fourth daughter, Sreychea, 4; and the youngest one, Srey pov, 3.

The street is their home and also their workplace. Every day and night, the five girls beg for money so their mother can buy food to eat. If their begging is unsuccessful, they have nothing to eat. Their clothes are worn out and infused with the smell of the streets.

All five girls look similar with the same curly hair, big eyes with long eyebrows, and rotted teeth. Every night, they sleep on the dirty streets located near the

Tonle Sap riverbank or sometimes under a bridge. They sleep with no mat, blanket or pillow.

Life is hard and dangerous for Neang and her five girls. They face threats from local gangers and illness from the lack of sanitation on the streets or from the bites of mosquitos where they sleep. The police come by daily to clear the homeless away, so they must also find places to hide.

Street children transformation project staff of World Vision Cambodia has tried to get the girls to stay at the centre, but the mother is unwilling as the girls are the only real source of income right now from their begging. Sreynou, the oldest daughter said, “I want to learn how to read and write, and I want a house to sleep in.” Sreynou has stayed at the Bamboo Street Children Centre before, but for only a short time. She really enjoyed and loved studying at the centre.

Unfortunately, her mom called Sreynou back to the street, as she is the best at begging among her sisters.

Neang said, “I used to rent a room to stay with my daughters. It cost 20 USD per month. I stopped renting the room because I could not afford it anymore, so my only choice is to sleep on the street.”

Asking Sreynou what she wants, she replies, “I want to go to school, good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and I want to good place to stay.”

Neang shared, “I can allow my daughters to stay at the World Vision centre if I have a job so I can feed myself. I want a cart to sell sour fruits and fresh fruits along the riverfront, so my daughters do not need to beg for money. Now begging is the only choice for my children to earn money to buy food.”

Pray for Children

A Mother and Five Daughters Are HomelessBy: Vichheka Sok, Transformational Development Communications Officer

Do you remember the 5-step of MSC ?

Get your copy of the MSC Overview Pocket Reference Guide NOW to refresh your memory! This is a handy document to have on-hand while your preparing your MSC activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Vichheka Sok via E-mail: [email protected] or Tel: 078 900 466

Please pray for Neang and her five daughters, and that Neang will soon have better

opportunities to support her daughters so they can go to school and be safe.

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Without water, your body would stop working properly. Water makes up more than half

of your body weight and a person can’t survive for more than a few days without it. Most experts recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water every single day.

Your body doesn’t get water only from drinking water. Any fluid you drink will contain water, but water and milk are the best choices. Lots of foods contain water, too. Fruit contains quite a bit of water, which you could probably tell if you’ve ever bitten into a peach or plum.

So why is water so important?

We’re made out of water—Between 60 to 70% of your body is made from water. Your blood, muscles, tissues, and other parts of your body are basically water as well.

Other drinks can’t keep you hydrated—Caffeinated drinks—especially sodas—actually make you even thirstier after you drink them. That’s because the caffeine acts as a diuretic, leading to more urination and more dehydration. Simply

put, soda and other drinks just can’t hydrate the body like water does.

Lack of water causes fatigue—Dehydration is one of the top causes of severe fatigue.

Water is necessary for good digestion—Remember earlier when I said your body is made out of water and that it needs water to run properly? Well, this goes for digestive functions as well.

Water helps blood circulate properly—Water is a necessary ingredient for proper blood flow in the body. As you drink more water, oxygen levels in your bloodstream will increase, leading to better circulation and improved overall health.

Toxins get flushed out by water—Your kidneys act as a filter. But for them to work as they should, they need to have plenty of water intake.

Water helps you burn fat—Drinking water can help you stay skinny in a few different ways. First, a lack of water actually slows protein synthesis—the muscle building function in your body.

Since water is so important, you might wonder if you’re drinking enough. There is no magic amount of water that kids and adults need to drink every day. Usually, people like to drink something with meals and should definitely drink when they are thirsty. But when it’s warm out or you’re exercising, you’ll need more. Be sure to drink some extra water when you’re out in warm weather, especially while playing sports or exercising. You should carry bottled water everywhere you go.

Moul Matte vol. 44 March 20128

Drink MORE WATER for a Better LifeWriter, Translator and

PhotographerMr. Albert Yu

Communications and Media Relations ManagerMs. Lay Ratana

Communications Officer

Mr. Kong Sopheak Digital Media Officer

Ms. Sok Vichheka Transformational Development

Communications Officer

Mr. Nav Chantharith Office Assistant for Writing

Mr. Lychheang Seyha Communications Publications Officer

Mr. Um Vanndeth Communications and Publications Intern

EditorMr. Albert Yu

Communications and Media Relations Manager

Ms. Lay Ratana Communications Officer

Ms. Sok VichhekaTransformational Development Communications

Officer

Design and LayoutMr. Lychheang Seyha

Communications Publications Officer

The Communications and Media Relations Department would like to thank those who contributed to this edition of Moul Matte newsletter.

We welcome all contributions for the next issue. Please forward your programme news, photos, staff opinion, recent events, etc. to [email protected] (or

send your letter to National Office) in the Communications and Media

Relations Department before Friday, 30th March 2012.

Thank you very much!

World Vision Cambodia# 20, Street 71, Tonle Bassac, Chamkar Morn, P.O Box 479

Phnom Penh - Cambodia | Phone: +855-23-216 052 | Fax: +855-23-216 220Email: [email protected] | www.worldvision.org.kh

Health Focus:

WATER

Sources:• http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/water.html

• http://www.dirjournal.com/health-journal/why-is-drinking-water-so-important/

• http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water