Sustainable Cambodia provides clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and education programs to empower Cambodian communities. In 2010, they installed 111 new wells, 8 ponds, 283 biofilters, and more, benefiting over 4,500 people. Their education programs expanded to include 9 preschools and 9 primary schools. Through community organizations, villagers contribute labor and funds to projects for income, food, and sustainable development.
Sustainable Cambodia Water & Related Programs Report 2010
1. Empowering families and children to effect lasting change…… community by community www.sustainablecambodia.org
SUSTAINABLE CAMBODIA
Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
Water & Related Programs Report for 2010
With the help of many wonderful Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, wells & water sponsors and child sponsors
in 2010 in both Sustainable Cambodia and Sustainable Cambodia Australia (SCA), there was
continued progress on bringing clean water to Cambodian villages. We assisted families with the
installation of 111 new wells in 2009-2010, 8 major community ponds, 230 family fishponds, 283
Biosand Filters, 200 latrines and dozens of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting containers, benefitting in
total more than 4,500 men, women and children.
Wells provide year-round water for drinking and daily use for many village families.
The new pump system is easy for families to maintain and much easier for the children to use!
2. Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
2010 Water & Related Projects Report
Community Ponds provide water for irrigating gardens and livestock and can be
stocked with fish to increase the village families’ access to high protein food.
BioSand Filters provide year-round safe water.
We are finding that one of the most significant outcomes of the community pond
projects is the impact on families from income earned for hand-digging the ponds. This
earned income provides families with the means to pay for supplies, healthcare
services, and food security and even to create small business opportunities.
Not only are families engaged in co-creating a sustainable community asset, they are
productive during the long dormant period between the rice harvest and the next rice
planting. With locally earned income, families and their children do not migrate to
distant farms for harvest work and their children can stay in school!
Moreover, the practical skills of developing water catchment systems help communities
to use local resources and to increase social awareness for sustainable development.
3. Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
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Water from Community Ponds provides much-needed irrigation for family vegetable gardens,
especially during the 6 month drought season. Vegetables crops increase nutritional food supplies for
the families. Extra produce can be sold at the market to increase family income.
4. Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
2010 Water & Related Projects Report
In 2010 SC and SCA started a new project – Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting (RRH). The project, jointly
funded by Rotary clubs and sponsors and donors from Australia and around the world, involves the
production of large masonry storage tanks 3,000-4,000 liters in size. These tanks collect rainwater
from the rooftops of family homes during the rainy season, sufficient to provide a family with
drinking water through the dry season.
The RRH tanks are prepared in Pursat town at SC’s main campus, and are then transported by
several modes of transportation to the villages for installation.
The installation includes a gutter and first flush system. The village families receive training in
hygiene and safe water storage and handling.
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Construction is a remarkable team accomplishment… but delivery is a community feat!
6. Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
2010 Water & Related Projects Report
Empowering Village Families
Through Community-Based Organization
Sustainable Cambodia helps the villages in which it works through a model it calls Community-
Based Organization (CBO). The village CBO elects its leaders from among the village families.
The community of Svay Artt has been involved in the SC CBO program since 2005, with various of
the villages in the larger Svay Artt community entering the program from 2005-2007. Five villages in
total from the Svay Artt commune are now full participants. Via public election, four women and one
man have been elected, and these five CBO leaders, with support from the elected Village
Development Committee in each village, guide and take responsibility for operating the community’s
development programs, with technical support from SC staff.
Svay Artt Community Projects - 2010
Beneficiaries
Project # group
Total Female
Community Rice Bank 04 331 150
Self Help-Group 35 572 491
Micro-loan 22 450 357
Cow 60 families 320 169
Pig 143 families 548 300
Buffalo 6 families 26 14
Chicken 128 families 680 354
Duck 31 families 186 96
Community Pond 69 families 247 136
Family ponds 9 families 38 20
Families fish Pond 53 families 298 160
Village Pass-On
All the animals that were received by village families in 2010 in Svay Artt were contributions from
village families passing on the offspring of animals they had received in 2005-2009.
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Village Empowerment: Community-Based Organization
Through Sustainable Cambodia’s Community-Based Organization (CBO) model, village families and
elected CBO leaders from the villages are trained in facilitation skills, leadership, bookkeeping,
planning, project monitoring and evaluation.
The village families also take study visits to other villages to see how the CBO program is working in
those communities and to share ideas on management and project activities.
Sustainable Agriculture & Nutrition
Using the CBO model, the village families organize and work on various agriculture projects, with
assistance from SC staff. In SC’s Kravanh district projects, for example, more than 30 self-help groups
(SHG) have been established, with 450 families and 2,250 members, of whom 1,575 are women. These
groups have not only provided the labor for the projects, but have contributed approx $9,000 in 2010
from their own money for the creation of rice banks, micro-business, child nutrition, water projects
and family ponds and gardens.
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Education Highlights
SC and SCA’s education program expanded in 2010 into Community Outreach Education, areas it
could not reach without the wells and community ponds from the Water Program. The program
targets children in remote areas where the government has not yet built schools. The program works
in cooperation with the government’s education program. SC’s Community Outreach Education
project now includes 9 community preschools, 9 community primary schools, adult literacy classes,
school libraries and mobile community libraries. In 2010 Rotarians and private donors in Western
Australia and around the world helped the villages build the Boeng Reusey Community School.
Community Primary School in Boeng Reusey
Boeng Reusey is a small rural community in Thmey Village, Talo commune, Bakan district in which
more than 40 students live, far from the government school. In 2010, SC and SCA worked with the
village families to convert what was at one time a cattle shelter into community primary school.
Our community outreach education staff (Mr. Chenda, Education Supervisor, Mr. Mon, a
Community Outreach Education Manager and Mr. Bunnarith, an assistant manager) met with the
villagers and discussed their school. The families agreed to contribute what they could afford, some
materials such as wood, and principally labor. SCA agreed to help with things such as zinc, nails and
additional wood. The school now houses a very enthusiastic group of children, all of whom are
excited to be learning in this new facility.
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Boeng Krachap & Boeng Thnort Schools
Boeng Krachap and Boeng Thnort are two other examples of SC’s Community School program in
action. These schools were started in mid-2010, built by the villagers who have contributed their time,
with SC’s assistance with materials and training. As soon as the roof was installed, even before the
building was completed, children began studying there on a daily basis. These Community Primary
Schools are modest, but are truly beautiful in the eyes of the village families who have worked to
create them. The schools double as a space for village meetings.
Boeng Krachap Primary School was assisted with funding by Sustainable Cambodia Australia and
built by the local villagers on the same self-help principle. The successful outcome of these primary
school projects in Bakan province (which now number five) is attributed to the diligence and effort of
SC staff. They are integral to the highly successful outcome of these school self-help projects, and for
the training courses for the villagers. As soon as the roof was installed, even before the building was
completed, children began studying there on a daily basis. These Community Primary Schools are
modest, but are truly beautiful in the eyes of the village families who have worked to create them.
The schools double as a space for village meetings.
10. Sustainable Cambodia & Sustainable Cambodia Australia
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Art-Link Students Paint the World
It is essential in any education to be knowledgeable about the world’s
diversity, including its rich cultures, varied landscapes, and unique
animal life. Sustainable Cambodia is part of ArtLink, a worldwide
program connecting students around the world through art.
SC’s students decided to paint the world globe on a rain water
harvesting jar located next to the main SC office. Vicheka Youm,
Sopheaktra Chhim and Ken Nishiguchi, a volunteer from Japan with
an art background, facilitated the design and building process of the
artwork. The globe has images of 21 world heritage sites and dozens
of wild animals in their respective habitats.
Creating a piece on Art-link class
such a large scale
requires careful planning and measuring. The
longitudes and latitudes were drawn first to serve as
guidelines to forming each continent to scale.
Students then practiced drawing each continent on
paper before painting on the harvesting jar.
Students begin painting area of land while
Pheaktra, sitting on top of the globe, draws
contours of northern Europe.
After a month of work, the finished globe will be used as a tool
to teach students world geography and history.
As graduates and volunteers leave to various places around
the world, the globe will be a reminder of this group’s effort
and determination. Hopefully its presence will inspire
younger students to explore their creative side and continue
to contribute to S.C.’s educational resources available
outside of the classroom.
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Mission Statement
To help the Cambodian villages in which we work become self-sustaining communities where people
want to live, with healthy water and facilities, good food, health care and education for the residents,
where there is environmental and social responsibility, and employment that allows them to sustain
and continually improve their quality of life.
Vision Statement
To create a model which is so successful in creating self-sufficiency and quality of life that the village
families will assist Sustainable Cambodia in spreading the model to neighboring communities.
Empowerment & Pass-On
We are not an "aid" organization: We work with the village families through a participatory
empowerment model, providing resources, assistance, training and education. The families do the
hard work, empowering them to revitalize their community and economy. In return for our help, the
families commit to passing on the gift by helping other families and communities.
--- Community Development Programs ---
Food Security Water, Health & Sanitation Income Generation
Alternative Crops Wells Sewing & Fair Trade
Animal Pass-On Community Ponds Beekeeping
Community Rice Banks BioSand (BSF) Filters Cash Crops
Fish Ponds Irrigation & Pumps Enterprise Micro-Loans
Vegetable Gardens Latrines Self-Help Groups
Fruit Trees Village Health
--- Education Programs ---
Child Education Adult Education
Grade Schools Land-Law Training
Village Preschools Empowerment Trainings
Student Scholarships Village Organization Training
Preschool Food Supplement Adult Literacy
University Scholarships Mobile Libraries
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--- Financial Overview ---
Sustainable Cambodia is funded by child sponsors, contributors, co-founders and sustaining
sponsors from around the world, and through Rotarian sponsors and Rotary clubs from around the
world, and through grants from Rotary and other foundations. By our founding principles, only
native Cambodians may be employed as paid staff. All non-Cambodians, including Board members
and officers, are 100% volunteer, and pay their own travel or related expenses. By training and
empowering Cambodians to help Cambodians, we obtain tremendous leveraging of our financial
resources. 3-Yr Avg
Fundraising
2007 2008 2009 & Admin %
Contributions $238,350 $281,269 $348,620
Administrative & Fundraising $3,900 $6,702 $4,202 >>> 1.7%
Direct Program Funding $256,043 $257,680 $329,686
-- Sustainable Cambodia, Sustainable Cambodia & Rotary --
While Sustainable Cambodia is an independent nonprofit organization,
active Rotarians are key founders and make up a majority of
Sustainable Cambodia’s Board of Directors. The Rotary Club of
Gainesville, Florida was a founding organization.
Sustainable Cambodia Australia is a Coordinating committee of
senior Rotarians from District 9465 and 9455 in Western Australia
with strong affiliations to District 9640 in Northern NSW and
Southern Queensland , the Rotary Club of Lismore West in particular.
Sustainable Cambodia and SCA purposefully align their values with those of
Rotary International, including RI’s ideals of empowerment, peace through understanding, world
service and community service. We apply Rotary’s effective “Four-Way Test” to ethical issues.
Rotary clubs and districts that are now active joint partners in SC include:
Rotary Club of Gainesville, FL Rotary Club of Calgary, Canada
Rotary Club of Calgary Centennial, Canada Rotary Club of Locust Valley, NY
Rotary Club of Salt Lake City, Utah Rotary Club of Poi Beach, Hawaii
and in Sustainable Cambodia Australia include:
Rotary Club of Rossmoyne Perth WA Rotary Club of Belmont Perth WA
Rotary Club of Willetton Perth WA Rotary Club of Mill Point Perth WA
Rotary Club of Kenwick Perth Rotary Club of Southern Districts Perth WA
Rotary Club of Cannington Perth WA Rotary Club of Pinjarra WA
Rotary Club of Kalgoorlie WA Rotary Club of Quairading
Rotary Club of Wanneroo Perth WA Rotary Club of Corrigin WA
Rotary Club of Kalamunda WA Rotary Club of Mundaring WA
Rotary Club of Welshpool WA Rotary Club of Lismore West NSW
Rotary Club of Goonellabah NSW Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise NSW
Rotary Club of Caussade Mid-Quercy France
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--- Organizational ---
SC is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered with the State of Florida, the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service and the Nation of Cambodia. We are audited by independent Certified Public
Accountants in the U.S., and our IRS Form 990 tax returns and past audits are available online at our
website at www.sustainablecambodia.org.
International Offices Pursat Offices
101 SE 2nd Place Suite 201-A #034A, National Road 5
Gainesville, FL 32601 Sampov Meas District
United States Pursat Province, Cambodia
Sustainable Cambodia Australia (SCA) is a Coordinating Committee made up of senior Rotarians
from Districts 9465 and 9455 in Western Australia.
All cheque donations should be made out to:-
“Rotary Australia World Community Service Project 39 Cambodia 2008-9”
Postal Address: - P.O.BOX 3200 SHELLEY Western Australia 6148
Email: - Australia@sustainablecambodia .org
Webpage link www.sustainablecambodia.org/australia