Cambodia the Country and its PeopleCambodia is situated on the southerly reaches of the Southeast Asian mainland. Vietnam lies to the east and the southwest, Laos to the north, and Thailand to the north and west. To the southwest along the Gulf of Thailand is Cambodia's short stretch of coastline. Cambodia's geographical position places it in the midst of many rich and diverse cultures resulting in visibly strong influences, from Indian evident in the beautiful temples of Angkor in Siem Reap to the French easily spotted in Phnom Penh. Indigenous Khmer people form the majority of Cambodia's population, most live in rural Cambodia, in the mountain areas or on the plains. The second largest group of Cambodians are those of Chinese heritage, followed by the Sino-Cambodians from frequent intermarriages between Chinese men and Khmer women. A significant proportion of Cambodia's population also descend from Cham, Malay, Lao-Thai and Vietnamese backgrounds. Cambodia has a well-documented and tragic history. Since democratic elections in 1993 the country has slowly been rebuilding following the devastation of civil war and the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1978. It is approximated that between 1 and 3 million people were killed or died from starvation during the Pol Pot era when family, social structure and infrastructure were completely destroyed. The result is a nation of deeply traumatised people. In recent history Cambodia has been supported by an abundance of humanitarian aid to rebuild all infrastructures, from health and government to basic needs such as access to water. The development has been speedy but at the same time many people still live in absolute poverty and are still trying to survive day to day, from hand to mouth. The development process has led to a renewal of traditional crafts such as silk weaving, stone carving, reed weaving, painting and woodcarving. Many of these crafts have been sponsored by non-government organisations and special projects to provide training and income sources for the people of Cambodia. It is through many of these projects that Cambodia house sources its products. |
The organisations Cambodia House works with include many people from the least privileged sectors of society. We aim to help these people develop sustainable, marketable skills which in turn create sustainable sources of income. Our goal is to support these groups in establishing and developing export markets for organizations producing traditional handicrafts, interpreting new designs, preserving Khmer arts and crafts in Cambodia. This exposure assists with developing skills necessary to participate more fully and providing them with the opportunity to increase their income and hopefully encouraging independence and a sense of self-fulfilment. Cambodia House is devoted to on-going development projects by increasing the number of organizations we work with. Currently these include: The National Centre for Disabled Persons...a resource centre for people with disabilities NCDP which assists in finding employment, advocacy and training for people with disabilities. A retail outlet also provides funding and income opportunities. Wat Than...a non government cooperative working in traditional crafts such as silk, carving, silver and other traditional materials. Located on Norodom Boulevard, south of the Independence Monument, Wat Than is located in a temple's grounds. There is a retail outlet open 7 days to the public and you can see their crafts people at work. Nyemo...a Cambodian NGO that provides a range of services for abandoned women and children (both HIV+ and HIV-) in Phnom Penh. These include a drop-in centre and counselling house, temporary shelter, education programmes, vocational training and job placement with ongoing follow-up. The overall aim is to encourage capacity building and improve quality of life for the most vulnerable. Lotus Pond... works with many outlying villages and their people developing traditional products into commercial outputs. Lotus Pond is also keenly involved in community developmment, health initiatives and rebuilding communities, strengthening education and supporting their future independence. Songkhem...also works with rural villages and has a strong sense of community development in their projects. Songkhem has continually been able to grow with Cambodia House and always provides us with exceptional products that we can take to a global market. Each of these organizations practices Fair Trade and reasonable wages policies. If you are interested in our Cambodian partners and other organisations working in the handicraft sector visit the Artisans Association of Cambodia. www.aac.org.kh We are also commited to supporting the following non-government welfare organisations in Cambodia. Mlop Tapang, an organisation working with at risk street children in the southern beachside town, Sihanoukville. This project was established by a young Australian, John McGinley. www.mloptapang.org The Karuna Foundation, an organisation by Phil and Cathy Kiely of Sydney to suppoprt abandoned and orphaned children in Varin, an isolated village north of Sime Reap. www.karunafoundation.org.au The Matesabroad Foundation, established by John McKeon of Syndey, which supports disadvantaged children in Phnom Penh to access education who cannot for one reason or another access formal education. Over 600 children are supported under this program.For more information on this project email info@matesabroadfoundation.org.au Lavalla School for Children with disabilities in Phnom Penh. This school started as a small project to educate children with disabilities to enable their participation in society. This project is run by the Marist Brothers. Tabitha Cambodia. Janne Ritskes established this project and has developed a remarkable project and team that has made huge inroads into changing families lives in Cambodia and continues to widen its spread in Cambodia and to walk together with the poorest of the poor. www.tabitha.ca |