Adapting Livelihood Projects for Climate Resilience

The Cambodian Organization for Children and Development (COCD) aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable and abused children in Cambodia through tackling structural causes of poverty, inequality, social exclusion and child abuse.

Cambodia is one of most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, largely due to its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors including agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Poultry production is a climate resilient business that requires little water and can provide income and food security year-round.

This project will improve the climate resilience of vulnerable households through training to protect their income and families from climate threats.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• deliver a half-day workshop for COCD’s 210 chicken raising self-help groups (SHGs) in innovative adaptation skills for poultry production in a changing climate;
• deliver a half-day training session on financial management to 210 SHGs;
• deliver a one-day workshop on climate change awareness and disaster risk reduction for SHG participants, village chiefs and commune council members.

Cambodian Women-With-Disabilities Climate Change Preparedness Training

People’s Action for Inclusive Development is a non-government organisation working to promote an inclusive society where opportunities to participate in the cultural, social and economic environment are open for all.

In Cambodia, people living with disability lack awareness of climate change and the impact it may have on their ability to meet their basic needs.

This project aims to prevent people living with disabilities from being left behind in a climate disaster by supporting them to affect change in their community, have their voices heard, and be involved in disaster response planning.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• deliver a climate change education session to disability training staff;
• develop a training package on climate change preparedness for people living with disabilities; and
• provide a forum for women with disabilities to improve their awareness of climate change, its impacts, possible solutions and an opportunity to have their concerns heard.

Documentary to Promote Youth Participation in Climate Action in Cambodia

Women’s Media Centre (WMC) is Cambodia’s premier non-governmental, non-profit media organisation, delivering innovative, national awareness and informational programs on a diverse range of issues affecting contemporary Cambodia, with a special focus on the roles and rights of Cambodian women. 

Cambodia is extremely vulnerable to climate change, as a large proportion of its population depend on agriculture for their livelihood and live in flood-prone areas. In the capital of Phnom Penh, 10 million plastic bags are used every day. According to the United Nations Development Programme, reducing plastic waste is critical in Cambodia, as it creates emissions and persistent pollution, contributing to climate change.

This project will produce a two-part educational documentary about pollution to educate youth on the environmental impact of pollution and empower them to take practical actions.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• produce a two-part documentary about taking action on climate change and the importance of reducing pollution – particularly plastic waste; and
• publish the video on YouTube, Facebook, and the WMC website and promote it on TikTok to reach a young audience.

Combating Gender-Based Violence in Cambodia 

AusCam identifies girls at risk of trafficking and exploitation in Cambodia, and ensures they stay in school, build their confidence and create a protective environment.  

In Cambodia, girls face severe gender disparities and barriers that limit their ability to stay in school, make their own decisions and protect themselves – leaving them vulnerable to be trafficked, exploited and abused.  

This project aims to increase community awareness of the risks girls face in Cambodia and provide up to 200 adolescent girls and young women with support so they can safely report gender-based violence and prevent exploitation. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• identify 100 girls who are victims or at risk of sexual exploitation, and ensure they are safe
• build the resilience of 100 girls through educational scholarships and academic support
• deliver counselling, mentoring and leadership training
• educate 100 community members on harmful gender norms, risks of child sexual exploitation and the available reporting systems. 

Mobile Futures: A New Education and Employment Service for Vulnerable Young Cambodians in Remote Rural Locations 

Children’s Future International (CFI) is working in Battambang province to ensure that every child is safe, healthy, educated and thriving. 

Young people in rural Cambodia often lack information about the types of jobs available or how to obtain secure work due to limited access to computer technology, poor internet connection and inconsistent power supply. 

This project aims to assist marginalised and vulnerable girls and boys ages 12-18 in rural areas with education and employment-related support to improve their job prospects.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• deliver workshops to 105 youth on topics including CV preparation, interview techniques, job research, employer requirements and expectations and soft skills to help with the transition into professional environments
• provide transportation support and/or materials for students who are interested in continuing their education or pursuing vocational training. 

Empower Communities to Access Commune Funding to Support the Most Vulnerable Older People, Especially Older Women and Older People Living With Disabilities  

HelpAge is the only organisation working on ageing rights in Cambodia.  

Older people in Cambodia – especially women and people living with a disability – face significant problems, including low income and discrimination.  

Older People’s Associations (OPA) are community-based organisations working for the wellbeing of older people and vulnerable groups. They work to secure livelihoods, improve healthcare, promote community participation and encourage participatory processes with local governments. 

Through this project, HelpAge Cambodia will extend the work of 10 Older People’s Association by building the capacity of management committees to advocate for commune funding in Battambang. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• develop age- and community-friendly training material about inclusiveness
• provide training to community representatives and local authorities, and conduct a series of information workshops to 10 vulnerable people in communities 
• conduct ongoing coaching and monitoring sessions among community representatives and local authorities to develop and submit commune funding applications.

Supporting Cambodian people with communication and swallowing disabilities, through coordinated data collection, establishing an evidence-base for future workforce and service development. 

The Organization to Improve Communication and Swallowing Therapy Services (OIC) is supporting the development of a quality speech therapy profession in Cambodia. 

Speech Therapy is an emerging field in Cambodia, with only one university-qualified Cambodian speech therapist and 13 services in place to assist an estimated 600,000 people living with communication of swallowing disabilities. Services are concentrated in the capital Phnom Penh, leaving the majority of the population without access. 

Current data on prevalence and service access for speech therapy is uncoordinated, incomplete and inadequately analysed. This data is essential for advocating to the government for the development of a Cambodian speech therapy workforce and support service access. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• gather data and build internal team capacity for the development of a mechanism for the collection, management and analysis of data relating to communication and swallowing disabilities
• facilitate collaboration between public and private speech therapy service providers for data collection, referral information, and consistent terminology 
• develop a mechanism for the coordinated collection, management and analysis of data relating to the prevalence of communication and swallowing disabilities as well as access to services and service availability. 

Women’s Economic Empowerment in Remote Areas of Stung Treng Province 

Wathnakpheap is improving the quality of life and livelihoods of disadvantaged women, children and the poorest families working in rural Cambodia.  

While women comprise most of the workforce in rural Cambodia (53 per cent), they are more likely to be employed in the informal economy and are commonly paid less than their male counterparts. 

This project will support women to increase their income and decision-making role in their families. It will also support girls to stay in school and reduce early marriage.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• conduct a family economic assessment and capacity assessment of 10 vulnerable women 
• deliver three days of business training for 10 vulnerable women and help them to develop business plans 
• provide a start-up fund and smart phone to help 10 vulnerable women start their own business

. 

EnergyLab Management Capacity

EnergyLab Cambodia (The Energy Laboratory Limited) is supporting Cambodia towards a clean energy transition and more sustainable development. The organisation was founded by expatriate Australians in 2018 and is now completely operated by Cambodian staff.

This project will empower the organisation’s young managers by building their professional management capacity.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• hire an empathy management professional to provide one-day training to four managers
• deliver one coaching session per month to help staff put the training into practice
• deliver monthly training sessions on relevant topics relating to clean energy.

Strengthening Organisational Safeguarding Systems in Siem Reap 

Friends International (FI) is an award-winning child and youth protection NGO providing protection interventions in marginalised communities.  

Sexual abuse and exploitation are highly prevalent in Cambodia, particularly among children: 5.6 per cent of boys and 4.4 per centof girls experience at least one incident of sexual abuse before the age of 18.  

FI’s program Kaliyan Mith has three Child Protection Officers (CPOs) whose role it is to ensure safeguarding is implemented within the organisation.  

This project will improve and update the safeguarding training materials, implement a training-of-trainers program and deliver this training to staff and beneficiaries.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• develop and consolidate training materials on child protection and prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation
• provide training for CPOs on updated child protection guidebooks
• train staff and beneficiaries on updated child protection guidebooks. 

Upskilling and Professional Development for Gender-Sensitive Leaders in Cambodia 

SHE is a social enterprise delivering the first gender-focused and culturally tailored incubator for women entrepreneurs in Cambodia.  

This project will contribute towards the professional development and training of SHE’s staff to maintain high-quality programs and support for women entrepreneurs in Cambodia.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:  

• bring high-quality external trainers into the organisation to run two-hour sessions once a month on topics that are relevant to projects
• fund external training opportunities for 10 staff to attend more technical courses 
• provide 33 staff with access to online learning platforms
• provide 10 staff with coaching and mentoring sessions to navigate any challenges they are experiencing within their roles. 

Tailored start-up business support for disadvantaged groups from fishing villages in East Tonle Sap Lake

The National University of Battambang (NUBB) is supporting eco-tourism business opportunities for disadvantaged groups in East Tonle Sap Lake.

Based on advice from the tourism industry, the university will identify fishing villages with the greatest potential for community-based eco-tourism. However, these disadvantaged groups require assistance to overcome challenges in finance, basic English-speaking skills, business management skills, marketing skills and tourism and hospitality skills or accreditation.

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• gain an understanding of the needs of aspiring eco-tourism business start-ups
• identify existing resources, or develop tailored solutions, to address these needs
• facilitate activities to meet these needs, such as workshops, site visits, mentoring, networking, training courses and accreditation.

These activities will support at least ten aspiring entrepreneurs to address their business development needs, and it is expected that at least 65% of participants will demonstrate significant progress towards establishing a successful eco-tourism business. At least 75% of participants will come from disadvantaged groups, especially women and young people.
‍
Regular stakeholder meeting within the university will contribute in addressing risk, project exit strategy and extending the benefits and impact beyond the project period.

A brighter future for women

This Life’s program This Life Without Violence (TLWV) aims to reduce the incidence of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in Cambodia and its impact on women, girls, families and communities.

The TLWV program focuses on building community responses to VAWC and awareness of child protection issues and rights. The program reduces risk factors, strengthens protection and improves community-based responses for child protection and the prevention of domestic violence.

International Women’s Day (IWD) presents an opportunity to run a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of combating VAWC.
‍
With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:

• produce a short video for the IWD campaign
• use this video to increase awareness of gender inequity through a national social media campaign reaching one million Cambodians
• conduct five awareness-raising activities with 1,500 participants on VAWC and gender equality.

These activities will increase awareness of gender equity, women's rights, VAWC and how to access services if experiencing domestic violence. The community events will also allow participants to share their experiences and the issues that are important to them around gender equality and VAWC.
‍
Both activities will engage women and children, villagers and local authorities to come together to express their concerns and recommendations.

Capacity building young micro-business owners and Village Support Group staff in forestry and fisheries  

Village Support Group (VSG) is assisting more than 30 community-based organisations in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey Provinces to add value to their local products, such as herbs, fruits and fish, through activities like preserving and packaging. VSG also supports the groups to improve the conservation of forests and fisheries. 
‍ 
Many small business owners in these regions lack awareness of their socio-economic rights and the benefits available from the government for small enterprise development. Younger community members are often encouraged to migrate to urban centres and across borders to earn an income.    

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will:  

• develop and implement training programs in ‘knowing your socio-economic rights’ to help at least 80 participants access government support and build connections 
• develop and implement training in how to add value to rural products from harvesting, preserving, packaging and marketing, as well as basic financial literacy 
• develop and deliver training for VSG staff so they can train others on topics including social enterprise skills. 

 As a result of these activities, rural communities will be able to access government support and build connections with businesses and markets to build their sustainability. These outcomes will help businesses increase employment, especially for rural youth who are at risk of unsafe migration over the border to Thailand.  
‍ 
The majority of labour required for producing local products is carried out by women, especially the harvesting, preparation and sales. Therefore, the focus of the project is on women and youth in the community but does not exclude anyone.

Freedom film and graphic novel: protecting girls from exploitation in Cambodia

The AusCam project will produce a film and graphic novel to raise awareness of violence towards girls and young women in Cambodia, with support from the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund. This builds on the 2020 Freedom Film project, which produced a short film about gender inequality, preventing exploitation and promoted access to a crisis hotline. 

In Cambodia, women and girls cannot access the resources and opportunities that men typically enjoy. Research shows that women approach solving social problems like exploitation and trafficking differently because they have uniquely different experiences to men. Young women can become individuals of influence if they are provided with protection and an education.  

‍This project will produce a second Freedom Film and a graphic novel for print and online distribution through schools. It will educate girls and their families on the realities of seemingly harmless job opportunities and identify actions that girls can use to stay safe, stay in school and pursue a more gender-equal future. These materials will raise awareness of violence that young women and girls face, offer support through a new crisis messaging service, and provide access to educational and leadership opportunities at AusCam.‍ 

Vulnerable girls can access temporary case management support for crisis relief including health support, psychological first aid and legal protection through the crisis messaging service. Girls who qualify will be enrolled into AusCam’s Shine Centre program, offering tailored educational opportunities and support. 

Project activities will include: 

• producing the new Freedom Film and graphic novel 
• hosting workshops at schools  
• launching the film and graphic novel online and in schools
• providing relief packages to girls who call or message the crisis hotline. 

These activities will build AusCam’s capacity to reach young women at risk, and help ensure that girls can access support to improve their educational outcomes and resilience.  

Increasing community resilience against COVID-19 impacts in Siem Reap 

The Friends-International project will train and equip 150 community members to be ChildSafe Agents and provide emergency support to 100 families. It will help ensure marginalised families in Siem Reap, Cambodia are more resilient, have greater food security and offer safer environments for children. 

COVID-19 has caused widespread unemployment in Siem Reap with the most marginalised people impacted the most. There has been an unprecedented increase in child labour, street work, unsafe migration, school drop-out, substance abuse and poverty. As a result, children and young people are increasingly exposed to abuse and exploitation. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• train 150 community members to be ChildSafe Agents 
• provide essential COVID-19 prevention materials (masks, hand sanitisers) and information 
• provide direct emergency support to families affected by COVID-19, including food provision, short-term rent, and hygiene materials 
• distribute awareness-raising resources on COVID-19 information and prevention. 

Training topics will include: 

• recognising and reporting child wellbeing risks via the Friends-International 24/7 ChildSafe Hotline 
• supporting Friends-International socials workers to provide direct protection and emergency assistance 
• referring children in danger to targeted services and partner organisations 
• providing resources to families on child protection and COVID-19 prevention. 

This project will also strengthen community-based protection mechanisms and increase the proportion of children, young people and caregivers who can access direct support.  

Capacity building in rehabilitation: Supporting people with communication and swallowing disabilities 

OIC Cambodia will increase the social inclusion and support of people with communication and swallowing disabilities through building the capacity of Cambodia's rehabilitation workforce and system. It will strengthen the existing public rehabilitation system and workforce through training, coaching and resource development at the National Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Phnom Penh, in partnership with Cambodia's national rehabilitation organisation, the Persons with Disabilities Foundation. 

People with communication disabilities have difficulties expressing and understanding language. Those with swallowing disabilities struggle with eating, drinking and swallowing safely and independently.  

Participants will include adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties, their carers and rehabilitation professionals. With support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, the project will:  

• ‍offer direct speech therapy services for adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties 
• provide support to participants’ caregivers 
• build the capacity of rehabilitation professionals and workers to support people with communication and swallowing difficulties 
• develop relevant communication and swallowing rehabilitation resources to support accessible communication. 

Speech therapy services will improve participants’ quality of life as well as providing learning opportunities for staff to observe, learn and receive coaching on basic speech therapy interventions. The resources and learnings from this project will be shared with other physical rehabilitation centres in Cambodia. 

Empowering young Cambodian women through digital media 

The Women’s Media Centre will create a podcast to openly discuss taboo topics that are critical to progressing gender equality and inclusion. The project will feature Cambodian women, including intersectional marginalised groups and the LGBTQI+ community, enabling women to make more informed decisions about their bodies, health, relationships, and careers.  

Women’s issues are not openly discussed in Cambodia, and women's health issues are often a cause of shame. Cambodia has a very young population, who would benefit from being engaged in innovative ways.  

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• create branding, advertising and social media pages for the podcast to build an audience of young Cambodian women using targeted social media advertising 
• produce one hour podcast episodes 
• publish produced podcast episodes on hosting sites and social media 
• create social media forums to discuss podcast topics. 

Podcast topics will include gender-based violence, women’s health, sexual health, relationships, body positivity, ‍women in the workplace and mental health. 

Formatted as discussion-style interviews with experts in their field, the podcast will ensure women can access empowering, non-judgemental and accurate information on issues that impact their lives. Guests will include medical professionals, women’s rights activists, inspirational women and members of the LGBTQI+ community. 

Through improved access to information, the project will help empower young Cambodian women to make decisions about their lives, bodies, relationships and careers.‍ 

The Freedom Film: keeping girls and women safe from trafficking in Cambodia during and after COVID-19

The AusCam Freedom Project will produce a 3-5 minute video for media use in Cambodia to educate the public on the risks that lead to women and girls being trafficked or exploited, promote the organisation's new crisis hotline, and provide immediate relief and support to those vulnerable.

Supporting marginalised communities into employment in Siem Reap 

Friends International will provide online job readiness and vocational training for people in Siem Reap. It will also offer online employment support to connect participants to job opportunities or help them to start their own business. This project will increase the education and employment prospects for marginalised people in Cambodia. An Australian volunteer is assisting Friends International to deliver this project. 

People from marginalised backgrounds face major barriers to employment, including low levels of education, discrimination and a lack of job readiness. These barriers have been exacerbated by COVID-19, which has devastated hospitality and tourism sectors, the main sources of employment in Siem Reap. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• deliver online job readiness training to prepare participants secure and retain jobs 
• offer online vocational training on hospitality, beauty, barbering, motorbike repair and home-based industries 
• provide online employment support including connecting participants to job opportunities or helping them to start their own businesses 
• provide online training for employment officers and case workers to effectively support participants. 

Training modules will be adapted for online delivery including tailoring training methodologies and providing resources to support students learning at home.  

This project will expand community-based services, increasing the education and employment prospects for marginalised people in Cambodia despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing stable employment promotes stability in participants’ lives, offering them with opportunities to generate income and support their families.  

Supporting and including people with communication and swallowing disabilities 

OIC Cambodia will strengthen the capacity of National Physical Rehabilitation Centre staff to provide services to people with communication and swallowing disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will strengthen the existing rehabilitation system and workforce to provide services through training, coaching and resource development with partner organisations. An Australian volunteer is assisting OIC Cambodia to deliver this project. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation services have been severely disrupted. Staff have strived to maintain essential services for people with a disability via telehealth rehabilitation sessions. People with a disability can have difficulty accessing mainstream public health messages and struggle with social isolation. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• identify training needs and priorities for public rehabilitation staff at the National Physical Rehabilitation Centre 
• conduct training for rehabilitation staff on how to increase the inclusion of people with communication and swallowing disabilities, including those recovering from COVID-19 
• develop resources to strengthen the inclusion of people with communication difficulties 
• conduct training for physiotherapists to provide basic speech therapy strategies for children and adults with communication and swallowing disabilities 
• develop resources for caregivers of people with communication and swallowing disabilities 
• develop training and resources about COVID-19 recovery strategies for people with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. 

This project will equip rehabilitation staff with the strategies and resources to provide accessible communication that is tailored to people with communication and swallowing difficulties. Staff will be more confident to interact, support and treat people with a disability. People with communication disabilities will be able to access rehabilitation services, be included in decision-making about their rehabilitation and will be able to communicate with staff.

Education For All: COVID-19 pandemic response in Cambodia 

Wathnakpheap will ensure that educational programs can continue during the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting inclusive and equitable education for young people in Cambodia. This project will provide computer hardware, internet connectivity and training so staff can deliver appropriate home-based and early childhood development activities. An Australian volunteer is assisting Wathnakpheap to deliver this project. 

Home offices are not common in Cambodia. Wathnakpheap staff often do not have appropriate computers or internet connections to work from home. Most Cambodians face restrictions on physical movement and gatherings due to COVID-19, so Wathnakpheap staff cannot work in their offices. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• purchase computers for education support programs including laptops, tablets and monitors for staff  
• purchase prepaid data packs for staff to use at remote office locations and onsite at schools 
• technology training workshops for staff. 

This project will ensure Wathnakpheap can continue to provide core educational activities to its students. It will also expand online education activities for school communities in Prey Veng, Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. It will remove barriers for staff to deliver program activities remotely, so students can continue to develop and improve their education during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Increasing young people’s access to accurate COVID-19 information through digital media 

The Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia aims to improve community access to accurate COVID-19 information by increasing the Centre’s outreach via social and digital media. It will support the purchase of new equipment and the provision of digital media training for Centre staff. An Australian volunteer is assisting the OIC Cambodia to deliver this project. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Women’s Media Centre has provided accurate and timely information through national news and radio channels. However, Cambodia has young population, with around 50% of Cambodians under the age of 25 and nearly 60% under the age of 30. This means that young people are an important target group for accurate COVID-19 information. 

With the support of the Australian Volunteers Program Impact Fund, this project will: 

• purchase new equipment to provide modern digital media services  
• build the capacity of Women’s Media Centre staff to use social and digital media
• develop a social media strategy for the Women’s Media Centre.  

The project will allow the Women’s Media Centre to host online shows and debates, reaching a wider, more diverse and younger audience. ‍It will empower staff to address misinformation about COVID-19, particularly to young people and women in Cambodia. The Women’s Media Centre will remain relevant to its audience by modernising their services and embracing digital and social media.  

Building capacity and empowering our volunteer network to support clean energy opportunities for Cambodia

By building the capacity of staff and volunteers to run events and outreach activities, EnergyLab will engage with students, professionals and policy-makers to raise awareness on the opportunities clean energy can bring for Cambodia

Awareness raising campaign to build community resilience during COVID-19 

The Women’s Media Center’s ‘COVID-19 and Cambodia’ media campaign aims to enhance community resilience with reliable, factual information about COVID-19, making the community less susceptible to rumour and misinformation, and enabling them to take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the negative health, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic. 

Awareness-raising videos: sustainably managing fish conservation areas

WorldFish Cambodia will produce and share online videos to raise awareness of the importance of integrated inland fish conservation in Cambodia.