STT has spent much of the year gathering information and research about communities in and around Kampot. It is always tempting to want to 'build' something but much of the year has been spent listening and observing. However in the final months of the ICCO funding STT decided to look at implementing some small scale upgrading in areas where the community has shown good cohesion. One of these sites was in a largely Cham (Muslim) village called Phum Kandal, in Trauey Koh Commune -- about 8 kms south of Kampot.
The local Surao (mini mosque) had some land used as water storage which over the years had silted up. The plan was to use community labour to deepen and repair the storage pond and install some simple steps. The community contributed 17 US$ and ICCO (thru STT) 127US$ and within 7 days 192 cubic metres had been dug out and the banks reinforced. 3 weeks later STT supported 4 bags of cement to construct the steps leading into the water, useful not only to access the water but for those wishing to wash themselves before prayer.
The project was simple and effective and soon after a neighbouring community asked for support to upgrade their water storage which is a good sign and one of the objectives of our work -- for communities to take the initiative to develop projects themselves.
Fact and Figures 8 (417kb)
Location: Kampot suburb
Funding: ICCO/community
This involves 'catalysing' community initiatives to develop and upgrade small scale infrastructure including clean water supply, wells, sanitation and safe access.
This usually means helping to talk with local authorities, linking communities to potential funders, and intermittently assisting with budgeting and project management. Usually all labour skills can be found within the community.
A collaborative project in the south of Cambodia with a community upgrading its access road using community labour and a small grant.
In September 2004 the Samaradey Satrey community in Kampot, south Cambodia, was recommended by local NGO ADHOC as a good place to initiate a small pilot project. Staff and volunteers from Sahmakum Teang Tnaut , the Urban Poor Development Fund (UPDF) and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) met with community leaders and members.
The community (with 128 families) already had many priority projects which it had been presenting to the local Government for many years. At the top of this list was the need for a new access road which would be high enough to avoid the daily tidal flooding and allow access to the nearby Dei Hoy Market.
A committee was formed to oversee the design, costing and management of the new 285m long stretch of lane (at a budget cost of $2,028 USD). They also managed the new savings and credit programme which at present has over 60 families participating.
Construction gets underway and even the deputy Governor chipped in with some extra funds. It was truly a community event with the children also doing their bit. One of the key parts of the new road was the culvert which was required to allow the tidal waters to flow easily. After some structural problems (one pipe caved in after a truck went over it) the system was repaired and is working well.
Completion of project in November 2004. Ongoing maintenance will be very important and the committee arranged planting along the sides of a local salt tolerant plant that will help strengthen the road edge.
Inauguration event and opening ceremony in December 2004. Local Government, NGOs and community were invited to take part in the opening ceremony followed by food and games - a typical Cambodian celebration.
A photo project with 30 children under 13 was organised and each child was allowed 3 photos of their community but it had to be taken while standing on the new road. The resulting 90 photos were displayed in a collage at the opening ceremony and provided some unusual angles on the project.
Perhaps the key problem was that some years ago the owner of property near the end of the road decided to 'appropriate' the road into his garden and allowed only a narrow access at the front of his house to the Dei Hoy market. The community have repeatedly written to local and central Government about this but were unable to resolve this. However there is access for motorbikes along the entire stretch of the road and apart from this the project was run very smoothly and efficiently and has inspired some more small scale house improvements and ideas for future upgrading projects.
