To get an inside perspective on the changes in Anlong Veng, Cambodia from the start of FH programing seven years ago to graduation in 2015, we interviewed four community members. They each described their unique experience of partnership with FH and their development journey.
Tho Lonn is a 57 year old village chief of Oukokir Kandal in Anlong Veng. This is his story.
"The living condition in my village before partnering with FH was very traditional – we had no new ideas and we didn’t understand what the word “development” means. There was not enough food to eat; people had no trust of one another; they did not work together and children did not go to school.
At first, I was not interested in participating with FH activities at all. They did not give us anything, they only did trainings – and there were a lot of trainings! However, the staff kept coming and they really encouraged us to work together. Community members started to trust one another, something we are not used to. FH staff walked with us closely, teaching us lots of technical skills. Now I understand what it means to say “human resource” - people living with knowledge and skills working together as a community, helping one another to improve the way we live.
I see Savings and Loans as the reason why the people in this village have changed for the better. We have 10 Savings Groups; people come regularly every 13th of the month to pay their loans and save their money. Savings Groups allowed us to have some startup funds to start our own businesses. We do not lack food like before. Now children have the chance to go to school. I am so thankful for the changes that have happened for our children.
I feel sad that FH Cambodia is leaving, but we understand that the work has a beginning and an end. I can promise that I will hold everything dear in my heart and will make sure that we continue to practice everything that we have learned.
As a representative of my village, I would like to say my deepest thanks – especially to the people of Canada - thank you for deciding to help us, especially my village. To all the Canadian supporters - may all of you, including your families, have peace in your heart, be in good health, and may you always be successful in all your plans.”
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| THO LONN WEEDS HIS VEGGIE GARDEN |
"The living condition in my village before partnering with FH was very traditional – we had no new ideas and we didn’t understand what the word “development” means. There was not enough food to eat; people had no trust of one another; they did not work together and children did not go to school.
At first, I was not interested in participating with FH activities at all. They did not give us anything, they only did trainings – and there were a lot of trainings! However, the staff kept coming and they really encouraged us to work together. Community members started to trust one another, something we are not used to. FH staff walked with us closely, teaching us lots of technical skills. Now I understand what it means to say “human resource” - people living with knowledge and skills working together as a community, helping one another to improve the way we live.
I feel sad that FH Cambodia is leaving, but we understand that the work has a beginning and an end. I can promise that I will hold everything dear in my heart and will make sure that we continue to practice everything that we have learned.
As a representative of my village, I would like to say my deepest thanks – especially to the people of Canada - thank you for deciding to help us, especially my village. To all the Canadian supporters - may all of you, including your families, have peace in your heart, be in good health, and may you always be successful in all your plans.”
