Cambodia Study Tour Report

exchanges with local children

ISSJ is promoting professional skills of caretakers for children from extremely poor families at a day care center, “Phtea Nhor Nhim” in Chamroeunphl Village in a suburb of Phnom Pehn, Cambodian capital.
This year is semi-centennial anniversary for establishment of the diplomatic relationship between Japan and Cambodia, and also is a friendship year of ASEAN-Japan. So there held many programs promoted by Japanese and Cambodian governments. Foreign Ministry recognized ISSJ Study Tour as an official program. The program was held from November 2 to 7. and 14 members joined the program at ISSJ “Phtea Nhor Nhim”. The programs are an education of hygiene and nutrition, job training for the orphans and street children, visiting the job training place for the handicapped people suffered by polio or mines, having a harp concert by Ms. Chizuko Ikeda. In addition to that two staff of ISSJ, with a subsidy from Voluntary Deposit for International Aid Office at Postal Service Agency, promoted the program fostering human resources in Cambodia.

This was the first time after the end of the Cambodian Conflict, that a grand harp was brought into Cambodia. From Japan via Bangkok to Phnom Penh many people helped this project. JAL staff helped us when we brought out the harp from Japan. Yoichi Travel arranged a carriage from Bangkok to Cambodia and from the international airport in Phnom Penh to the hotel. Surprising enough, in Cambodia the permission is required when a forklift drives on the road. Because that day was a holiday for King’s Birthday, we could not get the permission. We asked Mr. Takuma Koichi, who established the company in Cambodia, for crane. At the beginning we were afraid of lifting up the 250kg unstable box containing the harp, but we finally realized that the admirable technique of Cambodian people lifted up in good balance only by a woven rope, The human ingenuity and beautiful technique of professionals made us realize high- tech was not all.

Children of Phtea Nhor Nhim

The ISSJ staff discussed about the activities of “Phtea Nhor Nhim “ and the future program with “Phtea Nhor Nhim” staff in Phnom Penh. The local staff requested us to provide the children with at least washbowels, soaps and towels that were necessary for the hygiene education at suburban schools. This means our activities are getting fruitful. In addition to that they would like to start a new class for those who cannot attend the compensatory school. ISSJ decided to let them try.

The staff visited a Christian group, which was providing job training and accommodations for street women and children, and got information for ISSJ. They also visited job independence center directed by Japanese NGO. Women were making cloths, bags and small objects by sewing machine. Compared with the time when ISSJ started its support in Cambodia, job training facilities increased rapidly and could make better products. But both facilities had difficulties to get fund for independence, because it was hard to find sales network. To develop a sales network will become an important issue in future. Independence would be possible only after this point is cleared.

Now ISSJ has a relationship with various Cambodian NGO and governmental institutions, which is because that ISSJ has been providing same program continuously in Cambodia. We are glad that Cambodian people are getting to understand the importance of human resources. We hope that we can illumine Cambodian people regarding the importance of welfare activities by continuing this program.