Gymea Baptist Church

Volunteers, Vegies and Village Health Cambodia

NEW UPDATES - Please read how the mission is progressing

Project: Volunteers, Vegies and Village Health Cambodia Agency: Baptist World Aid Target: $25 000 (Tax Deductible)

Total Raised: $27 619

The Health Care Development Program seeks to tackle the root causes of ill-health in the isolated, rural communities of Stung Treng. This is an integrated program which is transforming communities through health, agriculture, nutrition, literacy, water, sanitation and income generating activities. By establishing and training Village Development Committees, Village Health Volunteers and Traditional Birth Attendants, community members are empowered to identify and respond to their own development needs.

Your donation will fund:

35 VHVs (village health volunteers) in 11 villages to enable them to teach health messages and give primary health care in their local community.
2 new VDCs (village development committees) to begin needs assessment and development of Community Action Plans.
support for VCDs in 11 villages to be able to plan and implement their own unique community development projects.

A reduced smoke stove

A new family toilet

Progress Updates: Gymea Baptist Church Project Report 2008

Health Care Development - YWAM Cambodia

Stung Treng Province, Cambodia
The 2008 Gymea May Appeal raised a total of $27,619 to assist the work in Cambodia. The following is an update on the program noting key outcomes.

Training and Support for Village Health Volunteers (VHV’s)
• Teaching and support was provided to village health volunteers in 21 villages with a total of 69 individuals taught during 23 supervisory visits. Key topics reviewed included:
• Diarrhoea and preparation of Oral Rehydration Salts
• Treatment for malaria and pneumonia
• Breast-feeding education
• Family planning including birth spacing
• Healthy pregnancy
• Immunisation
• VHV’s were also encouraged to teach families to use the report form to record any teaching provided and to indicate the number of cases of malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia referred to the Health Centre.

Training and support for 2 new Village Development Committees (VDC’s)
Currently there are 132 VDC members in 22 villages. Teaching and support was given to a total of 104 VDC members in 20 villages during 24 supervisory visits. Members reviewed development topics and were encouraged to plan and implement priority projects identified in the Village Action Plans.

Community Development Projects
VDC’s have been encouraged to undertake and complete projects according to their Village Action Plans especially those directly impacting health. All VDC and VHV families are designated “model” households to be examples to their communities.

YWAM assisted or supervised the following projects which were implemented according to the requests and plans made by VDC’s:
• 29 family toilets were completed in 6 villages

• The design of reduced-smoke stoves has been modified but is still under trial by YWAM staff before being promoted and built in 22 participating villages.

• 34 family fish ponds have been made in 8 villages. However, breeding of fish and frogs has had limited success. Whilst the catfish spawned well, many subsequently died at an early stage. The first round of frog breeding produced many tadpoles but approximately 60% of the baby frogs subsequently died. The second round of breeding also produced many tadpoles with the hope enough baby frogs will survive to be supplied to family ponds.

• S.R.I. rice technology has been taught to Model Farmers from 5 villages and is being implemented by 10 farmers in 4 villages. One rice bank was completed in 1 village. Emergency rice was distributed for 3 Kravet villages in July/August as once again, due to lack of rain in the area resulting in a poor rice harvest. YWAM continues to work with these villagers to determine ways to grow enough rice for their needs and reduce dependency on outside assistance.

• The Agricultural Supervisor continued working with 10 farmers in the original Model Farmer’s Group and also commenced a second group with 8 farmers from 5 villages. Both groups meet monthly for teaching, encouragement and follow-up. All farmers are encouraged to implement one or more of the following projects: ecological chicken-raising, rice-field fish culture, SRI)

• Vegetable seeds have been provided for family vegetable gardens in 18 villages through VDC’s and sold at Health Fairs.

• Mango saplings grown in the nursery have been distributed to 8 villages (1,218 trees) as well as given away at Health Fairs. In addition, new fruit tree nurseries have been established in 6 villages and VDC members have been taught how to care for the saplings to sell to villagers for a nominal price.

• 5 chicken pen/enclosures have been constructed in 1 village.

• Buildings for literacy teaching are under construction in 2 villages.

• 1 driven well was completed.