"I grew up having everything I wanted, but seeing Cambodia and the living conditions there made me reassess my life": Siv Rauv

Making poverty history: Siv Rauv, front, marched with her friends, from left, Amy Hawkins, Kate Vernon-Bowers and Amber Drake, to campaign for an end to world poverty. Picture: Natalie Roberts

Young ambassadors plead for world's poor
27 May, 2010
BY RODERICK SHAW
Penrith City Star (Australia)

SIV RAUV of Glenmore Park has been campaigning to end poverty around the world.

Ms Rauv, 22, and 999 other young Australians were ambassadors for the Make Poverty History campaign, organised by Oxfam, World Vision and the Oaktree Foundation.

``We took to the road,'' she said. ``A large part of our campaign is to get 40,000 petitions to Federal Parliament.''

She said anti-poverty campaigns were working and the Oaktree Foundation's research showed extreme poverty fell from 42per cent of the world's people in 1990 to 20per cent.

``The government said it would increase international aid by 9per cent that was encouraging,'' Ms Rauv said. ``We're petitioning for more effective aid, so more goes to the poorest countries in our region with the funds to go to those who need it.''

The 1000 ambassadors from around Australia met in Canberra for three days, speaking to MPs and exchanging ideas.

Ms Rauv's parents are from Cambodia, which she has visited.

``I grew up having everything I wanted,'' she said, ``but seeing Cambodia and the living conditions there made me reassess my life.

``We have the resources to end global poverty, so I don't see why there's still poverty out there.''

In our ricefields we have the Viet crocs, in our forest we have the deadly snakes: Plight of Khmer villagers in Svay Rieng

Away from the insdicrete gaze with butt stark naked

11 March 2010
By Kang Kallyann
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French By Tout Louse Laut Rek
Click here to read the article in French

In rural areas, hygiene and the availability of toilets remain an elusive luxury. The tough living conditions led to human dramas that are both tragic and ridiculous.

The tragedy is taking place in Svay Rieng province, near the Cambodian-Viet border. During a recent coverage on the border dispute [near Koh Kban Kandal village where the Viet encroachment took place], a villager told me this story: four villagers died there in the last few month because they were bitten by snakes while they were relieving themselves in the forest. At first, I had a hard time holding my laughter when I heard about this story.

Nevertheless, the villager insisted: this snake problem caused a lot of trouble in the village and it is far from being resolved. With the lack of decent toilets, the villagers had no choice but to relieve themselves out in the open air, away from the village and away from any indiscrete gaze. To the chagrin of the villagers, their open air toilet is infested with snakes … but the villagers have no other choice, and they are exposing themselves to this danger on a daily basis. What could be viewed as a joke is in fact a tragedy for these villagers. When I discussed this topic with a local official, he prefers not to talk too much about it: of course, “some villagers” died recently “because of the snakes.” For their safety, the youths were asked to learn how to shoo away the reptilian pests. And, that was the end of the story.

So you think this is funny, eh? Now, think about the families of the victims when they learn that a simple toilet could have saved the life of their loved ones. Think also about this young woman who was raped in the forest, or better yet, think about this young man who was killed by strangers when he was relieving himself. Now you can see that these cases are not laughable at all, but that they are in fact ridiculous! Now, let’s see: how can we explain the contrast between these dirt poor provinces and the luxurious roads that filled the capital city of Phnom Penh? Do you think that, in the 21st century Cambodia, it is acceptable for forests surrounding villages to be strewn with human feces?

Some city dwellers have the habit of showing off their disdain to people who live in isolated villages. But, would these city dwellers be at ease if they had to risk exposing their intimacy, their health, or even worst, their life just to be able to relieve themselves? Hygiene is not always within the reach of everybody in Cambodia just yet. Right now, in Phnom Penh, there is countless number of cosmetic stores where costly plastic surgery is being offered to the public, where young women who are so preoccupied by their look can have their skin whitened up, and yet, there are still a large number of Cambodians who live without using any soap at all. Based on these observations, it is clear that what is supposedly ridiculous is not always what we believe it would be at all.

Quite often, the entrance to villages would bear large signs clamoring: “drink and live healthily to protect your health.” Furthermore, several NGOs insist that they are promoting hygiene and that they are building infrastructures to allow access to drinking water, or building toilets. Keep in mind also that the cost of the most basic toilet is about 140,000 riels, i.e. about $35, with all the numbers in mind, I feel less inclined to smile nowadays when I read stories in the newspapers about villagers having to face snakes.

Going back to Cambodia

Khem Suong
Khem Suong’s family members pose for a picture in the village of Krang Baing, Cambodia. Pictured are (from left) Suong’s nephew and niece, Pat and Tong, and her parents, Yan and Suong. (Courtesy photo by Khem Suong)

Local woman starts nonprofit to aid her hometown

May 7, 2009
By Tim Simard
Observer staff (Williston, Vermont, USA)

After 33 years away from home, having survived war and genocide and started a new life in Vermont, Williston resident Khem Suong returned to Cambodia in November to reunite with her family in an emotional meeting.

Suong, who owns Khem’s Creative Sewing in Shelburne, didn’t know until last year if any of her family had survived the horrific regime of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia’s ruling communist party in the 1970s. But by working with local Cambodian refugees and scouring through rough information, Suong discovered that her parents and other relatives still lived in the village where she barely remembers growing up.

“I had enough courage to go back and visit,” Suong said of her return to Cambodia. “It was the right time.”

Now, Suong is on a mission to help her native village, which suffers from extreme poverty and poor health conditions. By raising money for the Krang Baing Village Project, her nonprofit foundation named after her home village, Suong hopes to improve the lives of family and friends in Cambodia.

“After everything she’s been through, to be so loving and warm is amazing,” said longtime friend Maureen McLoughlin. “That’s why she’s so generous.”

A long journey

Violence came early in Suong’s life. Starting in 1975 and continuing through the decade, the Khmer Rouge ruled the southeast Asian country, murdering people who were considered politically subversive. While no exact figures have been established, it’s estimated the Khmer Rouge killed nearly 2 million Cambodians in the 1970s.

The government abducted Suong and her older sister from Krang Baing, placing them in a “reeducation” camp. But Suong and her sister quickly escaped. They spent three months hiking through jungle mountains with other escapees, attempting to survive disease and Khmer Rouge soldiers.

Suong eventually made it to the Thailand border, where she collapsed from malnutrition. She awoke days later in a Thai hospital, and to this day does not remember how she made it across the border. Most of her traveling party, including her sister, did not survive.

After four years in a refugee camp in Thailand, Suong arrived in Vermont thanks to a sponsor family that brought her to their home in Essex. Since the age of 14, Suong has lived in the Champlain Valley, starting a family and a successful business.

“I love sewing, that’s why I have a tailoring shop,” Suong said. “It’s a great business.”

In 2008, Suong discovered her parents and younger siblings were alive and well. She said her parents, who barely survived the Khmer Rouge themselves, believed she had died years ago. The reunion in November finally brought closure to Suong’s years of not knowing.

“At first, it was a like a dream thinking they were still alive,” Suong said. “I know it’s real now.”

Return to Cambodia

The Krang Baing Village Project got its start after Suong saw the conditions in which her family lived. The village had no running water and was ripe for disease. Residents routinely died from ailments that could easily be treated in the United States, she said.

Cambodia’s health care system is one of complete ruin and corruption, Suong added. Some doctors only treat patients after accepting bribes, she said.

“When people are sick, they just stay at home and die,” Suong said.

It’s what happened to her brother-in-law only a few months ago. Stricken with a kidney stone, he didn’t have the money to pay for a crucial blood transfusion and passed away, Suong said.

Tremendous poverty also hinders development in farming communities outside the cities. Most farmers make barely enough money to support their families, and never enough to climb out of debt. It’s a cycle that’s nearly impossibly to break, Suong explained.

Back in Vermont, Suong quickly went to work starting a nonprofit organization. With help from McLoughlin, Suong began soliciting donations and raising awareness.

Suong said 100 percent of any money raised would go to improving village conditions and purchasing tools to help in day-to-day farming life.

“I want to help them help themselves,” Suong said.

As part of helping Krang Baing, students at Williston Central School will help sponsor Suong’s village with fundraisers and classroom activities next year.

Suong hopes to soon return to her village and help her family break out of the poverty cycle.

“I want to help them in any way I can,” Suong said.

The Krang Baing Village Project’s first fundraiser will be on May 30 at a Jam For Sam event at Talent Skatepark in South Burlington. Jams for Sam are skateboard events and public fundraisers in honor of Sam Cohn, a local skateboarder who died a few years ago. All proceeds from the event will go to the village project.

For more information on the event and how to donate, call Khem Suong at Khem’s Creative Sewing at 985-5057.

Cambodia develops cultural heritage and eco-tourism

Mar 24, 2008
By Mohan Gunti

PHNOM PEHN, Cambodia (eTN) - In recent years, the government of Cambodia has given priority to the development of the country’s tourism industry, focusing on cultural and eco-tourism in order to promote the advancement of national economy and rapid poverty alleviation.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon said that tourism plays a significant role in generating employment opportunities and expanding national economic base through its linkages with the agricultural, industrial and service sectors. The minister pointed out that Cambodia's tourism sector is the key to the country's development, thus helping economic development and poverty alleviation.

In response to the government's decision, on March 16, 2008, the Ministry of Tourism, Preah Vihear National Authority, APSARA Authority and other tourism industry members conducted a site visit Prasat Preah Vihear, an eleventh century monument in Preah Vihear province, northern Cambodia that is revered as one of the greatest Khmer temples of all times.

The Cambodian government has plans to develop the Preah Vihear temple into a cultural tourism destination in an effort to reach the goal of attracting 3 million tourists by 2010.

Minister Khon, Hang Soth, general director of the Preah Vihear National Authority, in a joint statement said that roads and infrastructure should be developed first so as to attract tourists.

CATA president Ho Vandy also stressed the same as an important factor to develop the tourism in the northern region.

Authorities have already outlined a plan to develop cultural and eco-tourism since Cambodia abounds with enormous potential in cultural and natural heritage, and most of which have not yet been developed.

Tourism Minister Khon said that the tourism ministry has accelerated its efforts in order to make northern cultural tourist attractions, adding that in the mean time, the ministry also has done its best to set up other cultural sites for tourism development.

To promote the development of cultural and eco-tourism the Ministry of Tourism, along with relevant ministries, authorities and international community, has made efforts to improve the efficiency of administration in tour operations and services, as well as to train human resources.

In recent years, the government allocated more financial budget for rehabilitation of roads in order to facilitate tourists.

Depending on its enriched cultural and natural resources, Cambodian authorities are determined to convert the country into the most preferred cultural and eco-tourist destination in the region.

Preah Vihear Temple is located in a pleasant environment with an attractive countryside slightly east of the mid section of the Dongrek Mountains. It is perched on the edge of a giant cliff, about 525 meters above sea level in Preah Vihear Province, Northern part of Cambodia. It is also situated close to the Cambodia-Thai border Sisaket province.

The Preah Vihear temple was built from year 900 to 1150. Preah Vihear, which means sacred monastery in Khmer, was built over a span of about 300 years, starting in the 9th century.

The Cambodian government has proposed the sacred Hindu Temple Preah Vihear to the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to officially list as World Heritage site because of its outstanding historical, cultural and universal value.

Saorim goes to school

Saorim has difficulties walking as a result of polio. The Cambodia Trust supports her by providing leg braces and the materials she needs for school. 98% of disabled children in developing countries don't go to school because of extreme poverty, lack of transport, inaccessible classrooms or discrimination.

Group Works to Improve Literacy

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
14 November 2007

A new group has started up a rural literacy program it hopes will help alleviate poverty in Cambodia.

The group, Young Generation for Development, has 16 members and will undertake a three-month project in Kampong Cham province, funded by the US Embassy in Phnom Penh and the International Republican Institute.

Director Hing Soksan said in an interview with VOA Khmer that the reading would help children improve critical thinking, cleverness, broad knowledge and dignity.

The children will be role models for their community and Cambodian society, Hing Soksan said.

"The Young Generation for Development wishes all students' parents or guardians to be a part of the students' learning, so that they can encourage their children to like and love reading and learn to avoid illiteracy," Hing Soksan said.

The group's project coordinator Heng Socheata called on all parents to send their children to school.

"We want to promote the awareness of the importance of reading among children and their parents and to make children's parents aware of their role in pushing their children to read as much as possible," she said.