My Story: Sa Kimsorn, local representative, Moung Russey, Cambodia

My name is Sa Kimsorn and I was born on 15 June 1970 in Kear Commune Moung Russey district Battambang province, Cambodia.

My name is Sa Kimsorn and I was born on 15 June 1970 in Kear Commune Moung Russey district Battambang province, Cambodia. I am a resident of community, I have lived here for a long time, I was pass Pol Pot regime and Cambodia State (communism 1979-1989). I have completed high school in 1987 and migrated to a refugee camp in Khmer-Thai border during the civil war in 1990 to 1993 and returned back after the peace agreement. I am a Programm Manager of a local NGO and working volunteer as Local representative in Moung Russey commune. We produce rice for daily food and I usually wake up at 7 o’clock in morning and have rice for breakfast and drive motorbike to work. I get a smile on my face when the goals in my job or community have been achieved. My dream I hope to be a professional social development facilitator and Cambodian youths left school and vulnerable women in rural community get equal access in development and living with peace, democracy and human rights respect. The dream can be achieve up to support from donors base on commitment of community in period of 3 for 5 years.  The community needs the help to overcome the problem remaining with poverty and injustice rights. I can collaboration with all people in any way that can lead to achieve the goal of youth capacity building and women who headed family to enable them in increase income and send their children to school with food worry. The project is to promote community use potential and properly resource management. We keep well cooperation with local authority and other development sector, donor for sustainability project. I can share the experiences of community development with vulnerable groups, and cooperation for cultural exchange. I try to learn from best practice group and reflect to change implement character for social behavior of Community. My motto I like in working group and network association, I have skill of Training of Trainer, project assessment, community organizing, report writing, leadership and project management. I believe on slogan of “working together for positive development change among vulnerable people” Local situation Moung Russey located in 245km northwest of Phnom Penh capital and there are 29,220 families and 147,586 populations with comprising of 75,771 females live in Moung Russey district of Battambang province, Cambodia. The district consisting of 101 village and 11 communes, with direct to up hill area and Tonle Sap lake, the main source income of community is rice production and farming. During the long civil war in Cambodia people in Moung Russey were suffering with stress, broken hearts, hunger and displacement. The lack of income, poor agricultural production and unemployment make certain groups vulnerable, especially woman-headed households and youth. The poor living conditions and lack of skills made people migrant from place to place for labor employment. Most of the youth left school at grade 6 or 9. We would like to build the capacity of youth and increase income for women through agriculture.  The key person in community and volunteer of social worker conducted an assessment and found the issue through group discussion and meetings with the community. The number of youth leaving school increases every year because of family poverty condition in rural area. The unemployment of people concerns the community and leads to migration of youth from community to the city or even illegally to Thailand and other countries where they are faced with trafficking, exploitation and HIV/AIDS. Sexual and drug abuse pass from one to other among youth and children. Woman-headed families can not send their children to school and come across with food shortage every year. The big gap of income between people in town and rural area causes conflicts and domestic violence. The community asked for support and demanded from all development sectors to help them overcome the issue. NABUUR I got information about NABUUR from my friend in USA when he requested me to register my organization information with one world directory in 2004. Nabuur is the room of communication and a bridge to reach donor for resource support to community. Nabuur can be my family that building capacity and support to me. I think that I will miss the chance in communication, support and relationship of neighbours if I don’t have Nabuur.  Starting with Nabuur.com communication the community got strong cooperation and sharing from neighbours both technical and materials posting and donation like fund initiative project, three laptops, a set of solar energy, business plan development and seed support for farmer. The community needs training center construction for multi purpose of skills building to youth groups and women house holds. We looking for experiences, volunteers to help in training and donor funding to youth left school and vulnerable women in project implement of Moung Russey district. Internet Internet is information library and place for connecting to neighbors and donors. I spend time two day per week at Battambang province about 46 Km from community. The internet café charged 1 US dollar for one hour.