Continental Drift

Transforming Rural Communities in CambodiaThrough Community Development

In 2004, my family moved to Cambodia where we were involved in community development work in rural communities in eastern and southern provinces. This is the story of our primary community and how they changed over the two years that we were there.

Among third world communities, the 300 family village of Veil Thom in southeast Cambodia is both unique and quintessential as a rural village. Its uniqueness lies in its formation and composition; in 2001 an ex-Khmer Rouge soldier and land mine victim was given 2000 hectares of open land in the foothills of the coastal mountains of Kampong Speu. Recognizing that fellow soldiers and victims of Cambodia’s three decades of war were not only receiving zero compensation from the government but were also considered outcasts in society, Mr. Lei invited families with handicapped persons to found his community of Veil Thom. Named for the open stretches of land which were virtually mine-free, Mr. Lei drew up a contract that gave each family a generous two hectares of land. In a country where only 70% of the land is arable, this jungle-covered land, nutrient rich from drainage off the nearby mountains, drew nearly 250 families in the first two years. Mr. Lei founded his own non-profit organization, a local NGO by the name of CDRA (Cambodian Development Relief Association) and worked to provide aid to the community he had founded.

But Veil Thom is also a classic impoverished rural village. Poor hygiene practices coupled with unclean water have caused continual outbreaks of typhoid and amoebic dysentery; and malaria is an every present threat. Slash-and-burn farming methods and a dependency on charcoal have worked together to strip the land of native forests leaving the thin topsoil at the mercy of monsoon rains. In a single year, deforestation can cause over 500 tons of erosion per hectare robbing farmland of essential nutrients. Poor farming methods further contribute to soil degradation leaving families both malnourished and without a steady source of income, or a way to last out the 5-month dry season. By May, many families are forced to risk landmines and forage for food in the jungle, often eating semi-poisonous roots that have been soaked in water for days to reduce the harmful toxins. As one ex-soldier pointedly stated “it is easier to carry a gun than to use a shovel.” A low literacy rate among adults and no school, families have little hope for change for their future or their children’s. The cycle of poverty seems inevitable as the psychological barriers of poverty - despair, low self-esteem, and fear - become more deeply rooted.

This was Veil Thom when my co-worker, Jennifer, discovered it in 2003. The community lay isolated by a one and a half hour jostling truck ride along an overgrown ox-cart trek; a trek impassible in the rainy season except on foot. Met with distrust and eyes too scared to hope, Jennifer began a careful relationship with the village, conducting a survey of the community and distributing much-needed rice and treated mosquito nets to the 1200 inhabitants. Over the next year, Jennifer continued to build trust in the community with its steady presence, earnest relationships, and generous relief. Through NGO donations, Eight cows were provided to the community to help with plowing and hauling, along with farm tools, more rice and blankets.Jen soon became a welcomed friend in the community and in early 2004 infrastructure efforts began with the construction of a community school and a road that turned the 1.5-hour trek from the main road to an amazing 5-minute drive. The two were completed nearly simultaneously and excitement in the village reached a fevered pitch as the ribbon was cut on the school at its opening day.

NGO activities began to transition into community development projects, and with that goal in mind I was hired on a Community Development expert to help facilitate the village in creating a vision and plan for change in their community. In a village where there had been no hope for the future, I had the privilege of hosting community meetings where village members excitedly discussed the needs and desires of the community and voted on important issues. Shortly after, we began to work with the community, teaching hygiene and facilitating the construction of latrines and wells in response to the village’s felt needs.

Through interaction with the community, 2005 began a series of Community Development Training programs covering basic horticulture, animal husbandry, and appropriate technologies aimed at increasing food security, generating income, reducing environmental degradation, and improving overall livelihood. The first program covered foundational skills in gardening, fish farming, and goat raising. The training program also worked towards creating a sense of community identity, teaching families to work together, building self-esteem and dignity, and empowering individuals and families to take a hold of their future.

After working together for several days to build a community goat house, one man with an amputated arm made a comment, “If Pol Pot were still in power today [Cambodia's former communist dictator], we would be considered useless meat and fed to the crocodiles. But look at what we can do!” This dignity and sense of worth is essential for hope. It is the fruit of meeting challenges and overcoming them and seeing what they can accomplish with their own handsThe second training program taught essential skills in soil management and an agroforestry technique that allows intensive farming without soil degradation while providing food for both families and livestock. The training also incorporated health and nutrition training. Workshops were also taught on well digging, dryland irrigation, cooking fuel alternatives, and basic concepts in environmental conservation.

As these physical and internal changes take place, a spiritual transformation is also taking place through prayer, evangelism, and discipleship. More than anything, it has been the witness of my Cambodia staff and their daily demonstrations of Christ’s love that has opened the hearts of the community. A nominal Buddhist and former Khmer Rouge soldier with an amputated right hand, Mr. Nang, had little interest in in our work, fearing to trust in another NGO that would simply come and leave after only a short period of time. Through his relationship with my Cambodia counterpart , Rotha, Mr. Nang’s curiosity about Jesus grew as he saw that we was there to stay, and that our ministry was truly about serving the people. In January of 2005 Mr. Nang’s brother-in-law died and Rotha attended the Buddhist funeral. Rotha blessed Mr. Nang with a love offering and prayed openly for him and his family. In Rotha’s openness and love, Mr. Nang experienced the love of Christ. “I had to pay the monks to come and do the ceremony for my brother-inlaw,” said Mr. Nang. “I even had to pay them to pray for my family. But you, a Christian came to a Buddhist ceremony and gave to me instead, praying for both for me and for my family.” Now there is a thriving church in Veil Thom with over 70 Christians who family. Mr. Nang dedicated his life to Christ and now is a strong witness in Veil meet together for worship as well as in several cell groups for bible study. In early 2006 over 50 Veil Thom Christians participated in baptism ceremony with another local church in the area. The Veil Thom church is not a building or a place, it is a group of people who love God and meet together and help one another. They are now led by a local lay pastor who being mentored by Rotha and a local Cambodian church.

In looking to the future of this community, Rotha and I assisted the community in forming a Development Committee. The Develpment Committee will take our place in the community, training community members, supporting and evaluating projects, motivating community members, and promoting unity in the village. Many of the Development Commitee members are Christians who want to help the people. Some are just dedicated village members. They work together, learning new technologies, meeting with the community, and developing solutions they can implement and maintain. While this community still has many struggles and challenges they now have hope that their future can change for the better and the power to make change for themselves; that is the essence of community development.