Beautiful Cambodia

Before returning home, I got to do some sightseeing around Phnom Penh, and then (an 8 hour bus ride later), Siem Reap.

One of the most memorable visits was to the Killing Fields. It didn't feel respectful to take photos, but it was such an eye opener! I'm ashamed to admit I knew absolutely nothing about the horrors of the Cambodian Genocide where about a quarter of the population, or 2 million men, women and children, were brutally tortured and executed in the 1970s.

I also got to visit the National Museum, a floating village and the outside of the Royal Palace (apparently I wasn't covered enough to enter - in my modest knee-length dress with sleeves!)

Siem Reap was my favourite city and it was amazing to explore Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, as well as some of the thousands of other temples in the area. I also got to visit a cultural centre and silk worm farm, which was surprisingly very interesting!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cambodia. The absolute highlight was meeting the dozens of locals who were so happy and generous to open up their homes and share their stories with me. Like any good traveller, I did try to pick up a few phrases in the Khmer language, but my pronunciation was woeful!

Thanks again to the wonderful staff at CUFA who looked after me so well, to TSWG who sponsored the scholarship, and to Queenslanders Credit Union for supporting me every step of the way in applying for this opportunity, undertaking the required fundraising challenge and having time away from the office.

It was a 5am start to view the sunrise at Angkor Watt. Unfortunately, there was heavy cloud so we didn't get to see the sun until later in the day.

So many stairs!

I was captivated by this beautiful old tree at Ta Prohm (they filmed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at this temple).

Magnificent face carvings at Angkor Thom, built in the 12th century.

I enjoyed a superb lunch at the cafe run by non-profit group, Friends International. I also picked up some souvenirs at their gift shop and would have loved to have had time to relax in their beauty salon. This is a must-stop destination for anyone visiting Phnom Penh.

Where do you find Aussies in Cambodia? Just look for the pubs, of course!

Loved the traditional dancing.

Royal Palace

Gardens at the National Museum

Boat ride along a floating village

Last day in the villages

Before the sightseeing part of my trip begins, I spent a final day engaging with CUFA's projects...

This man runs his local credit union of 200 members, as a volunteer from his home. He is holding up the ledger showing all funds under management.

CUFA’s work involves developing and supporting financial cooperatives in communities that previously had little or no access to a financial institution. When a credit union reaches 1,000 members, CUFA funds a permanent home to conduct business, like this one in the Kampong Chhnang Province.

Chicken farming is a common business for Village Entrepreneurs in Cambodia. These are definitely free range!

The fish can't get any fresher than from your backyard farm!

I quickly learned that I do not have the patience or skill for basket weaving!

It was great fun handing out goody bags with a few items to help run their small businesses. 

D for Disability

Let me tell you about Nhim Lann (pictured below) who is about to join the Village Entrepreneur Program with a plan to raise pigs. Nhim was accepted into the program after Queenslanders Credit Union staff went MAD to raise funds to become her community investor.

Nhim has four children, including two who are "disabled" (her word), so did not have the opportunity to go to school. I can't tell you how sad hearing this made me feel.

The "disabilities" she described are not things that would ever hold children born in Australia back from leading rich, fulfilling lives or achieving extraordinary things. I am mad that her kids were robbed of an education because there was "no point" and that she had prayed for employers to "take pity on them".

CUFA employs a Gender and Disability Inclusion Specialist in Cambodia, whose job is to advocate and facilitate the inclusion of women and persons with a disability into society. It is clear to me from hearing Nhim's story that there is a lot to be done in this area and it is great to see CUFA working to be part of a positive change here.

I wish Nhim and her family all the very best for a bright and happy future.

PS  - On this note, if you are interested in sponsoring a Village Entrepreneur, may I suggest that you consider Ngoak Um.

Back to school

I have had the honour of visiting two schools in different regions while in Cambodia. I accompanied teachers employed by CUFA, who travel around teaching kids all about how to be smart with money. Often, the children then teach these skills to their parents. The Children’s Financial Literacy Program is a wonderful initiative that is helping kids set up good habits for the future.

 

There was a lot of buzz in the school about our presence. Check out the kids from other classes peering in from the window!

Handing out presents to the school and the kids from Queenslanders Credit Union

Normal class size is 45 students. There were less on this day because these kids came in especially for the lesson on a Saturday. What legends!

After the lesson, the kids taught me how to play some traditional Cambodian games. Who needs a ball when you have a tree branch!



I even scored a goal for my team!



 

 

After visiting the schools, I hung out with a couple of kids who have graduated from the Children's Financial Literacy Program. This girl (pictured with her sister) was very proud to show me her savings passbook, where she saves 25 cents every week.

This passbook shows four years of regular savings at the local credit union. She now has $50!

 

Toilet talk

Did you know that most village people in Cambodia do not have a toilet in their home? Not even an outhouse! Their homes are a small one room hut where everyone sleeps on the floor, and underneath the house is where they usually do their cooking. But nope – no bathroom facilities whatsoever! I like camping, but after a couple of days I’ve had enough. So imagine living in one of these villages where you spend your entire life having to relieve yourself out in the open.

When visiting one of the remote provinces recently, and in need of the loo, I had to wait until we visited someone who had been in the Village Entrepreneur (VE) program long enough to afford to install a toilet (pictured below). But no – not the flushing kind. Just a simple squat toilet. This is luxury for the people in the villages and the improved hygiene is saving lives.

When locals become VEs, it is expected that by the third and final year of the program they will not only have grown a sustainable business and sent their children to school, but that they will also have installed a toilet and a water pump at their house (yes, many homes also do not have running water, let alone electricity!)

There are no services in the remote communities – no postal delivery, no street signs, no roads and no rubbish collection. People have to dispose of their own rubbish – food scraps go to the chickens and everything else is incinerated or dumped behind their homes.

This really makes you realise just how good we have it in Australia and how much we take our blessed lives for granted. If you would like to help a Cambodian villager to lift their family out of poverty by creating a micro business, visit ve.org.au.

Villagers are lucky if they have one of these at home.

Queeenslanders Credit Union staff have raised enough money to sponsor six Village Entrepreneurs, including the husband of this woman who wasn't home when we dropped by. Here she stands with her daughter out the front of their home. This style of house is very typical for people living in the provinces.

80% of Cambodians make their living as backyard farmers. These animals aren't for eating - they are used to harvest rice.

No roads. It's a very dusty, bumpy ride on a bike!

The business of breaking poverty

I’m currently staying in the city of Phnom Penh, but these last two days I have been out visiting the provinces, which is where CUFA engage most with the community. The areas are remote and credit unions are absolutely essential because the banks are too far away to access.

The credit unions are run entirely by volunteers. They don’t usually have a physical building, but are run underneath the Director’s house. There is no internet or mobile banking, no ATMs, no credit cards. Transactions are all done in person with cash and a passbook. Many people in these villages do not know how to read or write and do not have a signature, so they have to give a fingerprint instead of signing.

Credit unions pay interest on savings and also give out small loans. CUFA work with these credit unions to identify members who are the poorest of the poor and who are keen to change their situation by becoming a Village Entrepreneur (VE). They must show commitment and a clear business plan in order for CUFA to work with them. CUFA then finds Australian community investors who will sponsor an individual VE to start a small business with materials and ongoing training and support to ensure it is sustainable over the long-term.

I have met many VEs and their families over the last two days and have heard first-hand how they are now breaking the cycle of poverty and giving their children a good education.

Chea is a member of Korkithom Credit Union and proudly showed me her vegetable farm...

...She is also in the process of building a chicken coop with the profits she has made so far.

Yuth is a chicken and duck farmer and a graduate VE who was featured in the short film:
'How a chicken sent my children to school'

   

Vanna sells fish from the markets on the back of her bicycle...

...She invited us over for tea.

We bumped into this man with his mobile bakery and found out he is also a successful VE graduate.

This member of Farmer Savings for Development Credit Union raises chickens.

This family has opened up a grocery store under their house thanks to the VE Program. They also hosted us for lunch...

... it was delicious!