Cambodia
Fast facts
Population: 14.3 million
Life expectancy: 63 years
Under 5 mortality: 88 deaths for every 1,000 live births
Maternal mortality rate: 461 for every 100,000 live births*
Adult literacy rate: 77%
HIV prevalence: 0.8%**
Access to improved drinking water: 81% (urban), 56% (rural)***
(Source: International Human Development Indicators; UNDP, 2011; *National Institute for Statistics, 2008; **NCHADS; ***Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, WHO/UNICEF, 2008)
Handle with CARE: CARE Cambodia in MiNDFOOD Magazine
Our friends at MiNDFOOD Magazine wrote a fantastic article about our Highland Education Program in Ratanakiri province. You can read more about the project on our blog, or download the article:
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CARE in Cambodia
CARE began activities in Cambodia between 1973 and 1975, distributing food, providing medical assistance and improving education. From 1975 onwards CARE worked to support the millions of Cambodian refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge and were living in camps along the Thai-Cambodian border.
In 1990, CARE returned to Cambodia, working with the United Nations to help 370,000 Cambodian refugees return to their homes. Over the years, CARE has shifted its focus in Cambodia from short-term, vital relief operations, to long-term projects in health, education and rural development.
Our work in Cambodia focuses on disaster risk reduction, de-mining, food and livelihood security, health, education, HIV prevention and care, avian influenza and human rights.
Stories from CARE's work in Cambodia
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Education beyond the classroom
by Amelia Poxon, CARE Communications Coordinator
At just 22 years-of-age, Soun Dyna last went to school 14 years ago. Her family did not have the money to pay for school fees, so she and her seven brothers and sisters only made it as far as grade two or three. As an adult, Dyna felt destined to a life of working as a domestic servant or shelling crabs in her small hometown in Cambodia.
Thankfully, her life took a different course when she participated in CARE’s WE BLOOM program, which is providing opportunities for young people who did not finish school to gain the skills and confidence to enter the workforce. Read more.
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© Josh Estey/CARE
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Empowered for change
by Chakriya Yangni, CARE Cambodia
Botum is one of the young women supported by the LEAD project (Literacy and Livelihood Empowering Adolescents for Development) which aims to provide vulnerable, out-of-school young people with opportunities to earn an income. Botum is undertaking a tailoring apprenticeship and although she is sensitive and shy, I am struck by her commitment, patience, and her powerful, intelligent manner.
Botum is 17 years old and is the second of five siblings. Her family is poor so she gave up school at 13 years old, even though she would have loved to have stayed there to learn more and have the opportunity to find a better job. Read more
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Food for thought in Cambodia
by Amelia Poxon, CARE Australia Communications Officer
Today, I met five mothers from Srae Angkrong Commune in Cambodia’s north-east. We sat around a table in the communal area of their small village, which boasts a colourful pagoda for Buddhist prayer, a meeting house and a playground.
The topic of our conversation? Cabbages and classrooms.
These five women are proud owners of home gardens, which produce vegetables year-round for their families to eat. When you live in the remote highlands of Cambodia, which experiences food shortages for up to four months of the year, a steady supply of vegetables at your front door is a comforting thought. Read more
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© Josh Estey/CARE
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Download more information on CARE's work in Cambodia
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‘CARE came to talk to me and I started volunteering. My work helps the community a lot. During my home visits I council families to send children to schools and health centres. I also educate families about hygiene, about their home and how to look after their gardens. I feel very happy when I help the community. I like to help.’
As a Community Care Volunteer for CARE in Cambodia, Srey Hong rides the bicycle she received through a CARE project to talk to people in the district about their health issues.
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