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PHNOM PENH, 15th September 2004: Habitat for Humanity Cambodia
kicked off its first build in Borey Prey Nokor, a community
less than ten kilometers from the heart
of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Work started on homes for the first three home partner families
on September 13th after a formal ceremony attended by representatives
from various United Nations offices and NGOs as well as leaders
from the local Kampuchea Krom community group.
“The launching of our first house construction was a
sign of love in action,” said
HFH Cambodia’s Country Director, Min Sor.
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One of the home partner families comprises 28-year-old Dy
Van Doeun and his
wife Chour Chakrya, 26. They look after two children, their
two-year-old daughter,
Dee Marlee, and a cousin of Chakrya’s, 13-year-old orphan
Ra Morm. Their chance
to be part of this beginning project in Cambodia has a special
meaning.
Van Doeun earns about US$2 a day driving a taxi, a Motor-doub
in Khmer.
His wife earns about the same selling soy bean milk around
city.
“I am happy to be a partner with Habitat,” said
Van Doeun. “My family will have this house for our future.
I will also help other members of our saving group to build
their houses.”
Van Doeun’s new house, made of concrete blocks and with
a zinc roof, will
measure four meters by eight meters.
The three houses under construction are expected to be completed
by the end of September or the first week of October.
The official launch ceremony was attended by Mann Chhoeurn,
Chief of Cabinet
of the Phnom Penh city municipality.
Min Sor added: “Community housing development work needs
the wider
involvement of partnerships and participation from families.
The cooperation from
the Cambodian government, home partners and other partner
NGOs should see
us help the families from the Kampuchea Krom community.
Kampuchea Krom are families who fled Vietnam. They had previously
saved enough
money to buy their own land. However, they need assistance
to build decent homes
where they can raise their families in safety and with dignity.
A private charitable foundation in Australia has agreed to
finance much of the project.
The foundation, which does not wish to be identified, has
a specific charter to assist
the poorest of the poor in developing nations
The project should see the building of 264 homes over the
next four years. It uses
Habitat’s “Save & Build” model.
“Save & Build” brings together low-income families
in a community to form savings
groups. The groups, usually ten to twelve families strong,
save money and materials
together. When a group has sufficient savings to build one
house, Habitat normally
provides matching loans to build two more, and construction
on the three houses
commences. In the Cambodian project, the Australian foundation
is to provide all the matching funds.
Future plans include expanding housing development projects
in Phnom Penh and
to other provinces of the country by 2007. Housing issues
remain one of the
priorities that need to be addressed in Cambodia
The Kampuchea Krom project is located near the main highway
between the city
and the international airport, in Kok Khleang village, Russey
Keo district.
Habitat for Humanity Cambodia was registered with the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation on January 2003.
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