Soroptimist International Foundation is thrilled to announce the continuation of our partnership with the Cambodia Community Dream Organisation (CCDO), extending our combined efforts to deliver education and learning in Cambodia throughout the life course. This initiative, an extension of Opening Doors to a Bright Future Appeal, has been instrumental in empowering women and girls across three rural communities over the past two years and has achieved several remarkable milestones since its initiation in early 2022.  

Our work with the CCDO has engaged 2,814 women and girls, offering crucial training sessions on topics such as healthcare, gender equality, personal development, and business skills. Among the key outcomes has been the establishment of Smart Women Groups; these are groups of women who have benefitted immensely from opportunities offered by this project, taking up mentor and leadership roles within their communities to provide further support, mentorship, and counselling to project beneficiaries.  

Additionally, through sustained advocacy and public campaigning, the project has improved access to public services for marginalised women, while also fostering a culture of learning and collaboration through community workshops and seminars.  

Project Objectives: 2024 – 2025 

As we embark on the next phase of this project, Soroptimist International Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment globally. Over the next two years, our partnership with the CCDO will see the recruitment of 2000 disadvantaged and marginalised women from across six vulnerable communities – Balang, Tropeang Thom, Run Ta Ek, Rom Chek and Khnar Sanday, and Peak Seng, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  

The project will seek to:  

• Provide education to women and girls in a safe, friendly, and stimulating environment, where there is equal opportunity and support for all.  
• Develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and a feeling of value through mentoring programmes.  
• Enable women, particularly the most vulnerable and excluded in society, to access the information, resources, and services they need to make positive life choices.  
• Break down barriers to learning and participation for women, enabling them to become fully active citizens who are equipped to pass on their experience to benefit their families and communities. 

 

CCDO Project Update: Quarter 1, 2024 

In the past three months since the project’s renewal, significant progress has already been made in advancing the objectives to empower women and girls in Cambodia. The project team successfully launched an official meeting with local district governors and engaged with the six new target communities.  

These initial activities have aimed to orient project activities and operations for the forthcoming two years, paving the way for more comprehensive training and development, as well as demonstrating Soroptimist International Foundation and the CCDO’s commitment to a sustained impact. Notably, the CCDO is well on its way toward meeting its recruitment goal, with 1288 disadvantaged and marginalised women and girls already enlisted within this period! These individuals have been actively involved in various capacity-building activities, including 25 health training sessions, 50 gender equality training sessions, and participation in three public workshops, three women’s awareness sessions, and one community forum. 

Furthermore, collaborative efforts with local authorities have resulted in outreach to 125 women facing diverse challenges such as unemployment, health issues, financial constraints, and domestic violence. By reporting these issues to commune chiefs and relevant stakeholders, the project aims to facilitate necessary interventions and support for vulnerable women. Additionally, the commitment of local authorities contributes to the projects aim of improving the quality and efficiency of services, namely processing official documents like Post-ID poor cards required to access health services.

 

Project Activities 

Over the first quarter of 2024, the project has prioritised training sessions and advocacy efforts to address gender inequality and improve access to quality services for marginalised women and girls. Through the delivery of 50 Gender Equality training sessions, conducted in collaboration with local authorities and the Commune Council for Women and Children (CCWC), participants gained a deeper understanding of gender rights and prevention of violence empowering 1,021 women and girls along with 30 Village Chiefs and 6 CCWC members with this knowledge. 

Community forums, which were found to be highly popular and productive during the previous biennium, have also been facilitated to promote discussion on issues such as lack of healthcare funds and transportation challenges. Early outcomes from these forums have include local authorities affirming a commitment to providing official documents for accessing healthcare services and encouraging women to start local businesses for financial stability. 

Simultaneously, the project team conducted awareness campaigns on women’s rights and gender equality, reaching 71 women, 18 men, 3 Village Chiefs, and 2 CCWC members. Efforts to improve social assistance included selecting 40 women and girls as “Smart Women and Girls” representatives in each community to provide support and mentoring. Additionally, public seminars emphasised the importance of women’s leadership, with 154 women, 45 men, 3 Village Chiefs, and 3 CCWC members participating. 

Lastly, through home visits, the project team addressed various challenges faced by women, including unemployment, health issues, and domestic violence, providing guidance on accessing healthcare and starting small businesses. Subsequent roundtable discussions facilitated collaboration between the project team, CCWC, and village chiefs to address ongoing issues, with commitments made to improve service quality and document processing. 

Concluding Thoughts  

As we reflect on the achievements of the past biennium and the progress made in the first quarter of 2024, SI is filled with excitement and gratitude for the continuation of our partnership with the CCDO under the stewardship of the SI Foundation. Our shared commitment to empowering women and girls in Cambodia has already yielded significant results, with over 1,200 disadvantaged and marginalised women and girls enlisted in the project within just three months. 

As we look ahead to the next two years, we are energised by the prospect of reaching even more women and girls, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive. Our objectives remain clear: to provide education, develop self-confidence, enable access to resources and services, and break down barriers to learning and participation. With continued dedication and collaboration, we are confident that we will create a bright future for women and girls in Cambodia, one community at a time. 

Further information:   

For further information or to make enquires regarding legacies, please email hq@soroptimistinternational.org