STT Vision: a society in which urban poor communities enjoy adequate housing
STT’s two main programmes include;
- Technical Programme: providing technical assistance to urban poor communities for housing and small scale infrastructure including digital mapping, community surveys and the construction of clean water supply, wells, safe access and sanitation
- Advocacy Programme: informing dialogue and raising awareness about housing issues at local and international level with a focus on supporting community initiatives related to evictions and housing rights abuses
Informal urban communities play an integral role in the functioning of Cambodia’s towns providing a backbone of skilled and semi skilled labour such as waste pickers, moto taxis, cooks, cleaners and construction workers. With the freedom to build and upgrade their own communities most of these areas are able to provide for themselves.
Unfortunately the reality is that these settlements and communities face an almost continual barrage of apathy, abuse, eviction and sometimes violence. They are accused of being ‘an eyesore on the city’ and frequently threatened with eviction which is often realised with use of Police and security forces. As part of the Housing Righst Task Force (HRTF) STT is one of various organisations trying to create a space for negotiation with Government and developers in order to provide these communities with a chance to secure at least a basic form of compensation in terms of either land and/or cash.
What is ‘Teang Tnaut’?
Teang Tnaut’ means ‘Sugar Palm frond’ in Khmer. The Sugar Palm tree itself is typical of the Cambodian padi landscape and is used for many things including house construction, thatch roofs, palm wine, sugar and packaging. The frond is a combination of simple charm and utility – some of the most appealing Cambodian characteristics.
These also reflect the aims of Teang Tnaut – to provide ‘low key’ interventions and a useful resource for urban settlements to improve their own infrastructure and surroundings. The name deliberately aims to evoke a small scale and simple approach to ‘catalysing’ projects within these communities. It also aims to advocate for settlements through research and debate, trying to cooperate wherever possible with Government policies but also bringing rights issues and abuses to the attention of local and international media.
The STT Reprsentative, Ee Sarom, is a Cambodian with many years experience working with the HGO community. The association’s main office is in Phnom Penh and there is a field office in Kampot.
Thank you to our current Donors/ Partners which include
