Mapping, Infrastructure & Titling (MIT): New STT programme
STT’s new programme focuses on the whole picture of its mapping,surveying and infrastructure work with a view to strengthening tenure security – a major ongoingissue throughout Cambodia. With this approach STT works alongside communities to map, survey and document and create readable and accurate data and information – vital tools in any attempt to negotiate and dialogue with authorities and developers.
Where appropriate STT will also look to strengthen community cohesion with small-scale infrastructure projects and where possible, support the community in gaining official recognition of ‘community titles’. STT also links with partners such as COHRE and CMDP who are doing similar community mapping exercises.
PHOTOVoice: Community Photo Project
in 2009 the Kampot office piloted a simple tool for working with local communities. Instead of the basic format of meetings and ‘workshops’ STT asked the community to create 3 teams of 10 (men, women and children respectively) and each individual was asked to take one image of something they liked in the community and one image of something they didn’t like. It was very simple but it succeeded in engaging villagers and drawing out more information about their lives and their surroundings.
These images were then pinned up and used as the basis for discussion. At this stage communities began identifying problems and possible solutions. The reality is that in some cases the problems are identified but there is little or no interest or confidence to confront it. However the project prompted various projects in the Cham village of Daun Taok village in Kampot including a children’s ‘garbage clean up’ team, a women’s group that built a twin public toilet (mantained collectively) and a men’s group that improved 250 metres of pathway (laterite) created in a cham village.
The project has been supported by Cambodian born US citizen Sam Thida, a mature student at Michigan University who has provided invaluable input (and become quite a hit with the village chief).
Infrastructure Case Study: Water Storage
In 2007/8 STT worked in a largely Cham (Muslim) village called Phum Kandal, in Trauey Koh Commune — about 8 kms south of Kampot. The local Surao (mini mosque) had some land used as water storage which over the years had silted up. The plan involved using community labour to deepen and repair the storage pond and install some simple steps. The community contributed 17 US$ and ICCO (via STT) 127US$ and within 7 days 192 cubic metres had been dug out and the banks reinforced. 3 weeks later STT supported 4 bags of cement to construct the steps leading into the water, useful not only to access the water but for those wishing to wash themselves before prayer.
The project was simple and effective and soon after a neighbouring community asked for support to upgrade their water storage which is a good sign and one of the objectives of our work — for communities to take the initiative to develop projects themselves.
Fact and Figures 8 (417kb)
Location: Kampot suburb
Funding: ICCO/community
Infrastructure Case Study: Road upgrading
A collaborative project in the south of Cambodia with a community upgrading its access road using community labour and a small grant.
In September 2004 the Samaradey Satrey community in Kampot, south Cambodia, was recommended by local NGO ADHOC as a good place to initiate a small pilot project. Staff and volunteers from Sahmakum Teang Tnaut , the Urban Poor Development Fund (UPDF) and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) met with community leaders and members.
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step one
The community (with 128 families) already had many priority projects which it had been presenting to the local Government for many years. At the top of this list was the need for a new access road which would be high enough to avoid the daily tidal flooding and allow access to the nearby Dei Hoy Market.
step two
A committee was formed to oversee the design, costing and management of the new 285m long stretch of lane (at a budget cost of $2,028 USD). They also managed the new savings and credit program which at present has over 60 families participating.
step three
Construction gets underway and even the deputy Governor chipped in with some extra funds. It was truly a community event with the children also doing their bit. One of the key parts of the new road was the culvert which was required to allow the tidal waters to flow easily. After some structural problems (one pipe caved in after a truck went over it) the system was repaired and is working well.
step four
Completion of project in November 2004. Ongoing maintenance will be very important and the committee arranged planting along the sides of a local salt tolerant plant that will help strengthen the road edge.
step five
Inauguration event and opening ceremony in December 2004. Local Government, NGOs and community were invited to take part in the opening ceremony followed by food and games – a typical Cambodian celebration.
a side step
A photo project with 30 children under 13 was organised and each child was allowed 3 photos of their community but it had to be taken while standing on the new road. The resulting 90 photos were displayed in a collage at the opening ceremony and provided some unusual angles on the project.
any problems?
Perhaps the key problem was that some years ago the owner of property near the end of the road decided to ‘appropriate’ the road into his garden and allowed only a narrow access at the front of his house to the Dei Hoy market. The community have repeatedly written to local and central Government about this but were unable to resolve this. However there is access for motorbikes along the entire stretch of the road and apart from this the project was run very smoothly and efficiently and has inspired some more small scale house improvements and ideas for future upgrading projects.