Collaboration between three NGOs results in design competition that brings new life to hous-ing design and delivery for low-income familes living in Cambodia. Building Trust Interna-tional, Habitat for Humanity and Karuna Cam-bodia announce details of the winning projects that will be built later this year.

Three international architecture firms have been announced as joint winners in a design competition that hopes to provide poor Cam-bodians with a better standard of living. The competition had over 600 registered entrants and a jury made up with representatives from

Building Trust International, Habitat for Hu-manity Cambodia, Karuna Cambodia, MIT, Collective Studio, members of the Cambodian Society of Architects and most importantly the families that are going to live in the houses once they are built later this year.

The design competition asked for designs of a $2500 house that can withstand flooding and of-fer a safe and secure home for low-income fami-lies in Cambodia. Habitat for Humanity Cam-bodia have supported the competition from the start and now plan to deliver these homes in the coming months giving the families that they

I ssue 50 | 1 | March 2013

Cambodian Housing Competition: New Designs for Low Income Families

support a chance to choose a design that relates to their specific lifestyle needs.

The three winning designs are ‘Wet + Dry House’ by Mary Ann Jackson, Ralph Green, Muham-mad Kamil and Nick Shearman from Australian firm Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd.

The jury picked three designs that reflected the desire to have a large flexible space to meet changing family needs, a space to rear chickens and a design that allowed for a shop front on the ground floor.

A wide range of submissions made use of sus-tainable materials and highlighted the need for Cambodia to look at the nature of the booming construction industry and to think about more environmentally friendly ways of meeting the housing demand. The short listed designs show both traditional and new techniques in reducing the carbon footprint of delivering new homes. There will be an exhibition in Phnom Penh in May showcasing the best designs and the win-ning projects.

Discussions over 170 designs submitted

I ssue 50 | 2 | March 2013

Top Stories

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia launched its first institutional loan partnership with micro-finance institution CBIRD. The partnership also includes the Development of Home Im-provement Products, Provision of Technical Support to Home Partners and the provision of Institutional Technical Assistance (ITA) and Housing Support Services (HSS) in response to the needs and preferences of target communi-ties in the Social Land Concession areas in Bat-tambang City, Battambang Province.

HFH Cambodia has loaned CBIRD with USD50,000 in full to develop and manage Housing Microfinance products to address the housing needs of beneficiaries in Battambang, identify clients in need of housing microfinance opportunities within the project area and dis-burse Housing Microloans for both home im-provement and core house construction.

This partnership is part of HFH Cambodia’s project in Battambang funded by World Bank, which is now on its 5th year of implementation

First Institutional Loan Partnership Launched in Battambang

complementing the systematic land registra-tion (SLR) activity through strengthening civil society-government partnership for delivery of secure land tenure in urban communities in Bat-tambang district.

As the achievement of project objectives devel-ops such as the distribution of land certificates and the allocation of land, CBIRD has started to disburse loans to home partners for home im-provement and core house construction. CBIRD will monitor on-going repayments, participate in periodic evaluations of loan products and ensure that a target repayment rate of 98% is reached. At this point, seven families from two communities have received the loan to build and renovate their houses, while the other seven families are on the application process. A desig-nated CBIRD staff also participates in product development and attends the construction train-ing sessions organized by HFH Cambodia.

“I can clearly see the good progress of this loan project and I am optimistic that the plan is go-ing to work smoothly and successfully as we currently have many families to serve. Even those who are not part of the project are show-ing interest and want to apply for this loan pro-gram due to our reasonably affordable interest rate and a long term payment period, which is up to four years,” shared Keo Reasey Kanika, Community Organizer for HFH Cambodia in Battambabang.

BTB Project satelite view

Land plot after demarcation Ley Sina, HFH Cambodia homepartner in-front of his new land plot

I ssue 50 | 3 | March 2013

Highlights

Double WaSH Campaigns in PP and SR

120 students participated in Andong Com-munity, Phnom Penh while 1,297 young students from 3 different Primary Schools - Reul, Chambok Hea, Kork Chrey - in Siem Reap joined and learned from the campaign.

The campaigns promoted hygiene through demonstrations and practice like teaching students with proper hand washing with soap. It also encouraged them to change their hygiene and sanitation behavior for the better. The campaigns also aimed for students to be able to identify general water, hygiene and sanitation issues in Cambodia. Part of their activities helped them identify 4 root courses of transmission of bacteria and virus, understand 6 steps of proper hand-washing, and commit together to achieve behavior change.

“Children living in urban or rural areas are easily affected with illnesses that are caused by bacteria and virus around them. It is very important to educate them about the issues on water, hygiene and sanitation and try to encourage the kids to practice simple and ef-fective ways to prevent transmission of bac-teria and virus. The primary schools are key touch points for WaSH campaigns. So far, we have been conducting many hand wash-ing and hygiene training to the students and gained good results because of their eager-ness to learn, their ability to talk about what they learned with their parents when they go back home. This simple mechanism reaches many families in need of proper WatSan ed-ucation,” Sok Nith, WatSan Project Officer of HFH Cambodia in Siem Reap.

4th International Social Work Day in Cambodia

The Department of Social Work of Royal University of Phnom Penh celebrated the fourth International Social Work Day in Cambodia on March 16, and HFH Cambo-dia was one among the Non-Government Organizations that joined the celebration along with Social work students.

The event meant to encourage Social Work students to gain deeper understanding about the importance of making an impact in the society and to also encourage and inspire them to get more involved in social work activities. It is also provided the avenue to introduce all the Social Work students from different years to various NGO partners that that support their work and school programs. The students also took the opportunity to thank the NGOs for teaching their students and providing them the chance to learn, also to thank them for their dedication in serving many Cambodian families in need.

“This is such a great chance - our junior and senior students can come together in one place and get to know each other. I’m also happy and very encouraged that I’m able learn and understand more about the core values of our field of study. I have to admit that I get lost sometimes as I have been won-dering what can I do with my Social work skill and which direction to go next after graduation, but this event has shown me the direction. I also appreciate all the local and international non-government organiza-tions that have always been supporting us to volunteer and learn more about their work in Cambodia,” said Kouy Kakada, 3rd year Social Work student.

Builders of Change Off to the North Tens of volunteers from New Zealand, Can-ada and China are all geared-up for the April 1 to 5 North Build project in Prek Preahs-dach Commune, Battambang Province.

4 brick houses will be built for family ben-eficiaries of secure land and 2 Community Centers in O’Kcheay and Chamkar Russey Villages will be renovated and built by vol-

unteers and skilled workers during the week.This project complements the Strengthening Civil Society-Government Partnership to Deliver Land Tenure Security (Battambang Project) funded by World Bank, which now has enabled the distribution of Social Land Concession (SLC) Land Title Certificates to 123 families. A total of 256 families have ap-plied for SLC land.

GLOBaL VILLaGe TeaMS

Issue 50 | 4 | March 2013

Viva Volunteers

Global Village Wrap Up

February 18 to March 05: A group of student volunteers from Ritsumeikan University in Ja-pan worked with HFH Cambodia in Andong Community, Phnom Penh. The 16-member team calls themselves Rits TOMSAWYER. They finished working on foundations, plas-tering and some parts of the walls for two houses. The Japanese volunteers offered com-munity members, especially the homeowners, songs and traditional dances from their coun-try during the house dedication ceremony.

February 27 to March 08: A group of student volunteers from Nichidai University in Japan joined with HFH Cambodia in Kork Kleang Community, Phnom Penh. The 17-mem-ber was able to finished working on founda-tions, column and some parts of the walls for two houses. The Japanese volunteers and homepartners shared each other the moment of fun dedication with songs and traditional dancing.

February 28 to March 08: Youth volunteers from Japan formed their own big group of 24 members to assist in the construction work for a family living in 13 Makara Village, Prek Preah Sdach, Battambang. They finished one brick house on their last building day. The team also took the opportunity to visit the primary schools and donated some study ma-terials to students. They also took the chance for sightseeing including trecking to view bats on the mountain, riding the bamboo train and visiting a 100-year old wooden house in Bat-tambang province.

March 04 to 08: A 10-member Global Village volunteers from Australia completed w family latrines in Angkor Chum, District, Siem Reap. Working until noon time to finish the build, the team finally celebrate their moment red ribbon cuting, song and dancing with all the community people including homepartners.

March 11 to 20: A group of 19 Global Village members from Canada came together to sup-port the families living in Angkor Chum Dis trict, Siem Reap through Habitat Cambodia’s

Viva Volunteers

Housing and WatSan Projects. The team was able to work on one brick house and com-pleted three latrines for four families during the week. The team members were grateful for experiencing building a house and toilets!

March 15 to 24: 13 Global Village Volun-teers from USA supported HFH Cambodia’s housing program by building and complet-ing one brick house for a family in Trapaing Anhchanh Community. Aside from the build work, volunteers went on a city sightseeing visiting significant places around Phnom Penh. The team celebrated their accomplish ment together with skilled workers and home partners by inviting them for a farewell lunch party.

March 16 to 25: Another big group of Japanese students from Nagoya International School called NIS team supported families in Vimean Trung Community, Phnom Penh. The 28 vol-unteers were able to work and finish founda-tions for 3 brick houses. With overwhelming happiness, student celebrated together with skilled workers and community members while having lunch. They also shared their youthfulness with the community people by teaching them games.

March 17 to 29: A 13-member Global Vil-lage volunteers from the Brillantmont School in New Zealand completed house columns, foundation and taught families how to clean their homes in Andong Community, Phnom Penh. The team also helped organize a Hy-giene Promotion to 150 students in Kork Roka Primary School and Andong Commu-nity. The members were thankful for the ad-ditional experience of teaching the children about proper hygiene and sanitation.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Cambodia.

Be part of a Global Village volunteer team. Visit this site for more information:

http://www.habitat.org/gv/

Volunteers’ Voice

Issue 50 | 5 | March 2013

Yob Yoy’s Wish

Issue 50 | 6 | March 2013

Mekong Big Build

Yob Yoy, 39, Bicycle repair at the daytime and Scavenger at the nighttime Wife Keo Srey, 37 Housewife Sons YI Sokha, 13, YI Sokhim, 11, YI Sok han , 9, YI Sopheap, 6 and YI Sokhoan, 5Daughter YI Chansopheap, 7 months

Yob Yoy constantly struggles in agitation when he leaves his wife and six children in their rented house to scavenge in the city center every night. Their neighborhood is not safe. There are usual conflicts and vio-lence within families and between neighbors brought about by drugs and alcoholism. But, he does not have a choice.

“I usually make it home by 12:00 or 1:00am and I spend my mornings helping out my wife, who just gave birth, with house chores and in the afternoon I repair bicycles at home; this gives us a little extra for our daily living,” he said. After dinner, he starts to pre-pare the rubbish cart and sacks and sets off to the main areas of Phnom Penh to scavenge.

Yi Sokhoan attends kindergarten school near by their community. His four elder children – Sokha, Sokhim, Sokchan and Sopheap - would sometimes walk 3 kilometers from Preak Toil Village to Phoum Reousey Pri-

mary School and leave at 6: 30 am just to save on transportation. They are also under Pour un Sourire d’Enfant’s (PSE) study pro-gram where they are provided transporta-tion, food, clothing, study materials, and other school fees. However, their financial condition requires them sometimes to help their father in picking waste at night. This highly affects their studies. Yob Yoy admits, this is not something he wishes his children to go through, but he simply does not have a choice.

Yob Yoy earns 30,000 Riels (7.50USD) on regular days, but their earnings drop to 20,000 Riels (5.00USD) per day during rainy season.

The community they live in is situated on a low land level. They always experience flooding in the rainy season because there are no sewage and drainage systems. The houses are densely located with each other and recycling materials are scattered around the area. Amidst the chaos, theirs stands a hut that is a 4m x 5m that houses Yoy, his wife and their 6 children. Their house is made of scraps of palm trees and small rot-ting wood. An old tent covers some parts of their wall and some old pieces of plywood – rainwater easily leaks through their walls - and the floor is made of pieces of bamboo

and wood. The houses do not have toilets. There are 4 communal toilets for the com-munity people’s use, but the toilets are dirty and simply unsafe; families then opt to go to the field behind their houses to defecate. There is no safe water system from the state. Yob Yoy’s family spends 2,000 Riels to buy one big jug of water from a private supplier.

For the size of 4m x 5m of land, their fam-ily pays 80,000 Riel (20USD) per month for rent. They are in constant fear of eviction, as their landlord has plans to develop and he uses this to his advantage by demanding increase in rent and restraining them from connecting with state water.

Housing and education critically intersect in the lives of low-income people like Yob Yoy and his family. Without the skills to se-cure a job, all family members – including his children – end up having to find ways to secure food, preventing children from go-ing to school, weakening their overall health and safety. The thought of moving to Smile Village up-lifts Yob Yoy’s spirits. “I wish for my chil-dren to be able to focus on their studies and to be free from threats and the polluted en-vironment we now live in. Moving to the Smile Village will give my family and me a better life. I will have peace in my mind and in heart, and we will be able to start saving.”

Yob Yoy’s housing condition and his children at home

I ssue 50 | 7 | March 2013

Special Feature

Upcoming events and

Legal Holidays

Khmer New Year 2013: Snake Year

01 – 05 aprilThe North Build in Battambang

02 april Railways Project Update Meeting Organized by aDB

08 – 12 aprilHFH Cambodia Staff Retreat

14 – 16 aprilKhmer New Year

25 aprilFamily Selection Workshop at HFH Cam-bodia

27 aprilHabitat Youth Build in Phnom Penh

27 april – 05 MayGlobal Village Team from Japan in Phnom Penh

The Khmer New Year is one of the most important holi-days in Cambodia. It is a significant event that is usually celebrated around April 13 to 15 or April 14 to 16 annually. This year, the Khmer New Year days fall on April 14 to 16 and it marks the end of the year of the Dragon and wel-comes the year of the Snake.

Traditionally, Cambodian people go back to their home-towns to visit their relatives and friends, and to go to the pagodas (temples). It is also the time for joyful activities where the youth gather around to play different kinds of traditional games such as Choul Chhoung, Leak Kanseng, Chab Kon Kleng, Bos Angkonh, and Sva Donderm Slek Chher. In Phnom Penh, Cambodians regularly come to-gether around the Wat Phnom to play games and to watch public concerts.

Khmer New Year is the beginning of the year for Cambo-dians. It is thanksgiving for the recent past and hope for the bright future.

Special Feature

Cambodian Bags Most Popular T-Shirt Design for YouthBUILD Cambodian Youth are on fire! Inspired to take action and make a difference, Cambodian youth showed their support to Habitat for Humanity’s vi-sion of ‘A world where everyone has a decent place to live’ by joining youth from Asia Pacific coun-tries in creating their dream t-shirt design with the theme ‘Make a Difference! Build Homes, Communi-ties and Hope!’ for the 2013 Habitat Youth Build.

Out of 57 great designs, Lymei Sun, a Cambodia student from Zaman University, Major in Depart-ment of Digital Arts and Design and currently a designer volunteer at Fulbright and Undergraduate State Alumni Association of Cambodia (FUSAAC) has won the contest by received the most online unique votes from out of over 2,000 votes.

The winning t-shirt design will be worn by thousands of volunteers on 27 April 2013 and beyond. HFH Cambodia, one among the other 9 countries, will mobilize 500 volunteers from schools, uni-versities and corporations to build on-site on 27 April and raise awareness on adequate housing among Cambodians through the Habitat Youth Build.

For interested volunteers and more information, please contact Kong Samvitey, HFH Cambodia Volun-teer Program Coordinator, at vpc@habitatcambodia.org 012 792 782 or 097 9923 667.

Congratulations LYMEI SUN for WINNING the HABITAT YOUTH BUILD T-SHIRT DESIGN AND VOTE CHALLENGE!

Leak kanseng: hiding scarf game

Sva donderm slek chher: monkey and leaves

Or Kun!

Join HFH Cambodia’s Social Media Network! Become a Fan on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/habitat.for.humanity.cambodia

Follow Habitat Cambodia Tweets https://twitter.com/HabitatCambodiaVisit our website http://www.habitatcambodia.org

HFH Cambodia address: #35Bis, St. 478, Phsar Duem Tkov Commune, Chamkar Mon District, Phnom Penh City, P.O Box: 2452 Phnom Penh 3Tel/Fax: (855) 23 997 840

e-mail: info@habitatcambodia.org

Habitat for Humanity aUSTRaLIa

Habitat for Humanity GReaT BRITaIN

Habitat for Humanity NeW ZeaLaND

Habitat for Humanity CaNaDa

SaN GaBRIeL VaLLeY Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity MaLaYSIa

UNIVeRSITY OF PITTSBURG Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of ST VRaIN VaLLeY

WeSTMINSTeR COLLeGe Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity GeRMaNY

HONOLULU Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity SeaTTLe-KING COUNTY

CeNTRaL DeLaWaRe Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity aNCHORaGe

SaN DIeGO Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International - USa Global Village Volunteers

Habitat for Humanity CHINa (Hong Kong)

Habitat for Humanity NORTH CeNTRaL GeORGIa

Habitat for Humanity HaRDIN COUNTY, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia says thank you to our corporate and international partners and our affiliate tithe donors.

Together, we will continue improving lives and building communities in Cambodia.

The Charitable Foundation, elton John aIDS Foundation,

International Children’s Care australia, World Bank,

Japan Social Development Fund, asian Development Bank,

Paul and aileen Munn, World Vision Cambodia, and

Guernsey Overseas aid Commission

Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Build Bright University,

Royal University Phnom Penh, University of Cambodia,

Collaborative Studio, Mekong University, Fulbright and Undergradu-

ate State alumni association of Cambodia

U N I V e R S I T I e S a N D S C H O O L P a R T N e R S :

a F F I L I a T e D O N O R S :

I N T e R N a T I O N a L P a R T N e R S :

C O R P O R a T e P a R T N e R S : aNZ Royal Bank, Hotel Cambodiana, Korea Cadastral Survey Corpo-

ration, BUNGe, SC Johnson, Korea Securities Depository, Cambo-

dian Business Integrated in Rural Development Organization

Habitat for Humanity GReaTeR LOS aNGeLeS

Habitat for Humanity GReaTeR LOWeLL

Habitat for Humanity GReaTeR BOSTON

Habitat for Humanity eaGLe & LaKe COUNTIeS

Habitat for Humanity INLaND VaLLeY

Habitat for Humanity DeSeRT FOOTHILLS

Habitat for Humanity NORTH WILLaMeTTe VaLLeY

Habitat for Humanity DOUGLaS COUNTY

Habitat for Humanity MeTRO DeNVeR

Habitat for Humanity MeTRO WeST / GReaTeR WORCeSTeR

Habitat for Humanity WeST HaWaII

Habitat for Humanity OaKLaND COUNTY, MI

WeST PaSCO Habitat for Humanity

ST. JOSePH Habitat for Humanity, MO

Habitat for Humanity GReaTeR BIRMINGHaM

Habitat for Humanity GUaM

Daimler Financial Services, GeRMaNY

Habitat for Humanity CINCINNaTI

Habitat for Humanity of eaST KING COUNTY

L O C a L P a R T N e R S : Khemara, Maryknoll, Sharing experience for adapted experi-

ence, Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope, Save the Children