Target beneficiaries:

AO Cambodia focuses on assisting the poor and most vulnerable people in Lvea Em district, these include women, children, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who have no voice or input into the household and community decision making process. Poverty is widespread in this district, with 6 in 10 living below the poverty line. The poor economic status of many households has adverse effects on health, nutrition, access to education and participation in community activities.

 

Needs:

The challenges these people face are many and interrelated; a lack of basic health care knowledge, inappropriate treatment of injuries and illnesses has causes many children and adults to suffer and die needlessly of wholly curable diseases. 80% of deaths in Cambodia are due to waterborne diseases caused by inadequate water, sanitation, and poor hygiene practices. The low level of basic skills in the population, low literacy outputs and minimal critical thinking skills demonstrated by students has serious implications. This is compounded by medical and educational systems that are constantly overwhelmed and under-resourced, with limited technical skills and poor compliance with national standards.

Despite the raising of awareness of the cause and effect of HIV/AIDS and TB, discrimination is still wide spread and the community is slow to respond to the need for support and care. Hopelessness is a constant companion driving children and adults deeper into despair as they see no way to alleviate the suffering for themselves and their families.

The church in Cambodia has grown significantly over the last 15 years, it is young, enthusiastic, with a natural flair for evangelism. Such rapid growth presents challenges in the areas of discipleship and leadership. The quantity may be increasing but quality and depth still seem to be lacking. Intentional lifelong discipleship programs are rare and many of those who profess faith in Christ seem to fall away at the first sign of difficulty. Most of Cambodia’s cities, towns and district centers now have a church. But the rural areas, where 80% of the people live, still have no Christian witness.

 

Statistics (regional v. country):

Indicators Lovea Em Cambodia
Population 75,368
0 – 5 years 7.8%
5 – 14 years 33.1%
15 – 49 (women of reproductive age) 25.3%

Life expectancy at birth
Male 58.6 years
Female 60 years
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births 85
under 5 mortality rate 1,000 live births 101
Maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births 472
Households with access to safe drinking water 40%
Household with toilet facilities 16%
Adult literacy age 15 and over 71.7%
Government spending on health care per capita/year US$6.24
% population below rural poverty line 64.3%