Erikshjälpen supports work in Cambodia
In a project dealing with disaster risk management and climate adaptation, Erikshjälpen supports the work with safe areas in Kampong Chhnang province in Cambodia to ensure that children are better protected.
In central Cambodia, communities are heavily affected by climate change and many affected communities fall into severe poverty. One of these communities is in Kampong Chhnang province where Erikshjälpen, together with local partners, works to ensure children's right to safety, protection and education in disaster-affected areas.
During our visit to Cambodia, we met with children, parents, leaders and other local officials to learn more about how poor communities are affected by natural disasters and climate change.
In Kampong Chhnang, work is underway on so-called safe areas. This is to ensure that children are better protected during the rainy season, floods and other disasters. The safe area is located three to four meters above the village level and serves as a safe gathering place during disasters. To ensure the children's right to education, there is also a newly built kindergarten and school. It has also secured access to clean water, built new toilets and created a safe place for children to play.
We were able to listen to the children's thoughts and this is perhaps the most important thing we will take with us in our future work.
Erikshjälpen makes regular visits to partner organisations to support and strengthen and as part of the work to ensure that collected funds and gifts reach the children. The visits are often made by staff at regional offices around the world, but sometimes staff from Sweden also participate.
Author: Anton Eriksson
Published: 27 September 2023
Listening 