Chok Sarom timidly controlled his excitement as he made his way to the group. He and his fellow home partners were to meet with the Habitat team for a build orientation. For Sa-rom, this build was far from the ordinary. He was building his own home. Th ere was no de-nying of his delight – he happily volunteered to watch over the storage room that was be-ing prepared for the build and committed to help tidy up the site by picking litter, clearing debris and clearing the pathways, “We have to keep the site clean and ready. Th ey (volun-teers) are arriving soon.”

Chok Sarom and his wife Houn Saroeun and 3 other families - Nget Phy, Hai Srey, Sok So-phan - have been preparing for the build that will lead them to starting anew. March 30, the conclusion of the 5-day Hands and Hearts Build, marked the tipping point in their lives. Th ey fi nally have a stronger sense of security, they fi nally own their homes.

HIV has made Chok Sarom and his wife’s lives very diffi cult yet they remain thankful, “We are thankful that our children do not have HIV, but we still fear how our disease aff ects their day-to-day lives. Th ey experience discrimina-tion from other neighbors. We worry every day about how they will live when our times come as we don’t have relatives whom they can approach for help.”

Th e couple was provided welfare support, and with their industrious nature, they were able to build a thatched house in a small plot of land for their four small children and receive a grant to buy a second hand motorbike. Th ey work as fi sher folks in the monsoon season and become lotus bulb collectors during dry season. Chok Sarom also works as a public motorcycle driver. Sometimes his wife makes time to peddle clothes in nearby villages.

Just as they feared, Chok Sarom found out that

I ssue 39 | 1 | Apr i l 2012

Beyond Building

the land they live in will be seized by the gov-ernment soon. Th is prompted him to apply for a house grant with Habitat for Humanity. “We felt very happy when we heard about Habitat’s project of building a house for us this month. It gives us peace of mind know-ing that we will be able to leave our four chil-dren with a secure home,” he shared.

Th e 27 Australian volunteers have also been preparing months and months back for their trip to Cambodia. Th ey individually came-up with creative ways just to be able to raise funds to help many families such as organiz-ing a ‘Clean-Up Drive for Cambodia’, a char-ity dinner and golf tournament, an auction, among many others. Th e build experience they gained affi rmed their drive to help. More than laying bricks or building a founda-tion or simply mixing cement, the volunteers’ contribution and enthusiasm at the build site and during fund raising inspired home part-ners like Chok Sarom and many more volun-teers who are considering volunteering and off ering their time, money and skills to help change people’s lives for the better.

Th e Hands and Hearts Build commenced with the volunteers’ tour at important his-toric sites in Phnom Penh, allowing them to know more about the country. An orienta-tion was conducted by Habitat Cambodia and Australia staff , which helped volunteers know more about the projects and prepared them for the build.

Volunteers were eager to get their hands dirty on the fi rst day when they were greeted by

Voeun Sam Art and wife Eng Sopheap at the house dedication

Beyond Building

the land they live in will be seized by the gov-

the home partners, skilled workers and the community people. During the week, they visited the Steoung Meanchey dumpsite to understand more about the housing situation in Cambodia and a Habitat home partner - Phoat Horn - who happily showed them how to make fabric fl ower as her form of livelihood.

One volunteer, Glenn Schultz shared, “It’s hard to put in to words the experience of participat-ing in the Hearts and Hands Build. Th ere are lows - seeing the living conditions and learn-ing about Cambodia’s dark past and the highs

- handing over the House, interacting with the local kids and working as Team with people you did not know prior. It’s hard work, in hot humid conditions and I came here not know-ing what to expect, but you just can’t help fall in love with this place. Th e laughter and smiles from the Cambodian people fi ll the room and they are so friendly. I can easily say this is one of the proudest moments of my life. If you ever get an opportunity to go on a build, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you could imagine.’’

On the fi nal day, volunteers gaily decorated the homes. Photos were taken, simple gift s where shared, birds and fl owers were released for good luck, prayers, well-wishes, warm hugs and tears of joy were shared.

For the Hands and Hearts Build volunteers, and home partners like Chok Sarom, this was not the end. Th is was just the beginning.

*Th e HFH Cambodia home partner names in the story are not their real names.

I ssue 39 | 2 | Apr i l 2012

Ms. Bernadette Bolo-Duthy, HFH Cam-bodia Country Director, was invited by Community Development Foundation (CDF), to be a board member of the new-ly founded organization, as an interna-tional organization representative.

Th e opportunity will contribute to Habi-tat Cambodia’s eff orts of strengthens its network capacity and expanding its pres-ence in community development. As a board member, Habitat will be part of discussions on current community devel-opment issues, organization guidelines, programs and projects partnership op-portunities, and proposal collaborations.

CDF is a new local organization founded with the purpose of helping Cambodia people in the communities, particularly, villagers in the rural areas with welfare support , infrastructure upgrading, hu-man resource development, and micro-fi nance.

HFH Cambodia represented in Community Development

Foundation

Successful latrine building

Building on HFH Cambodia’s fi rst DR proj-ect, and the promising results of recent DR M&E activities and Refl ection workshop, colleagues from Habitat for Humanity Inter-national, Mario Flores from the Atlanta offi ce and James Samuel from HFH AP conducted a one day DR workshop. Th e workshop was arranged to synchronize and strengthen HF-HC’s understanding of the HFH strategy for disaster response as guided by the Pathways

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia team in Siem Reap organized an exposure trip this month aimed at advancing water and sani-tation project capacity. WatSan stakeholders such as Sanitation Action Groups (SAGs), School Water Sanitation and Hygiene (S-WASH), and local authorities joined the visit to a project by Plan International Cambodia in cooperation with Siem Reap Provincial Department of Rural Development (PDRD),

located in Banteay Srey district. Th e trip en-couraged and motivated the participants to learn best practices from successful Com-munity Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) eff orts.

Th e other purpose of the exposure visit is to learn from worthy lessons learned and take note from experiences shared by direct im-plementers and villagers who now have im-

More Disaster Response Capacity Building

WATSAN Exposure Visit

to Permanance.

Th e workshop included discussions on glob-ally-accepted guiding principles, standards, coordination mechanisms and program “products” for the post-disaster shelter and settlements sector.

Th e specifi c objectives of of the workshop include reach consensus on strategic op-portunities posed by early engagement in post-disaster shelter assistance through implementation of program interventions consistent with latest sector trends, access to new resource development opportunities, and execution of partnerships and grants agreements in support of these interven-tions.

Participants of the workshop were some key management staff of HFH Cambodia and the DR Ad Hoc team.

I ssue 39 | 3 | Apr i l 2012

Highlights

Workshop discussions

proved living and health conditions due to their creative toilets, hand washing stations, and the knowledge they have strictly put in practice on proper handling of drinking wa-ter.

Mr. Samrith Sophat, HFH Cambodia Wat-San CLTS Specialist shared his thoughts aft er the experience, “Th is one day visit is very useful, the team learned various things including eff ective leadership, a better and more practical way of setting up hand wash-ing station, proper waste management, and demonstration of behaviour change among SAG members and eff ective promotion of latrine construction. Th e team received a practically reinforcement of its knowledge about the sanitation ladder techniques. We are optimistic we can improve our WATSAN project in our target areas in Siem Reap to strengthen our capabilities of serving our home partners.”

Watsan group meeting

Global Village Wrap Up

March 19 to April 02: A Global Village vol-unteer team from Japan formed a group of twenty one members, which they called ‘Ha-makko Build’, came together to work along-side the home partner to construct one brick house in Pouk District, Siem Reap.

On the last day of their building schedule, the team took the opportunity to visit Tier Banh Kumrou Primary School to understand the education system in rural Cambodia. Th ey headed back to the site to prepare for their house dedication ceremony.

During the emotional dedication, team member were excited to take the chance to share about their experiences with home partners and skilled workers. At the very end of the program, the team fondly dressed up with the locals on Khmer traditional wed-ding dresses which perfectly matched the traditional songs and dancing.

During a non-build day, the team took the time for sightseeing around Phnom Penh such as Russian market, Genocide Museum, Toul Sleng, Wat Phnom and Royal Palace.

Aft er a touching house dedication, where everyone had the opportunity to share about their feeling during the week, the team invit-ed home partners, skilled workers and Habi-tat staff to join them for lunch at the resort nearby the build site.

Teamwork

Completing the missionOutdoor activity with students

“I feel very happy that volunteers come to

help build my house. They really do a lot for us.

Meanwhile we learn to know each other more.

They are very friendly and loving.”

Seng Vichet,

HFH Cambodia home partner

GLOBAL VILLAGE TEAMS

Viva VolunteersViva Volunteers

Issue 39 | 4 | Apr i l 2012

Very systematic!

Khmer traditional dancing (rom vong)Helping each other

Experience Khmer Tuk-tukStarting the wall

I ssue 39 | 5 | Apr i l 2012

April 01 to 07: A twenty-member volun-teer team from Shanghai American High School, China, joined Habitat once again bringing with it another group of students that built two brick houses in Vimean Trung Community, Phnom Penh.

Aft er a touching house dedication, where everyone had the opportunity to share about their feelings during the week, the team invited home partners, skilled work-ers and Habitat staff to join them for lunch at the resort nearby the build site.

Th e team also enjoyed a tour of the city dur-ing the non-build day.

If you would like to make a diff erence and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Cambodia as a Global Village volunteer,

visit this site for more information:http://www.habitat.org/gv/

Smile!

Khmer traditional welcome (som peas) Group posing!

Volunteers’ Voice

House dedication celebration

Close-Up

How do you feel with the build work? I think it’s great as I have a chance to work directly with the home partners, and able to see the house building progress daily in-stead of just sending out the donation and you have no idea where your money goes and how it is used to help others.

What do you think about Cambodia and the people? Cambodia is a very nice and beautiful country. The people are very friendly and welcoming. I feel like I am home here, very comfortable.

What do you think about the house dedication? It is fun. I like the part of releasing the birds which is symbolic of releasing the bad things and gain luck for the family, they are warm and always smiling.

How many times you have been volun-teering with Habitat? Th is is my fi rst time to volunteer with Habitat

How do you feel with the build work? Th e build work is fun despite of being tired due to the heat, but it was very reward-ing to me because I have had a chance to work with my classmate to help people, and make new friends with people in the community. Building with home partners and skilled worker is really fun even if we couldn’t understand each other’s language.

What is your favourite construction activity? Laying brick because I can see the progress of my work and I feel actually building a real house than other activities.people in the community.

What make you interested with Habi-tat? Besides helping, it’s an opportunity to travel to diff erent areas of the world to un-derstand the life of the people that living in various places on earth.

How do you feel working with Habitat? I feel good to get to know the need and condi-tion of other people; have had a chance to have fun with children and meet families.

What do you think about the house ded-ication program? Th e house dedication is great. I didn’t get to experience it during my fi rst Habitat trip to another country. It was a great experience, and pretty emotional when everyone share about their experi-ence and feelings. We got so close to the family and everyone, so it was quite hard for us to say goodbye

J A C O B D Y E R A N G E L I N E C H E N G W E N P A K

Svay Sreyneth and her four children, Yu Bo-vatey (9), Yu Bovatha (7), Yu Bolina (5) and Soeun Phasan (2) made a move to their new home in KHB Community (Holistic Hope Community) right aft er the build was com-pleted.

Aft er about fi ve months of living in their new home, Sreyneth and her children are more secure, “this new house helps my family a lot. I do not need to pay for water and electricity, especially the rent. Th e thought of getting kicked-out of the house by the landlord nev-er crosses our mind anymore. We live in our own now,” she proudly and playfully shared. As a mother of four children, Sreyneth shows a strong sense of responsibility of tak-ing care of her daughters and sons, and their house. Besides her housework, Sreyneth has been selected and assigned by the commu-

KHB Family Update

nity leader to assist in community work by taking account of and assisting community people need. She helps in by advising peo-ple in the community on how to run formal application forms to the authorities. She also maintains the plants in the community center. Aft er the installation of solar lamps Sreyneth was also appointed to take care of the solar and solar lamps and report in case problems occur.

Above and beyond her expectation, her chil-dren are also very happy with their move. Th ey now have friends and are able to fo-cus on their studies. Th ey also have a wider and really clean space to roam around with. “Before when we were living at the dumpsite, while we sat, we would spend loads of time swatting fl ies.” Yu Bovatey, the oldest daugh-ter shared.

Khmer Harvest Build

Svay Sreyneth and her four children while cooking lunch

Khmer Solar lights up 20 families

Khmer solar donated 20 1.3 watt solar lanterns to HFH Cambodia. Th e full charge lantern can be used for 24 hours. Th e lanterns will serve EHOPHHS project families in Phnom Penh, especially Prey Veng. Th ey can now access electricity. Our thanks to Khmer Solar!

I ssue 39 | 6 | Apr i l 2012

Solar Power for KhmerHarvest Build Community

24 solar lamps and two boards of 135 Watt solar power were installed and put into use at the Khmer Harvest Build Community Cen-ter by Khmer Solar Company on 27 March.

Th e solar lamps are now being used by the community members allowing them an ex-tended time and secure to walk around the community at night time. Th e lamps were installed right before the Khmer New Year. Th e community people were very happy to be able to celebrate the New Year together.

I ssue 39 | 7 | Apr i l 2012

01 May International Labor Day

07 May Visak Bochea

13 – 19 May Global Village Team from Singapore in Siem Reap

14 – 16 MayKing Norodom Sihamony’s Birthday

19 – 25 May Global Village Team from Australia in Sirem Reap

19 – 27 MayGlobal Village Team from Korea in Phnom Penh

21 – 27 MayGlobal Village Team from Singapore in Siem Reap

Special Feature

Upcoming Events and

Legal Holiday

Ms. Chhoeun Pea (40) is a rice farmer who lives with her elder sister (53) in Svay Chum vil-lage. Just like many villagers in rural Cambodia, Ms. Chhoeun and her sister did not have access to improved sanitary facility and practiced open defecation. It used to take her at least 30 minutes for them to walk to the nearest empty fi eld to defecate and walk back home. “I was afraid of snakes and it was diffi cult especially when it rained every day,” Ms. Chhoeun said.

Over a year ago, she was invited by local Sanitation Action Group (SAG) members to attend a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) workshop facilitated by HFHC. She learned about the importance of adequate sanitation practice and decided to build a dry pit latrine using local resources. Aft er using the dry pit latrine for a year and demonstrating her ability to maintain and sustain open defecation free practice, she decided to build a pour fl ush latrine with her self-fund she was saving for a long time.

Ms. Chhoeun actively participated in construction which took place in February while re-ceiving technical guidance from skilled workers; she dug, collected and carried the materials, and made a cement foundation. She proudly told us that it only took 5 days to complete the construction with her playing a key role in managing the construction and mobilizing local resources such as sand from her rice fi elds and woods to make a door.

Th e diff erence the new latrine has made in her life is already signifi cant. She can now con-veniently go to bathroom within 30 seconds – a great improvement from her the previous 30 minutes! She no longer has to worry about the rain. Not only does she expect the reduced incidence of sickness and medical cost for her and her sister, she is also motivated to educate her neighbours about the importance and convenience of having a family latrine.

Th e Habitat Siem Reap team was thrilled to know that the project can certainly mobilize women as skilled workers and ally with them to promote latrine construction in target com-munities.

Pour Flash Latrine: from 30 minutes to 30 seconds

New Faces

Please join HFH Cambodia in welcom-ing Bun Saborn our newest Project Offi cer for PPCDP based in Phnom Penh. Saborn brings with him ten years experience work-ing with NGOs.

Please contact Saborn at bun_saborn@habitatcambo-dia.org

Welcome Eb Muny, our newest Construc-tion Supervisor for Siem Reap Project. Muny Brings with him years of experiecne working on construction.

Please contact Muny at eb_muny@habitatcambodia.org

Chhoeun Pea and her elder sister in front of the newly built latrine

Or Kun!

Join HFH Cambodia’s Social Media Network! Become a Fan or join our Cause on Facebook http://www.causes.com/causes/260473-habitat-for-humanity-cambodia

Follow Habitat Cambodia Tweets http://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

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Habitat for Humanity Cambodia says thank you to our corporate and international partners and our affi liate 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 and World Vision Cambodia

Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Norton University,

Build Bright University, Royal University School of Social Work,

Logos International School, Northbridge International School,

University of Cambodia, Collaborative Studio

U N I V E R S I T I E S A N D S C H O O L P A R N T 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, Khmer Solar, Davies Paints Philippines, Hotel

Cambodiana

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Daimler Financial Services, GERMANY