support for the elderly in cambodia letter
TRANSCRIPT
14 July 2014
To whom it may concern,
RE: Support for the Elderly in Cambodia
Currently in Cambodia there are over 848,000 people over the age of 60. This equates to
approximately 6.3% of the population. It is estimated that by 2050 a huge 19% of the population will
be over the age of 60. This represents a significant ageing of the population in Cambodia and
presents a number of issues that need to be tackled. A significant proportion of the elderly
population live in rural areas and suffer from some disability. A third of over 60s support at least one
child. The elderly population are considered extremely vulnerable.
Currently in Cambodia there are thousands of NGOs working on projects across various fields. Only
one NGO is dedicated to the elderly, HelpAge Cambodia. The Department of Elderly Welfare,
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, is responsible for elderly policy in
Cambodia. The Department works closely with HelpAge Cambodia, a local NGO, to implement
various programs and projects to the benefit of Cambodia’s elderly population.
MoSVY is seeking new partner NGOs to work with on projects to benefit the elderly in Cambodia.
This is an area of immense importance and cooperation between the government and NGOs offer
the best chance for success.
You will find included along with this letter a series of documents related to the elderly in Cambodia
including; Guidelines for the establishment and management of older people’s associations (OPAs),
Analysis of Gender and Emerging Issues with Focus on Ageing Population, and Ageing and Migration
in Cambodia. These documents are for your information.
If you are interested in learning more about working with the elderly in Cambodia please contact
Renée McHale, Policy Support Officer, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation at
[email protected] to arrange a meeting.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the importance of the elderly in Cambodia.
Kind Regards
H.E. Chukmel Santepheap
Ministry Advisor, Rank of General Director
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation
Ph: 016 852 657
Email: [email protected]