Rotanak Village Hive

The project has helped families stabilise their livelihoods, supported vulnerable children to return to school, and contributed to a clear reduction in domestic violence cases. Collaboration between Commune authorities, project staff and partners has been active and effective.
The project has strengthened our ability to respond quickly to families facing hardship. Vulnerable and victimised households are identified earlier, and support reaches them in a more timely and coordinated way. This has led to improved livelihood recovery for many families and better conditions for children to enrol in and remain in school.
The most visible changes have been economic. People who were previously unemployed now have jobs or recognised occupations. Families have received capital to start small businesses or expand existing ones, along with skills training and basic financial management support. Many beneficiaries now understand how to manage income and expenses more responsibly.
In education and child welfare, the project has provided essential support including school materials, clothing, bags and transport such as bicycles. Learning environments have improved through renovations to kindergartens, better rest areas, supplementary learning sessions and clean handwashing facilities. Importantly, during this project period, no children from the Commune have been sent to an orphanage. Children are not migrating for work, although some parents continue to migrate for employment, leaving children safely in the care of relatives.
The project has also contributed to greater family stability. Domestic violence has noticeably decreased, with fewer cases requiring mediation by local authorities. Vulnerable families have received initial food support to address immediate needs.
Personally, I am very satisfied and proud to be involved. I have participated fully in planning, training and implementation, working closely with CCT, project staff and the Commune Committee to identify priority families and respond to their situations. I actively share information about the project with colleagues, village leaders and community members to strengthen understanding and participation.
Looking ahead to 2026, my goal is to continue this collaboration so more families can escape poverty. I want families without work to gain stable occupations, families experiencing violence to become safe and non violent, and households relying on high interest loans to find better solutions. I also hope to see positive change among families affected by alcohol or drug use, and to ensure all vulnerable children remain in school until completion.
Three achievements stand out this year. First, strong participation and joint planning, with the project fully integrated into the Commune Development Plan. Second, effective training and capacity building for all relevant stakeholders. Third, strong case management and direct family support, including livelihood assistance, educational support through Community Day Centres, financial literacy, and improvements to community infrastructure that create safer, healthier environments for children.

The Village Hive has been instrumental in breaking poverty cycles. We don’t just provide resources; we also follow through with training, mentorship and ongoing support to ensure long-term success.

Thanks to this program, we have been able to provide not only skills and education but also essential resources like food and healthcare. Every family goes on a journey to empowerment. Initially, they receive emergency support of carefully checked food supplies to ensure proper nutrition, and health monitoring to ensure their basic needs are met. Additionally, the journey provides vocational training, skills development, and coaching to enable families to work or start their own businesses and cover their own basic needs. Without this comprehensive approach, cases would go unresolved, and the cycle of poverty would continue.

The Village Hive has built a strong safety net for our communities. It has provided both resources and human capital to train and empower local teams. Through this collaboration, we have witnessed life-changing improvements in our communities. Families are emerging from poverty, and no one is left behind. We provide transportation for children to return home from school safely in the evenings, reinforcing the commitment to creating a secure and supportive environment. Every problem that arises is addressed promptly and effectively, ensuring no one faces hunger or high-risk situations without help.

The success of this program in the three communes – Ou Char, Svay Pao, and Rotanak – is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of CCT and local leaders. Without this partnership and mutual understanding, none of this would have been possible.

As a representative of the PCCWC, I advocate for the expansion of the Village Hive to other high-risk communities. In rural areas, poverty remains a significant challenge, especially for children. Many children are forced to abandon their education due to their parents’ migration for work, leaving them in the care of grandparents, relatives or institutions without adequate support.

These children face immense risks, including malnutrition, lack of healthcare and limited access to education. Distance from schools and inadequate transportation further contribute to high dropout rates. These cases are a direct result of poverty and limited resources within public services.

I urge CCT, its co-founders and funders, to continue implementing the Village Hive in more communities. Children’s welfare is our highest priority, and their struggles remain the most pressing issue we face. Without access to proper nutrition and healthcare, children cannot thrive or pursue an education.

The Village Hive has proven to be an extraordinary model for addressing these challenges in our communities. I am confident that by expanding this program through the public system, we can ensure that every child has access to the support they need to grow, learn and achieve their full potential.

Sincerely

Mrs. Nhek Sakun
Provincial Committee Chairman for Women and Child Welfare

This program also extends its reach to students in our school. Whether they need food, afterschool care, or extra tutoring, the Village Hive ensures they receive these services. By prioritising the most vulnerable, the program has uplifted lives, fostered change, and prevented many children from ending up on the streets or dropping out of school.

Leading the program within our school has transformed how we work. Before, I did not pay much attention to the day-to-day operations, but now I understand the importance of thorough oversight. Every day, I conduct detailed checks on the quality of the food we supply, daycare activities, student feedback, class schedules, playground safety, and even the sanitation of the school’s bathrooms and toilets. Nothing can be overlooked. The Village Hive has allowed me to give attention to detail that ensures smooth operation, quality education and the safety and well-being of our students.

We have also seen a change in the community's understanding of the Village Hive. Over the past year, the benefits have led to more people becoming aware and getting involved in the project’s goals. We are now starting to hold parent meetings to share information and ensure that vulnerable families know how to access the support they need.

The Village Hive program has driven positive behavioural changes in both the community and our students. Vulnerable students who once struggled now receive the services they need and are thriving. This transformation is the result of the program’s goal to prioritise the most vulnerable. Without it, many children would face homelessness, child labour, or abandonment, leaving them without care or education.
Through the Village Hive, we provide daycare and afterschool care, allowing parents to safely entrust their children to teacher care. This ensures that parents can work effectively while fostering a safe environment for learning and growth.

One of the most significant strengths of the Village Hive program is that it is led by local people for local people. Unlike other NGOs that impose their agendas and leave communities to collapse when they withdraw, CCT has entrusted us with leadership and operational independence.
We have been empowered to manage the funds and make decisions that benefit our community. We are already preparing to contribute our own funding to sustain and grow the Village Hive in the years ahead. By gradually stepping back, CCT allows our community to grow stronger without the risk of collapse. This approach ensures the program's sustainability and long-term success.

Collaboration between the community and CCT has been the essential ingredient for success. I urge charities not to treat communities as mere beneficiaries to fulfil their own agendas at the expense of the people they claim to support. True partnerships require teamwork, mutual respect, trust, and shared goals.

Our Village Hive is a shining example of this collaborative spirit. It has empowered us to take ownership of the program, build capacity, and ensure its benefits endure for future generations.

My greatest dream is to see our students, our people, and our community live their best lives—free from discrimination, with equality and peace. I want all children, regardless of their background, to study together as equals. I hope to see lasting behaviour changes in our students: respect for one another, improved hygiene, and care for their school and community environment.

By fostering these values, we are not only shaping students into responsible individuals but also building a stronger society. The Village Hive program has laid the foundation for this transformation, and I am confident it will continue to make a profound difference in the years to come.

Sincerely,

School Director
Rotanak Commune

Our hospital’s role in the project focuses on delivering healthcare services, particularly to children and women. While the Village Hive empowers the local council to provide job opportunities and support education, we take responsibility for healthcare. Together, these roles complement one another to address the diverse needs of our community.

This project has brought much-needed services to our community that we never had before. At the hospital, we provide essential healthcare services, including:

- Vaccinations for children.
- Nutritional support, including BP100 - a ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.
- Preventative health education for parents on good hygiene and child development.
- Guidance on accessing services when families need help.

Through regular meetings with the CCT team, I’ve gained extensive knowledge about the project’s goals and activities. These collaborations have strengthened our ability to serve the community effectively and ensure that help reaches those who need it most.

Our partnership with the local council has been a cornerstone of this project’s success. Together, we’ve built a strong collaboration that ensures holistic support for our community.

The difference between CCT and other charities lies in the approach. While other charities deliver private services, CCT addresses broader issues by empowering our community to provide high-quality public services addressing health, homelessness, unemployment, and access to education for children. I believe other charities could benefit greatly by adopting CCT’s work model, as it addresses root causes and fosters sustainable change.

Looking to the future, my hope is to see our community become independent and self-reliant. Strength and resilience are key to building a sustainable future. When people need help, they should feel empowered to seek assistance from public services, attend meetings with their local council, and access the resources available to them.

We’ve learned from past experiences with other charities that independence is essential. When charitable projects ended, we were left without the resources and infrastructure to continue the work. This taught us the importance of being strong and confident in managing our own affairs.

I envision a community where everyone enjoys good health, earns a stable living, stays safe, and builds their confidence. By reducing reliance on external support with projects like the Village Hive, we can create a stronger, more resilient future for Rotanak.

Sincerely,

Trea Sokhom
Rotanak Health Centre Director