A third Village Hive opened in Rotanak Commune in 2024.
Rotanak is home to 19,456 people, comprising 2,870 families, spread across eight villages. Situated adjacent to the Sangke River, this commune blends the charm of Battambang's colonial-era architecture with the buzz of its growing urban centre. Notable landmarks include Wat Kandal, a historic pagoda that dates back over a century, and the Sangke River promenade, which draws locals and visitors alike for evening strolls and festivities. While Rotanak is a hub of activity, it faces challenges with urban poverty. As of October 2024, Rotanak proudly hosts the third Village Hive in Battambang District, marking a new chapter in strengthening community resilience and access to essential support systems.
19,456
people
8
villages
As the leader of the Village Hive program in Rotanak, I am deeply honoured to share the remarkable progress and impact this initiative has had on our community. The Village Hive is a powerful model that addresses poverty, supports vulnerable families, and creates a brighter future for our people.
The Power of Partnership
From the very beginning, I saw the potential of the Village Hive program and was inspired by its vision. I immediately advocated for an MOU to formalise our collaboration with CCT. This partnership has been a game-changer by addressing the needs of families living in poverty, especially high-risk groups such as women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and pregnant women.
CCT works hand in hand with us, providing expertise, resources, and guidance. They are not just a partner but a role model. Unlike other NGOs that maintain control of programs, CCT entrusted the leadership of the Village Hive to us, empowering us to make decisions and plans best suited for our community.
Transformative Impact
The Village Hive has transformed the lives of many in our community. With additional resources from the Village Hive, we have expanded our reach and deepened our impact. Over 100 families in our community benefit from the Village Hive, with noticeable improvements in areas such as:
- Education and Health: Supporting children to stay in school, preventing dropouts, access to healthcare and promoting preventative health.
- Social Support: Providing resources for the homeless, street children, and vulnerable families, including skill-building and small business opportunities, and addressing root causes such as family migration and financial instability.
- Community Empowerment: Building trust and cooperation among families who once hesitated to seek help but now actively engage with our services.
The change is evident. Families now come to us for support, reversing the dynamic where we previously had to seek them out. The results speak for themselves: reduced school dropouts, fewer families migrating, and a significant decrease in street children and homelessness.
Leading with Responsibility
It is an immense privilege for our local council to lead the Village Hive. We take this responsibility seriously, using our combined budget from the Village Hive and our public funding wisely and strategically. Together with CCT, we’ve built strong networks and connections, ensuring that no family is left behind. Our approach balances compassion with accountability, addressing not just immediate needs but also the root causes of crises.
I want to emphasise that while we lead the program, the collaboration with CCT ensures the effectiveness of our efforts. CCT’s trust in us, coupled with their unwavering support, has enabled us to fulfil promises to our people and deliver meaningful change.
Vision for the Future
My vision for our community is clear: I want every family to have a stable lifestyle, every child to have the opportunity to go to school, and every person to live free from the shadow of poverty and crisis. I want to see our people thriving with enough food, work and hope for a better future.
No matter what mistakes people have made in the past, we will never abandon anyone willing to make a change. We are committed to breaking the cycle of crisis and creating lasting solutions.
A Call to Action
The Village Hive model is a shining example of what is possible through collaboration, empowerment, and thoughtful leadership. I urge other NGOs working in similar fields to adopt this approach. Together, we can inspire greater trust among our people and create even more impactful results.
For the future of our people and our community, we will continue to work tirelessly. The Village Hive has not just transformed lives—it has transformed hope into reality.
Sincerely,
Yors Yoeurn
Commune Chief, Rotanak
It is my great honour to represent the Provincial Commune Council for Women and Children (PCCWC) and share my reflections on the handover of the Village Hive project to Rotanak Commune. I am overjoyed to celebrate this milestone – it is a truly significant and joyous achievement.
A Valuable Collaboration
Since its inception, the Village Hive has been a lifeline for Ou Char and Svay Pao communes. This year, Rotanak Commune proudly took on the leadership of this vital initiative, ensuring that it is run by local people for local people. This project has consistently addressed the daily challenges faced by vulnerable families and children, paving the way for a promising future.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to CCT for establishing the Village Hive and entrusting it to local leadership. This is an invaluable gift to our communities. I hope this program will continue to expand to other communes and provinces where poverty and high-risk situations persist. The success we have seen here demonstrates that this model can make a significant difference.
Addressing the Root Causes
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.
A Strong Safety Net
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.
Expanding the Vision
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.
A Call to Action
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
The Village Hive project is a transformative initiative. It plays a significant role in supporting Cambodia’s social service system. By assisting high-risk families in poverty and improving healthcare and education, the project has had a profound impact on our community.
Transforming Rotanak Commune
When I first learned about the Village Hive project, I hoped our commune would have the opportunity to implement it. Now, that dream has come true, and I am incredibly happy. Upon receiving the project, we immediately began working and collaborating with network teams across health, education and social sectors. This collaboration has allowed us to gather crucial information about high-risk families, enabling us to provide timely and effective support and prevent harm.
Building Capacity Through Training
At first, I was concerned about how we would manage such a new and complex project. Questions about budgeting, responsibility, information management, and implementation weighed on my mind. However, after raising these concerns with the team, we received comprehensive training from CCT experts. These training courses have equipped us with the skills and knowledge to confidently run the project.
Today, we work as a coordinated team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Each department contributes to planning, implementation, and successful outcomes. This organised structure has made our work more efficient and impactful.
Strengthening Collaboration
The Village Hive has expanded our workload but also deepened our collaboration with public schools, local hospitals, and other community stakeholders. By working together closely, we have streamlined communication and decision-making processes, allowing us to address new cases in our community efficiently. Whether assessing a family’s needs, consulting with team councils, or deciding on appropriate support, this project has made every step of the process smoother and more effective.
Empowering Families and Preventing School Dropouts
One key success of the Village Hive is that it encourages all families to access education and prevents school dropouts. We urge families to inform us of any shortages or challenges so we can address their needs promptly. Every case begins with an assessment and follow-up visits to ensure timely support.
Through these efforts, we’ve witnessed remarkable changes. Families once struggling with unemployment now have stable jobs or business capital. Children without transportation or school supplies now have bicycles, uniforms, and materials. Monthly food supplies and business tools have lifted families out of dire situations, and then support to improve their livelihoods has empowered them to plan for the future.
A Sustainable Approach
From my experience working with other charities, I’ve seen how many programs end abruptly, leaving vulnerable families without support and local authorities without the resources or knowledge to take over. In contrast, CCT’s approach is fundamentally different. They collaborate closely with us, providing resources, assessments, and training to build our capacity.
CCT’s handover model ensures that even when they eventually step back, we will retain the skills and resources needed to sustain the Village Hive. Over the next three to five years, we plan to secure additional funding to independently manage the Village Hive, ensuring its continued success.
A Message to Other Charities
I encourage other NGOs to adopt CCT’s approach when implementing programs in our communities. By strengthening the public social service system and working hand-in-hand with local leaders, they create lasting, meaningful change. Collaboration is key to delivering high-quality healthcare, education and addressing poverty holistically and effectively.
A Vision for the Future
My biggest dream is to see every child in our community have full access to education and a life of opportunities. Children are the centre of our nation, and their futures are vital to our collective success. I also hope to see every family achieve stable jobs and livelihoods, enabling them to support themselves and their loved ones. Together, through the Village Hive and the dedication of our community, I believe we can achieve this vision.
Sincerely,
Seng Sina
Rotanak Commune Council
It is my great honour to share my reflections on the Village Hive program and its profound impact on our school and community over the past year. This initiative has provided vital support to the most vulnerable people, creating opportunities for growth, resilience, and hope for everyone in Rotanak’s villages.
Transforming Lives Through the Village Hive
The Village Hive program has been an incredible resource for our community. Since its implementation, we have achieved remarkable results, supporting those in need—families, students, and individuals struggling with life’s challenges. Families can come to us for emergency support and also employment and business opportunities, allowing them to maintain stability in their lives.
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.
A Holistic Approach
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.
Education as a Path to Change
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.
Empowering Local Leadership
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.
A Call for Collaboration
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.
A Vision for the Future
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
The Village Hive is an incredible project. We have never had anything like this in our community before, and its integration into Rotanak has been transformative.
Transforming Community Healthcare
When the Village Hive project first began, I was both excited and apprehensive. Our hospital had never run a project like this before, and I worried about how we would manage it. However, after receiving training from the CCT team, I gained the knowledge and understanding to run the program successfully. Today, I am confident that we can provide vital services to vulnerable children, families, and women in poverty, offering them access to care freely and effectively.
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.
Expanding Services
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 proper childcare.
- 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.
A Model for Collaboration
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 like supporting pregnant women, vaccinations, and outreach health education, 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.
A Vision for Independence
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
Click below to see the past reports for the Rotanak Village Hive.