Svay Pao is home to the second Village Hive, which was established in 2023.
Svay Pao is one of the largest and most densely populated communes due to it being centrally located in the heart of Battambang District.
Read on to hear stories from the Svay Pao community themselves, reports from the local leaders and discover the impact of the Village Hive.
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I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in 2024 with the Village Hive in Svay Pao. This initiative is uplifting impoverished families and transforming lives across our community.
Over the past year, the Village Hive project has made significant strides in assisting vulnerable populations, including the poor and homeless. By creating job opportunities and ensuring food security, the project has had a tangible impact on the lives of many families.
Through its various initiatives, the project has positively impacted our community members, bringing meaningful changes to their lives.
Since the inception of the Village Hive, we have implemented early intervention services to support struggling families. These efforts have been instrumental in addressing immediate needs and providing a path towards self-sufficiency.
When the Village Hive first began in my community, the changes were not immediately noticeable. However, I was eager to contribute to the project and embrace the additional responsibilities it brought. Over time, the progress became clear as the initiative began to take root, fostering growth and resilience within our community.
One notable development has been the increased collaboration with the Commune Council for Women and Children (CCWC). Two dedicated social workers now work closely with the CCWC to coordinate efforts, enhancing the project’s efficiency and impact.
Sharing information and experiences with other districts and leaders has also been a valuable aspect of this initiative. By collaborating and exchanging knowledge, we have gained insights and implemented best practices to further benefit our communities.
The Village Hive project has significantly enhanced the quality of life for our community members. By providing essential support, including assistance for impoverished families, job opportunities, food security, and financial literacy training, the project has empowered individuals and families to build more stable lives.
The community, families, and children have expressed immense gratitude for the project's financial support and the sense of well-being it has brought to their lives. It brings me great joy to see them develop a deeper understanding of how the Village Hive positively impacts their futures.
With the transfer of project management from CCT to the commune, I am committed to continuing close collaboration with all stakeholders. I am grateful for CCT’s provision of financial support and training to ensure the project’s ongoing success and sustainability.
While other organisations may offer similar support services, the Village Hive sets itself apart by providing direct financial assistance to enhance the public services and dedicated staff to join the public workforce who ensure effective implementation and impact. This hands-on approach has been a key factor in the success of the Village Hive project.
The Village Hive project has proven to be an invaluable resource for our community. By addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and empowering families, it has created a stronger, more resilient Svay Pao. I look forward to seeing this initiative continue to grow and thrive, fostering even greater opportunities for our community in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
Hum Sokvannaroth
Svay Pao Commune Chief
On behalf of the leadership and the people of Svay Pao Commune, I am incredibly proud to reflect on the Village Hive and the positive impact it has brought to our community. This invaluable initiative has provided vital support to those in need, fostering a stronger and more resilient community for us all.
Since the Village Hive was implemented a year ago, we have witnessed remarkable progress and transformation within Svay Pao.
This initiative has uplifted families by creating job opportunities, offering skill development programs, and supporting children’s education. By empowering families to secure stable employment and gain financial literacy, the Village Hive has significantly improved the overall well-being of our community.
Families now enjoy newfound stability, children are attending school regularly, and parents are acquiring valuable skills to build better livelihoods. This holistic approach has not only addressed immediate needs but also laid the foundation for long-term prosperity in our community.
The Village Hive has brought about a fundamental shift in how we operate as a commune. Before this project, I worked with just two individuals, which limited what we could achieve. With the introduction of the Village Hive, we now work as a team, collaborating closely with project staff and community members.
Through open discussions and collaborative problem-solving, we address challenges and explore solutions together. This approach has allowed us to communicate the project’s goals clearly to families, enabling them to embrace new opportunities and improve their quality of life.
The project has significantly improved the standard of living in Svay Pov. By providing job placement services, skill training, and educational support, it has empowered families to achieve greater financial stability. As a result, children are accessing quality education, and parents are securing professional jobs, reducing financial burdens and creating opportunities for a better life for all.
The unique funding model of the project has been crucial in enabling us to deliver these services effectively and provide timely assistance. It has allowed us to directly address the pressing needs of our community, ensuring that families feel supported and hopeful about their futures.
Leading the implementation of the Village Hive has been an immensely rewarding experience. Collaborating with our community members and directly assisting numerous families fills me with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
I am hopeful that the Village Hive will continue to grow and thrive. It has already proven to be an invaluable resource, addressing the core needs of our community members and transforming lives.
The Village Hive is paving the way for a more prosperous and empowered Svay Pao. Together, we are building a brighter future for our families, our children, and our community.
Sincerely,
Khuon Chheka
Svay Pao Commune Council
I am honoured and proud that CCT has entrusted our district with managing the Village Hive. This initiative has transformed our community, bringing vital services and fostering positive change for families and children alike.
The Village Hive has had a profound impact on our school community. Families have benefited from essential services, resulting in increased school attendance and improved academic performance among children. Our school has benefited directly from classroom renovations and sports facilities. These improvements have created a more conducive environment for learning and personal growth.
The Village Hive focuses on empowering our community through three core public services:
- Educational Services
- Health Services
- Social Services
The Village Hive has provided vital educational support, from funding staff salaries to comprehensive family assistance and community development initiatives. These efforts are aimed at uplifting impoverished families and ensuring children have access to quality education.
As a principal, I feel a deep sense of ownership over this project, especially since many of the children it supports are students in my own school. I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact this initiative has had on their lives, as well as on their families.
Managing the Village Hive is both similar to and distinct from my work in education. While it shares the goal of fostering children’s development, it extends far beyond the classroom. It involves directly engaging with children and families facing challenges in the community, addressing their needs, and actively contributing to their well-being.
The Village Hive has bridged the gap between educational services and families by addressing critical issues such as malnutrition and the need for after-school care. This holistic approach has created a warmer, more secure environment where children can thrive.
The Village Hive distinguishes itself from previous initiatives by shifting management responsibility from external organisations to the community itself. With ongoing technical assistance, this approach empowers the whole community to take ownership, ensuring its sustainability and fostering long-term progress.
The Village Hive has fostered a peaceful and empowered community. Families feel supported, children have greater access to education, and community members' overall sense of belonging and happiness has grown.
These changes are inspiring local leadership and myself to take full ownership of the Village Hive management and development while fostering strong collaborations with all stakeholders.
One of the key strengths of the Village Hive project is its focus on sustainability. By equipping the community with valuable skills and knowledge, it ensures that families can continue to benefit even after external support ceases. In contrast to other organisations that often deliver short-term interventions without building long-term capacity, the Village Hive’s approach ensures lasting impact and self-reliance.
Looking ahead, I hope all stakeholders will work together closely to ensure the project continues to grow stronger and achieve even greater progress. The Village Hive has shown us what is possible when a community is empowered, and I am confident it will remain a cornerstone of positive change for years to come.
Sincerely,
Nab Romdul
Vice Principal of Wat Kampheng Primary School
It is my great honour to represent Svay Pao and share my reflections on the Village Hive program and the impact it has had on our community in the last year.
In 2023, our Svay Pao Commune formally received the Village Hive. This initiative has provided invaluable support to our community, offering resources and services to those most in need, including widows, people with disabilities, and children at high risk.
The program has significantly strengthened our ability to address critical issues such as healthcare, education, and livelihoods. By creating job opportunities and providing skills training, the Village Hive has empowered families to achieve healthier, more stable lives.
This project has not only brought new resources to our community but has also transformed how we operate. It has made our work with the community more accessible and effective.
One of the most important aspects of the Village Hive is the financial autonomy it provides. With funds allocated directly to our community, we have the power to make decisions that best serve our people. This means we can respond quickly and fairly to urgent cases.
The Village Hive ensures that financial resources are used wisely and strategically to support families in need. Every decision is made collaboratively between the Commune Chief, council members, and other local leaders, ensuring transparency and fairness.
Collaboration has been key to the success of this program. Our partnership with CCT has allowed us to address high-risk cases faster and more effectively. For example, when a family informs us of an urgent need, such as food insecurity, we assess the case, discuss it as a team, and take swift action. This approach ensures that every decision is fair and timely.
The Village Hive has also made our work more straightforward and efficient. With its focused support, we can provide better services and meet the needs of our community more effectively than ever before.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to CCT for their vision and commitment to the Village Hive. Their support, combined with the engagement of our government, has made this initiative possible.
Without this collaboration, we would not have the resources or the structure to carry out such impactful work in Svay Pao communities.
Finally, this program has given us the possibility to overcome challenges and make a real difference in our community. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Svay Pao.
Sincerely,
Ms. Chhun Sothy
CCWC Chief, Svay Pao Sangkat
The Village Hive has undergone significant evolution over the past year, particularly in Svay Pao health centre. This progress has transformed how our community engages with healthcare and social services, fostering greater awareness, collaboration, and empowerment.
Citizens are now more proactive in seeking healthcare services than ever before. This shift has been driven by the Village Hive provision of medical equipment to health centres and the Village Hive project’s successful education campaigns on equity cards and social security cards. These initiatives have increased citizen awareness and encouraged greater utilisation of healthcare services.
Before we had the Village Hive in our community, we faced some risks because of the lack of health knowledge in the community; now, we have the resources to educate our people to allow them to learn fast and protect themselves.
Through the Village Hive, citizens feel empowered to actively participate in their own community development. A culture of open dialogue and feedback has emerged, enabling residents to confidently express their needs and concerns to commune leaders, social workers and health centres. This proactive engagement ensures timely and effective solutions to the challenges they face.
Our health centre staff have demonstrated exceptional leadership in patient interaction, fostering trust through friendliness and clear, tailored health solutions. By addressing seasonal health needs and preventative illness, we are seeing better outcomes and greater community participation in healthcare services.
Collaboration between communes has also played a vital role in improving assistance to low socioeconomic populations. By fostering open communication and information sharing, health centres have identified best practices, pooled resources, and developed more comprehensive and targeted support programs for those in need.
Compared to previous years, our health centre staff have significantly expanded their outreach efforts. This includes more frequent Village Health Support Group (VHSG) meetings, health education sessions for community residents, and expanded vaccination campaigns. These efforts have strengthened the connection between health centres and their communities.
Since the Village Hive began, I have witnessed a positive shift in the dynamics between citizens and the health centre. Citizens are now more vocal in sharing their opinions and providing valuable feedback, directly contributing to improved service quality. Families and children are more informed and assertive in their use of healthcare services, understanding their needs and confidently expressing their preferences.
The Village Hive has significantly enhanced community living standards and reduced poverty among families and children. By improving access to essential public services provided by communes and health centres, the Village Hive ensures that vital support is available 24/7 to meet the diverse needs of the community.
This widespread understanding of the services available within the community has led to greater utilisation of those services. Community members are actively engaging in the service delivery process, expressing their needs and offering feedback that strengthens the system overall.
I am confident that the coming years will bring even greater progress. With the continued development of the Village Hive in our commune and health centres, we will become increasingly equipped to provide timely and responsive services that meet the evolving needs of the community.
In my opinion, the Village Hive project stands out from other NGO initiatives because it directly empowers communities. By collaborating closely with communes and health centres, the Village Hive fosters sustainable change and ensures that the benefits of its work will be seen long into the future without the ongoing assistance of CCT.
Sincerely,
Meas Sambath
Director, Svay Pao Health Centre
