To enhance the health and hygiene, the Trapeang Prasat 2 Area Program has reinforced and imparted knowledge, techniques, and resources to the community specifically. Mrs. Leng Sophorn, aged 39, resides in Sre Laor Community. Although she was deeply committed to helping her family and community in the fight against diseases and achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, she faced many challenges arising from her leadership position, as implementing change within a community is a multifaceted task.
She stated, “Since her arrival in this village in 2008, prior to the establishment of FH Cambodia, the community has faced numerous challenges. At that time, the Trapeang Prasat district was predominantly forested, and the newcomers to the area experienced significant health issues, with some succumbing to malaria due to limited understanding among their neighbors. Water usage was similarly problematic; while her family and a few others boiled water, the quantity was insufficient for their needs. Furthermore, many families, including hers, lacked proper sanitation facilities, resorting to open defecation. Although some households attempted to boil drinking water, the demands of daily life often led to neglect of hygiene practices, resulting in stomach ailments, vomiting, and diarrhea, which wasted both time and financial resources. She noted that her children felt embarrassed around the elderly, who rarely acknowledged them, which hindered their confidence in attending school. “I wish to educate my children, but my limited time and knowledge impede my ability to do so, leaving them lacking in both courage and respect for their elders.”
She added, “During the FH intervention in my community, I actively participated in promoting village development initiatives. In 2016, I was appointed to the Village Development Committee (VDC) and, in 2022, I was selected by the Department of Rural Development to serve on the WASH Committee in collaboration with FH. Recently, I also became a board member of the Savings Group. My involvement included training on roles and responsibilities, as well as various leadership development programs. These courses encompassed topics such as leadership principles, annual planning, proposal writing, school enrollment campaigns, gender issues, child protection and development, facilitation skills, and hygiene practices.
Additionally, I engaged in community-led sanitation programs, participatory village situation assessments (PVA), sanitation initiatives, and monitoring meetings with local authorities and village sanitation committees to track progress. I also distributed essential materials to vulnerable groups, including families with vulnerability, widows, and children, to enhance their daily well-being. For instance, we supported four families with eight toilets, assisted eight impoverished families, and provided Sre Laor Primary School with a pump well, men’s urinal, and handwashing facilities, along with dental hygiene supplies for 210 girls and 94 boys. Furthermore, the church facilitated the construction of toilets for 30 families and established seven wells. As a result, Sre Laor village, along with Bakk Anlong commune, has achieved recognition for successfully eliminating open defecation within the area.”