Background
Today, Cambodia ranks 127th of 172 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index. The majority of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture for income and subsistence. Thirty percent of the Cambodian population lives below the national poverty line of less than $1 US dollar per day, and 29 percent of children under the age of five are underweight. The major issues for poverty alleviation and development include the following factors:
- A weak infrastructure with poor community access to basic services - over 80% of the Nation's population lives in rural areas, many with poor access to even very basic services including clean water, education and health facilities.
- Around 49% of the total literate population in Cambodia has not completed primary level education, with only 29% completing primary and lower secondary levels.
- Females only account for 35% of students in secondary education.
- Undergraduates and Graduates/Degree holders together form only 1.47% of the total population.
- Rural poverty accounts for almost 90% of poverty in Cambodia which in turn has impacted on infant mortality rates, with the current rate reaching 58 infant deaths per 1,000 live births; one of the highest rates in South East Asia.(Source: general Population Census of Cambodia 2008 and UNESCO)
For Stung Treng's population of 112,000 people, employment opportunities are almost entirely unavailable and quality of life is low. Decades of war and socio-political disruption have caused serious challenges to rebuilding the province's infrastructure, the lack of which results in a low level of education and few employment opportunities. All of these issues have an effect on health and quality of life for the people of Stung Treng.
Stung Treng Women's Development Center was originally conceived as a hospice, its purpose to assist the terminally ill and homeless patients in the Stung Treng provincial area. Open in January 2001 with a $500 private donation by Mr. David Trevor Wright, the hospice registered as a non-government organization (NGO) with the Cambodian Ministry of Interior under the name 'Centre of Destination'. The hospice cared for many former soldiers, policemen and sex workers infected with HIV and terminally ill with one or more of the opportunistic diseases associated with AIDS.
The effects of poverty and illiteracy played a significant part in the health issues and lifestyle choices made by many of the patients. Twelve months after the conception of the hospice, it became clear that the future focus needed to shift from caring for AIDS patients in their last stages of life to preventing AIDS in healthy young people, particularly vulnerable women, in the Stung Treng region. Offering education in literacy and health, including programs about HIV AIDS prevention, could significantly reduce the spread of AIDS. Offering training and employment opportunities would provide more employment choices, other than potentially harmful professions such as prostitution, while increasing skills, income generation and improving quality of life.
Currently, employment and educational efforts initiated by National/Provincial Government are not sufficient to meet the demand and do not reach all high-risk populations, making the need to develop and provide services even more imperative in the interim.
In Jan 2002 Stung Treng Women's Development Center was conceived with the purpose to assist in breaking the cycle of poverty and improve living standards by offering programs in literacy and health education, vocational training and employment.