I get a lot of questions about how COVID-19 is affecting live in Cambodia. As of July 15, there were 165 cases of which 133 have recovered. Many factories are closed due to COVID-19 and international tourism, which makes up over 25% of the national economy is currently not happening. However, there is some good news, I’d love to share.
MRO’s Community Sector works with key community members to model practical applications of alternative care in order to support the reintegration of children and youth out of orphanages. They achieve this by using careful action-oriented processes at high levels to take control of a family’s own stability and security. Family and community are a key priority in creating an environment for providing the best holistic development for children. And provides better opportunities than living in an orphanage.
Community Sector operates for two programs. One program focuses on preventing the separation of children from their families. While the second program focuses on restoring the lives of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) within a community in order for them to gain access to a better life.
In order to achieve these outcomes, the Community Sector manages two different programs. Here are some highlights from the first half of 2020.
Role Model Program:
In Phnom Penh: MRO staff visited with volunteering Role Models (RMs) in order to continue to keep a strong connection and continue to empower them with their work with orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) living in Residential Care Institutions (RCIs).
Due to COVID-19, large groups have not been allowed to meet in public. In order to protect orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), Role Models (RMs) were not allowed to visit orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in the shelters. Instead, Role Models (RMs) were encouraged to call and check on them.
Visiting and encouraging Role Models (RMs) with their work at a cafeteria in Phnom Penh.
In Siem Reap Provinces: MRO actively participated in the instruction of protecting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the communities against COVID-19.
“Teaching children how to wash their hand and protecting from Covid-19”
Visiting known orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) families in order to share knowledge about COVID-19, rubbing alcohol, and mask.
This is one of our Community Role Models (CRMs).
In Battambang Province: MRO’s Community Role Models (CRMs) and Community Support Group (CSG) worked together to share information about COVID-19 and how the community can protect one another especially orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs).
Community Role Models (CRMs) teach children how to wash their hands. The children practicing what they have learned from the Community Role Model (CRM) and how to share the knowledge they learned with other children.
Additional Community Role Model (CRM) activities in Battambang.
Children working with MRO’s Youth Peer Network (YPN) learning about how to protect themselves from COVID-19.
Community Support Group Programme:
This network includes Provincial of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (PoSVY), Commune Committee for Women and Children (CCWC), and local authorities in order to find the best ways to support orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) within the community.
In Pursat.
In Battambang.
Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) assessment for providing income generation support. In addition to COVID-19 knowledge and prevention.
Key Community People (KCP) and Provincial of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (PoSVY) providing basic support to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) family.
Community Support Group (CSG) collaborated with local authorities to provide basic need to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) families.
Key Community People (KCP) facilitated with Community Role Model (CRM) and Village Chief to support three orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) to secure birth certificates. This activity is linked with Child Welfare Network (CWN) in intervening to help the process of securing a birth certificate for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
Community Support Group (CSG) and Commune Chief visited orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) during COVID-19 and provided basic needs.
A visit with Key Community People (KCP) and local authorities to provide a refresher orientation about child protection to Key Community People (KCP).
I hope you enjoyed reading about the amazing work the Community Sector team is doing and seeing a little more of what life looks like in Cambodia through the photos. I’d love to answer any questions you might have about alternative care or how you can get more involved in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children. Just let me know.
Praying you and your family are staying safe.