CHED in Cambodia

[Vichet LOK]

CHED
A local non-profit NGO dedicated to build a healthy and
Sustainable future for the people of Cambodia

CHED [Cambodian Health Education Development] is a nationally renowned local NGO that has individually and collaboratively designed and implemented a plethora of health education programs and health promotion within Cambodian communities. It has been a reputable presence in the health education and health promotion sector since its establishment from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) over ten years ago. CHED played an important role in improving the health of Cambodians over the past several years to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of being healthy including developed health education curriculum, production capacity, provision of IEC materials, technical assistance, provision of family latrines and public latrines, manufacture and distributions of cement Anchor house footings for use by villagers, Constructions of rain-water catchments tanks for schools, temples and public buildings and production of different type of useful IEC materials for health education programs. CHED has developed an integrated approach to community level of water and sanitation intervention. CHED program focuses on water use and sanitation facilities, sexuality reproductive health, Networking/advocacy and life skills for HIV/AIDS and STI education in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Pailin and Phnom Penh office for network, public relations, and services as nationwide.

"ANYONE CAN DREAM, DESIGN AND CREATE THAT MOST WONDERFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD BUT IT TAKES PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT DREAM A REALITY"

CHED's professional Training team and dynamic, though-provoking, and energizing professional trainers. CHED had trained for more than ten years delivering its powerful wisdom on leadership, change, personal effectiveness, negotiation and team-work to multination, NGOs and charity association and gained credible feedback from our clients. CHED had provided support services, project monitoring and evaluation to help other organizations increase their level of expertise allowing them to perform at a higher level. Furthermore, developed and realize on project planning, strategic development in participatory health education training techniques as well thinking for health educators from international organizations (CCSF, AAH, IDA, ICC, ACF, Caritas, CRS, KWWA, MODE and Care/Echo in Pailin) as provincial departments of health throughout Cambodia. CHED Development approaches and practical application of strategic development, participatory health education training techniques for health educators, facilitators from international organizations, local NGOs and departments of health throughout Cambodia. Current provide training courses for international organizations as well as Cambodian health educators are on the use of participatory methods based on adult education theories, promoting the use of small group discussions, brainstorming, and the usage of visual materials that communicate information in a fun and interesting way. CHED had provided the technical support for Department of Rural Health Care, a subdivision of the Ministry of Rural Development is an example of a successful collaboration between two agencies with a similar focus. CHED had Provide the training of health education trainers to the staff of PDRD in Battambang, Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, Takeo, Siem Reap, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri and other provinces. The course addressed inventive health education techniques and field practice. This training is critical to long-term sustainability of health education programs. However, the approach to complete methodology change in formal health education is an extremely slow process.

This extensive experience has enabled CHED to acquire demonstrated comprehensive knowledge and distinct expertise in community based health education and its delivery. Our organization has played a pivotal role over the years in significantly improving the health of Cambodians. At present, the CHED team consists of 33 full time staff members (25 female, 6 male, and 1 female expatriate adviser). Additionally there are also, 900 active Peer Educators (garment factories / Phnom Penh), 85 Villages Health Volunteers (Pailin), and 30 Peer Facilitators (military barracks / Battambang) and 22 Peer Educators (military barracks / Kampong Cham) supporting CHED´s project activities as volunteers. .

The Board of Trustees, with five representatives from local NGOs and the community, oversees CHED operations in each of its three site offices (Phnom Penh, Battambang and Kampong Cham). The organizations strong management and team atmosphere has played a vital role in its success. The team consists of the Executive Director, administrative/finance managers, project managers, team leaders, site coordinator, field officers and one expatriate project adviser. The Executive Director’s responsibilities include organizational development issues such as fundraising, small grant contract negotiation, staff development, strategic planning and overseeing project development and implementation. The Executive Director also represents CHED among donor agencies, NGOs and the private sector throughout the country.

Presently CHED is serving as a sub-grantee for two projects. Firstly, FHI Smiling Families Program in Battambang and Kampong Cham Provinces that works with HIV/AIDS/RH and Health Intervention for Military Families and the surrounding communities aiming to increase health knowledge and encourage health behavior change. Secondly, we work with CARE International with their Strengthening Capacity for Improved Community Health Program (SCICH) based in garment factories in Phnom Penh and surrounding areas. This project focuses on promoting and increasing knowledge and understanding of gender equity, sexuality-reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, STI prevention, family planning including ANC/PNC services, drug use, gender-based violence, training factory clinic staff on ANC/PNC, nutrition, hygiene promotion, and food vendors for food preparation, facilitate healthy decision-making and health-seeking behaviors to the garment factory workers. As Cambodia are a diverse and multi-cultural society CHED has had the opportunity to work with many vulnerable populations and marginalized/ minority groups. Whilst working with these populations we have always been culturally sensitive and respectful. We have developed an open and professional approach utilizing highly developed interpersonal communication skills to convey health education and health promotion. To date CHED has regretfully not had the opportunity to work closely with garment factory community, military and civilian families in Phnom Penh and other provinces. CHED feels that our combined extensive demonstrated health education skills and knowledge, cultural sensitivity and awareness and presence of the Executive Director would be an asset to this project. CHED has been privileged to work with many donors, including Government sectors, international NGOs, local NGOs and civil society groups. On several occasions we have had the honor of coordinating and cooperating with the Ministry of Health. Specifically, CHED has worked with the Ministry to develop a curriculum and other non-formal materials for health education training on a provincial, district and community level.

By promoting dialogue, education, networking, and advocacy, CHED helps close gaps in knowledge and expertise on all levels. By providing support services to our partners, CHED helps organizations increase their level of expertise allowing them to perform at a higher level. This is achieved through the distribution of capacity building resources, expanding access to health education, health promotion for rural water and sanitation and HIV/AIDS STI prevention, and impact mitigation.

Our Vision Statement:
CHED believes in a democratic, liberated Cambodia, a Cambodia that provides equal gender opportunities, education and self-reliance to all of its citizens, despite gender, class and age.

Our Mission Statement:
CHED aims to build a solid and sustainable future for the people of Cambodia through providing health education and promoting democratization and human rights based on the social need of each community in cooperation with relevant NGOs and government ministries.

Our Core Value:
We value open and clear communication among ourselves and with others.
We believe in personal competence.
We are committed and creative.
We value and respect one another.
We work in a democratic way.
We believe in mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual help.
We strive for excellence.
We are caring human beings.

Current Objectives:
Build the capacity of trainers in the area of primary health care knowledge and practices.
Develop a medium through which civil society organizations can build their skills and capacity to advocate for and demand reproductive health HIV/AIDS and STI commitments made by the government.
1.Educate and build the capacity of the communities within Cambodia on the importance of participation in the development of their own health communication needs. It is essential for Cambodian individuals and institutions to speak freely without interference from the government or other external factors.
2.To promote the integration of persons with disabilities, to ensure the protection and promotion of their rights and to guarantee the prohibition of abuse neglect and discrimination.
3.Promote health education and health promotion with the aim of reducing the magnitude and severity of major disease outbreaks, as well as reducing morbidity and mortality from common preventable diseases.
4.Promote social structure and human rights whilst strengthening democratization within the needs of the community through ensuring that those living on and below the poverty line, women and youth have self-reliance and participate in community self management.
5.Provide health education and health promotion training to Village Health Volunteers (VHV) in their coverage area through the training of VHV trainers.
6.Provide a community network targeted at marginalized women and children to increase ones knowledge, understanding of health rights, provide support and encourage participation in the demand for service delivery by the government for basic rights to HIV/AIDS and sexuality-reproductive health treatment and preventatives.
7.Provide skills and knowledge through a network of NNN in order to support the development of other NGOs health education programs.
8.Provide training on communicating for advocacy and concepts of democracy for local NGOs and community-based organizations at a provincial and community level.
9.Provide life skills for HIV/AIDS prevention through sexuality-reproductive health education in Phnom Penh workplaces and for out-of-school youth in 6 other provinces.
10.Promote a positive image of GIPA [greater involvement of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS], provide support through network provision, home-based support and community education.
11.Design and develop high quality IEC [Information, Education and Communication] materials based on the needs of the clients for services throughout Cambodia.
12.Strengthen the organizational capacity in the area of financial management and administrative management.

Summary of Current Projects:
According to the revised of national strategic plan for a comprehensive and multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS 2009-2012, and the NSDP gives highest priority to poverty reduction and progress towards reaching the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals (CMDG) targets by 2015. Based on CHED Strategic planning 2008-2012 results, CHED plans to implement the additional projects in the following;
1.Sewing a Healthy Future project
2.Malaria Prevention and Control Activities Project;
[Improving community knowledge about malaria prevention and control activities]
3."Better Factories, Better Living"
3.[Educating factory workers in sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and providing HIV/AIDS treatment and care]
4.Every Person, Every Voice, Every Rights
[Promoting Democratization and Human Rights with Marginalized Women and GIRLS in Pailin province through the education and training of War Widows and women activists to become community educators.]
5.Promoting Women livelihood and HIV/AIDS Prevention of marginalized youth.
6.NATIONAL NGO NETWORK [NNN] Resource Center and Capacity Building
7.Behavior Change Intervention and HIV/AIDS Prevention.
8.The Older People Association
[Empowering older people to remain active in their community]
9.Child-Friendly Center- Education for ALL
[Promoting child's rights through non-formal education and library]
10.Women Pregnancy Association.
11.Health and Hygiene Education for rural water and sanitation Facilities
[Innovations in Water and Sanitation facilities for the poor people]
12.Life Skills for HIV/AIDS Education.
13.Communicating and Advocacy for Health Development in Cambodia
14.Basics of human nutrition and a guide to better eating
Collaboration and Coordination:
CHED's strength is in the development and practical application of participatory health education training techniques for health educators from international organizations, local NGOs and departments of health throughout Cambodia. Current training courses for international organizations as well as Cambodian health educators are on the use of participatory methods based on adult education theories, promoting the use of small group discussions, brainstorming, and the usage of visual materials that communicate information in a fun and interesting way. CHED holds a monthly health network meeting with local and international NGOs to share health information, to review reports and outline the strengths and weaknesses of different programs. These meetings are designed to establish a strong base for coordination and cooperation amongst NGOs in the Battambang province and nationwide. CHED's relationship with the Department of Rural Health Care, a subdivision of the Ministry of Rural Development is an example of a successful collaboration between two agencies with a similar focus. CHED has provided the training of health education trainers to the staff of PDRD in Battambang, Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, and other provinces. The course addressed inventive health education techniques and field practice. This training is critical to long-term sustainability of health education programs. However, the approach to complete methodology change in formal health education is an extremely slow process.

Past Activities:
•By 2006, more then 9000 garment factory workers of Phnom Penh graduated as peer educators from CHEDs Sexual Reproductive Health Programs that are located in factories throughout Phnom Penh.
•3600 youths in Pailin have completed training provided by CHED in reproductive sexual health and are now competent to act as peer educators to promote sexual health behavioral change amongst youth.
•CHED has currently trained 85 community members as Village Health Volunteers (VHV) and 395 women activist for Women Pregnancy Association; these VHV’s will provide much needed expertise in their coverage area to the community.
•In CHEDs efforts to assist other local NGOs and international organizations working in Cambodia to achieve their objectives related to health education, health promotion and community education activities;
•CHED provide intensive training to primary health educators, staff of local and international organizations, and local government officials.
•CHED has provided educational programs on sexuality reproductive health and HIV/AIDS to the workers of five different factories throughout Phnom Penh.
•CHED has organized a HIV/AIDS education forum and information group in Battambang and has facilitated workshops where local NGOs and government staff shared experience and strategies concerning health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
•CHED has gained valuable insight into designing and implementing health related training programs for adult learners.
•CHED has proficiently trained Battambang province primary school teachers in water and sanitation issues and health education techniques, which is of great relevance towards their work with students.
•CHED has provided training to local NGOs, community-based organizations and government agencies from 4 provinces in advocacy and concepts of democracy, with the financial support of Health link worldwide and Forum syd.
•CHED assisted the Cambodian Environmental Management Project in the training of environmental education techniques for Ministry of Environment staff members that come from five provinces.
•CHED works with government ministries, in particular the Ministry of Health, to develop curriculum and other non-formal materials for health education training on a provincial, district, and community level.
•CHED has provided basic health education training to the NGOs partners' project by developing health education training curriculum. The materials designed to educate health workers in providing basic health education messages of high impact that will meet the basic health education needs and priorities of the poorest of the poor Cambodian villagers.
•CHED has successfully trained members of the Takeo province, village development committee in health education and techniques to prevent the spread of water-borne disease through a contract with the PRASAC program funded by the European Union.
•CHED happily assists local NGOs in the development and implementation of new health education activities throughout the country.
Contact Information:
VICHET LOK, MBA BSc
Executive Director
P.O.Box 124
House # 2B, Street 271/53BT
Sangkat Boueng Tumpon,Khan Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel: [phone]
Cell: (855-12) 939-590
Cell: (855-11) 305-632
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.chedCambodia.org

[Laurence Gilliot]

Dear Vichet,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can see that you have a lot of ambition and care for the people in Cambodia. A lot of wonderful things can be done and are being done :-)

To deepen my own learning from your experience, can you share how you integrate the AIDS Competence Process into your programmes? Not only SALT (appreciating people's strengths) but also going a bit further. How can people dream for themselves and their community, assess and discuss their own situation, act for and by themselves and measure their own results?
For your experience, in the communities that are really competent and healthy, do people build their own future?

Cheers,

Laurence

[Gaston]

Thank you Vichet,

It's interesting to read what CHED does. Also the high proportion of women working in the organisation is striking and the diversity of CHED's experience.

I can recognize when you say: 'the process helps me to systematize my thought'. I meet many people who know deep down that focusing on strengths and applying principles like SALT in their work will be effective. The question for many is how to do this systematically. It's nice to read your experiences. Thank you.

Gaston

[Vichet LOK]

In 2008-2012 CHED is looking forward to continue and expand the ongoing projects. To ensure the quality of our programs, we will keep on evaluating frequently. Continue to implementation of the Smiling Family Program both in Battambang and Kampong Cham and expand the smiling family project to other provinces. We will also try to expand the garment factory project by cooperating with new factories, maybe also other branches and hope will also start to implement the Behavior Change Intervention and Social Marketing program. CHED also focuses on inventing new projects, researching backgrounds and finding new target groups, always in order to cover the needs of Cambodia `s society. Education, Networking and Promotion of Best Practice: Strengthen the role of the NGO Network meeting as the provincial's leading forum for debate, discourse and direction for action on general health and HIV/AIDS. Education, networking and the promotion of best practice are essential to enhancing the response to general health and HIV/AIDS. The overall strategy of the CHED in this area is to bring added value to the work of training and educating organizations working at the national level by providing opportunities, including through the open-forum of the CHED meeting, to identify gaps, sharing experiences and increasing knowledge and expertise of professionals working in general health and HIV/AIDS.
The CHED staff members are the foundation on which the organization acts, with each member being a professional and having an independent voice whilst specializing in HIV/AIDS prevention, health education, and IEC materials development nationwide. With a diverse and actively engaged team accompanied with happy NGO partners, CHED has gained the credibility required to achieve its purpose, vision and mission this is CHED Strategic Planning with Team Building (SP-TB) and it covers the period of Fiscal Years 2008-2012. This SP-Idea for a change also coincides with the period when the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is finalizing its third 5-year development plan called National Strategic Development Plan or NSDP.
CHED SP-TB addresses barriers that HIV/AIDS/RH and Health Intervention for Military Families and RH Workplace-Based project with a main focus on promoting and increasing knowledge and understanding of gender equity, sexuality-reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, STI prevention, family planning including ANC/PNC services, drug use, gender-based violence, training factory clinic staff on ANC/PNC, nutrition, hygiene promotion, and food vendors for food preparation, facilitate healthy decision-making and health-seeking behaviors. Improving communication with young working adults, friends and partners. The life skills for RH, STI and HIV/AIDS education particularly have been singled out as an innovative and entertaining method of the key messages delivery. The prevent of young youths and community people from reaching their full potential. Poor health due to inappropriate health related knowledge and behaviors as well as existing dysfunctional health care systems.

[Vichet LOK]

“I’ve applied SALT with my outreach work with junior high school students in Battambang province. They have strengths and capacity in several aspects. They just need their chances to express those strengths.”

“I’ve applied SALT when I work with drug users and injection drug users. I could see that there is not much people supporting them and give them opportunities to express their strengths and to share their experience. We have shared and have learned from each other with appreciation.”

“This is my first time attending ACP process but the concept of ACP and SALT tool seem to be similar in what I’m trying to do. This workshop helps me to systematize my thought. I can apply ACP and SALT tool when I reach out PLHIV.”

“I am not a direct field officer but mostly I work in the office. However, I think I can use ACP and SALT with my colleagues and my family. Sometimes, I have field work opportunities; I think I will use it as well.”