No more hunger in Cambodia

"No more hunger, what a great result in our programme area in Cambodia! Also the most vulnerable families of our target group have now enough food throughout the year!" Roelof van Til, program officer at ZOA-headquarters in The Netherlands, recently visited ZOA-Cambodia. On his return he brought enthusiastic report of the work of ZOA-Cambodia.

Roelof: "ZOA is working in the North of Cambodia from mid-1990s, since the return of Cambodian refugees from Thailand. A lot has changed in those fifteen years. The Government built good roads, open markets for agricultural products, schools and organized health care. ZOA has worked closely with the Government all those years. Particular attention is paid to the most disadvantaged families: families affected by the death of one of the parents, by chronic illness, by lack of land rights or by other factors. ZOA was able to contribute to education, to the development of agriculture, to access to agricultural land, to improve the roads in the most remote areas, provision of credit and water supply. "

The annual report of the ZOA-team in Cambodia about 2011 states: 'Hunger is no longer among our target groups'. This means the main objective of ZOA in Cambodia is reached. Also the most vulnerable families in our target group now have enough to eat throughout the year. Roelof was very impressed.

Roelof could observe during his visit indeed how also the poorest families by help of ZOA also begun to profit from the general and rapid development in Cambodia. He confirmed that the efficient and effective way the Cambodia ZOA-team was and is led, helped these families in a clear and measurable way. Currently more than eight thousand poor families are still effectively assisted in a final round of aid.

Departure from Cambodia
ZOA decided that the remaining activities will be fully handed over to the local organizations, which put an end to our presence.

What will we leave behind? The prospects are good. Roelof tells how the ZOA-team has worked with the local government, with local civil society organizations and village councils, and trained them at the same time, in the field of planning and coordination. Roelof: "I am impressed by the strength and capacity of these local organizations. They already implement by far the most of the work. And, what is very special: funding now is largely directly through these local organizations. Both large and smaller donors discovered the capacities of these organizations and want to do business with them directly.

The work of ZOA in Cambodia has been a success. Of course: we have had the wind of the general positive developments in the country. Thanks to God. He has blessed the team with health, energy, financial partners, vision, good staff at the right place and especially: with his peace and love.