Cambodia
A long history of activities
© P.Biro/Handicap International Belgium |
The history of Handicap International is closely interwoven with that of Cambodia - our organisation was originally set up in Cambodian refugee camps in Thailand in 1982 and has been working in Cambodia ever since.
Following the peace agreements signed in 1991, many Cambodians returned to their country. Handicap International was involved in the post-war reconstruction effort and helped to reduce poverty through a combination of conventional development programmes and specific initiatives. After working on general reconstruction projects over a ten year period, we refocused our efforts on disability in 2002. Our team in Cambodia currently works in five areas - rehabilitation, mine action, health, inclusion and rights.
Key Facts - Cambodia
• Population: 15.1 million
• Household Consumption: $1,096 per year
• Life Expectancy: 62 years
• Human Development: ranked 124th out of 169 countries
Source: UNDP HDR 2011
Kanha's road to recoveryKanha’s story encapsulates the trauma experienced by each person injured or killed by a landmine or a cluster munition…Kanha was only eight years old at the time. She is unlikely to ever fully understand or accept the tragedy that befell her. Her happy, carefree existence was torn away in a split second of sickening violence. The little girl’s life can never be the same again.
Film: Mom's storyCambodia is still suffering from three decades of war that left it heavily contaminated by landmines and unexploded weapons. Mom, now 22 years old, was terribly injured as a young girl when she stood on a landmine whilst feeding the family's pigs. The explosion tore off her right leg.
Not destined to lead a life of disabilityIt's break time and children are running around, laughing and shouting in the playground. Although she walks a little hesitantly, San Bopha, 11, is smiling from ear to ear.
Our projects
 | Physical rehabilitation project, Kompong Cham Centre
Since Handicap International took over the management of the Kompong Cham regional physiotherapy centre in 2002, the number of beneficiaries has increased fourfold, accompanied by a rise in orthotic and prosthetic production. Orthopaedic, physiotherapy and socio-economic inclusion services have also been expanded. In 2008, more than 50% of the centre's patients were children. A large number of amputation victims (mines, accidents, etc.) were also cared for. The centre is also a venue for disability sports activities and the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. |
| Physical rehabilitation, Siem Reap and Takeo
Handicap International also manages these two physical rehabilitation centres and two repair centres, providing services to more than 5,000 patients every year. Amongst the patients, there are a large number of mine victims, but the centres welcome a wide diversity of people and types of disabilities, and even offer specific services to children with cerebral palsy and babies with club foot. |
 | Action against landmines and cluster munitions
Cambodia remains amongst the countries more severely affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, both in terms of the number of victims and the area of land contaminated. Since 1979, more than 60,000 people have either died or been wounded by these weapons, leading to 19,000 deaths and around 9,000 amputations. Handicap International strongly contributes to the national project for the collection of information on accidents, to allow better targeting of risk awareness and de-mining operations. Since 2001, the data shows that the voluntary handling of unexploded ordnance is now the cause of most accidents in Cambodia. In response, we have adapted our prevention activities and launched a project to inform the public about the danger of handling these devices. Alternatives are offered to families involved in trading devices for their scrap metal value. |
 | HIV and violence against people with disabilities
This project aims to improve access to information on the risk of HIV/AIDS for people with hearing impairments (and other people with sensory impairments). Key activities include:
• Education and awareness-raising for women and their families about their vulnerability to the risk of violence and HIV/AIDS infection, and their rights.
• Setting up a system to ensure access to protection and defence for these people.
• Promote recognition and consideration of women with hearing impairments within Cambodian society to increase their access to information, education and social inclusion. |
| Early detection of disability and early intervention
Following our awareness-raising campaigns about prenatal care, we have seen a reduction in child mortality. However, various studies have highlighted a lack of knowledge about the disability prevention in the antenatal period and the poor quality treatment of infant diseases. This project aims to train the staff of health centres and midwives on how to intervene early. |
 | Promoting inclusive education
The project focuses on inclusive education, based on training primary school teachers in including disabled children in the classroom, and conducting a survey of disabled (and vulnerable) children who do not attend school. The project works to communicate its results nationally in order to develop models and apply them in other areas. |
 | Road safety
A comprehensive road safety project involving data collection and analysis, coordination of activities, training in first aid, prevention and awareness for more than 700,000 direct beneficiaries. For further information visit the Cambodia Road Safety website. |
| Rights and inclusion
At national level, this project supports the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO) and other organizations of people with disabilities. At village level, the project offers the support necessary to create local associations of people with disabilities capable of representing them, in 24 villages. Also, a “Sport for all” project has set up inclusive sports clubs in 12 primary schools, contributing to change the way in which disability is perceived both by children and by the community. The project provides the sports equipment and oversees the training of trainers and the organisation of competitions. |
| Advocacy and disability in national policies
A project developed in response to the fact that people with disabilities and disability organisations are rarely involved in decision-making and the development of strategies relating to national policies. The programme is designed to:
• perform an analysis of the disability situation in current policies in Cambodia.
• make the country's national development processes inclusive
• promote the disability movement and give a voice to people with disabilities. |
