Proverbs 22:6
Who We Are
Siloam Mission & Development Cambodia Organisation (SMDCO) is a volunteer driven organisation that endeavours to create a culture of volunteerism and community involvement where Khmers are involved in caring for their own.
Founder's Message
According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Cambodia was drastically reduced from 47.8% in 2007 to 13.5% in 2014. However, about 90% of the poor live in the rural countryside, and the majority only escaped definitions of poverty by a small margin, making them vulnerable to falling back into poverty when faced with economic setbacks and other external shocks. Around 4.5 million people remain near-poor. One way of combating this and building resilience of the people is to help them develop new skills to address the needs of the labour market, and to foster creativity and entrepreneurship.
SMDCO desires to empower women and youth of the next generation with knowledge, skills and practical helps to make a living and break out of the crippling, destructive poverty cycle. We want them to dream and to be able to make a better future for themselves and their families.
We cannot do this by ourselves, we need willing and like-minded people who see beyond their comfortable life to step out to make a difference. It is a satisfying joy to witness a Khmer helping and empowering another Khmer.
VISION
To see a world where everyone is empowered to live with dignity, respect and in their full potential.
MISSION
- We aim to create sustainable change in the lives of underprivileged communities in Cambodia through quality teaching, training and practical help.
- We work towards giving each individual the opportunity to thrive even in the most challenging circumstances.
- We seek to see lives being touched and communities being transformed so that the vicious cycle of poverty can be broken.
Purposes
We carry out training and facilitate humanitarian work for the community by providing and organizing sustainable help and projects which encompass the following:
1. to empower and equip the community through ensuring a conducive learning environment, as well as providing technical and skill-based teaching and training through engagement of professionals and volunteers locally and overseas in cooperation with Cambodian authorities and in partnership with other organizations.
2. to create employment opportunities through providing expertise and support to aid growth, improvement and betterment of life amongst the poor.
3. to inspire the local communities with the vision that they can holistically use their own or shared resources in humanitarian work, charitable and social action to help other needy communities in Cambodia.
How We Help
S.T.A.R.T
Approach
We believe that by offering the Cambodians a chance to receive quality education and practical help, they will be equipped to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and be transformed into active citizens. Through the power of transformed communities, we will then be able to make a significant impact on the next generation of Cambodians.
Start a Vocational Training Centre, The Learners' Village
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The Learner’s Village is where we equip the local Cambodian youths and women with employable skills that can empower them to break free from the poverty cycle. By imparting valuable knowledge and skills to them, we want to give them the option to make informed choices about their career path and make a reasonable living out of it.
Train and Mentor Local Leaders
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We work with local and overseas institutions and experts to conduct regular courses that are relevant to the needs of the local community. We also mentor the local leaders by partnering with them in all our projects and activities to ensure that they take responsibility for their community and share the same commitment and vision to create sustainable change.
Assist the Poor
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In partnering with the local authorities and churches, we bring food and daily necessities to the poverty-stricken villages in Kampong Thom Province of Cambodia. During such visits, we also repair run-down houses and unstable huts, and give the villagers a proper shelter over their heads.
Reach the Sick and Needy
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Health & Hygiene Wellness (HHW) Trips
We have been organising regular HHW trips to bring medical assistance to the villagers. We work with medical professionals and volunteers to bring medical supplies to treat the sick and injured. We also conduct basic health screening and teach the villages good personal hygiene practices to prevent the spread of diseases.
Health Ambassador Partnership (HAP) Programme
This programme aims to bring about awareness of the importance of healthy habits that the villagers can adopt to improve their health. The health ambassadors are chosen and trained to spread the message of healthy living. They are also trained in first-aid and health knowledge so that they can assist to educate others in their village and attend to them in times of emergency.
Teach the Next Generation
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We believe that children are the future and to ensure that the lives of the next generation are improved, we need to ensure that they are given the right tools and a strong set of wholesome values to guide them. As such, we are consistently working with the local schools to conduct programmes and school camps. We also offer hardship funds for the poor and those weak in studies. In addition, awards and book prizes for students who are top in class, top in level, most motivated and most improved are given to reward and encourage those students who have done well.