KAMPONG THOM: World Vision's Stoung district development program will end in September after 16 years of operation. The program has helped Stoung district develop its health, nutrition, education and child protection, benefitting more than 75,000 local people.

The Governor of Stoung District, Say Kimlam, has said that through a partnership with local authorities, World Vision has been working hard in Stoung district, especially in the communes of Banteay Stoung, Chamna Leu and Trea, which has 27 villages that have made great progress especially in the areas of health, nutrition, education and child protection.

"On behalf of the district administration, we are very excited and thankful to World Vision for taking care of the people of Stoung district," he said.

The Officer of the Stoung District Education, Youth and Sports Office, Nuon Sinol, has said that the cooperation between World Vision and the District Education Office, as well as target schools in Stoung district, have helped fully equip school libraries and benefit teachers and community members through the provision of additional training courses.

"Through cooperation, we have seen changes, children's reading has especially improved, schools have become more beautiful, children have improved and students' hygiene has also improved," he said.

World Vision’s project also established 30 local reading camps that allow more than 1,000 children to participate in reading, and 15 standardized libraries to benefit more than 2,600 primary school students.

In addition, the project has established 22 community savings groups and two agricultural development communities to continue improving the welfare of vulnerable children. According to a 2021 survey, 80% of children and adolescents in the community feel safe and protected from abuse, more than 98% of babies born in recent years have been delivered by skilled midwives, and all 27 target villages have become open defecation-free and more hygienic.

The principal of Kean Primary School, Tham Buntha, said, "This support has led to significant improvements in both the environment and quality [of life], and in particular the rapid development of schools."

World Vision Cambodia, local authorities and community members in Stoung district gathered together at Stoung district hall on Wednesday, 10 August, to celebrate the achievements made in the community and close World Vision’s 16-year development project.

The Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom Province, Prem Ratha, thanked World Vision for making Stoung district prosperous and expressed his commitment to maintaining these achievements.

"On behalf of the Kampong Thom Provincial Administration, we are very pleased with the long-term presence of World Vision, which has helped develop our Stoung district community, especially in the three target communes," he said. “We and all relevant professional offices will take care of the achievements and take responsibility for the continued development of the organization for the welfare of children.”

World Vision Country Director, Janes Imanuel Ginting, said he hopes that achievements will continue even after his organization leaves the district.

"This is the achievement made by all of us, the community, the guardians and the authorities," he said. “We are happy to see that children and vulnerable children are safe, their education is improving, their health is receiving attention from all stakeholders. We hope that the achievements will continue and maintain even after World Vision leaves."

World Vision Cambodia started the work and operation of the Stoung District Regional Development Program in 2006, focusing on health, nutrition, as well as education and child protection. To date, the project has received nearly US $6 million from the people of New Zealand through World Vision New Zealand and other projects. A total of more than 75,000 people have benefited from this project, including more than 26,000 children and vulnerable children, including more than 13,000 girls.