PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation signed an agreement with three NGOs on the morning of December 14, aimed at reducing poverty in Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Takeo Provinces, totalling more than $1 million US.

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, with a representative of the Ministry, Secretary of State Suong Meng Long, with representatives of Children Bridge Organization, Greater Hope NGO and Sok Sabay Association.

Secretary of State Suong Meng Long said the agreement would help support poor and vulnerable children and families in the community to earn a decent living and study in private or public schools.

The Children Bridge Organization plans to spend $720,000 on providing housing for widows, small children and poor families in the community and to build toilets and freshwater wells for a total of 450 families in Kampong Cham and Takeo provinces.

Greater Hope has a budget of more than $110,000 to provide general education from kindergarten to secondary school for children in the community and to support orphans on a monthly basis. It also aims to provide employment opportunities for people in the local communities in Thmey Village, Rovieng Commune, Samrong District, and Takeo Province.

Sok Sabay Association aims to implement a budget of nearly $300,000 to support health care and emergency services to students of the Sok Sabay association to 15 families in Phnom Penh’s Toul Tompong District.