Minister for Women’s Affairs opens CARE Cambodia’s new head offices
CARE Cambodia is delighted to announce the official opening of its new head offices by Her Excellency, Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister for Women’s Affairs, together with Country Director, Ms. Stav Zotalis.
Speaking at the new Toul Tom Pong offices in Phnom Penh, Her Excellency described the dedication shared by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and CARE Cambodia.
“For many years CARE Cambodia and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs have enjoyed a close, productive relationship based on our combined commitment to empowering the women and girls of Cambodia,” Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi said.
Her Excellency described the partnership in Promoting the Safety of Women Workers in the Beer Industry project, which seeks to to create and ensure a safer and more respectful working environment for beer promoters, empowering women through advocacy and education, and working with men as well as the beer industry to reinforce women’s rights.
“Thanks to the dedication of CARE Cambodia, working alongside the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, a remarkable level of progress has been made to change views and attitudes.
“It is only through partnerships, like that we share with CARE Cambodia, and with many of the organizations represented here today, as well as with civil society, that real change can be made, is being made and will continue to be made,” Her Excellency said.
Addressing the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, as well as other representatives from other Ministries, partners in UN agencies, bilateral development agencies, civil society, the private sector and other organizations, Ms Zotalis said she was honoured to share with them both the opening of the new offices, as well as CARE Cambodia’s new program approach, to be launched mid-2012.
“CARE Cambodia’s program approach is based on our wide experience that we must work at three levels to achieve lasting change. Firstly, by addressing communities’ human conditions, including access to food, water and basic services. Secondly, by tackling communities’ social positions, such as the social factors which lead to inclusion or exclusion from decision-making and services. Thirdly, we also need to address the environment in which development occurs,” Ms. Zotalis said.
Employing these actions, CARE Cambodia has developed its program strategy focusing on three long term programs - Vulnerable Women, Marginalised Ethnic Minorities, and the Rural Poor.
The Vulnerable Women program promotes changes that recognize gender equality and advocates for better outcomes for women. In 2012, CARE will continue to work with garment factory workers, entertainment workers and other women who have moved to urban areas for employment, as well as young women in rural areas to start their own businesses. In 2012, CARE will also begin a new project to increase awareness of safe migration to reduce the risk of trafficking.
Over the last year CARE has analyzed the results of its work with the Rural Poor in reducing rural poverty through improving agricultural production, generating income and improving access to markets. CARE is currently developing a new Livelihoods Strategy which will guide interventions that it aims to implement later this year.
CARE’s Marginalised Ethnic Minorities program will continue to support the expansion of bilingual education by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in five provinces of Cambodia. CARE will also continue to work with ethnic minority communities to improve livelihoods, health, hygiene and water supplies.
CARE Cambodia looks forward to publishing its program strategy in April 2012.
For any further information about CARE Cambodia’s work, please call CARE Cambodia’s new head offices in Phnom Penh: +855 23 215 267 / 8 / 9 or email care.cam@care-cambodia.org .
CARE Cambodia’s new head offices address details are: PO Box 537, or House 6, Street 446, between streets 123 and 105, Toul Tompong, Phnom Penh.