Comments on: Third Day Stung Treng – Sesan http://cambodia.mellenthin.de/archives/2003/09/04/entry00084/ Travel notes by Stefan Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:38:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: David Wright http://cambodia.mellenthin.de/archives/2003/09/04/entry00084/comment-page-1/#comment-299 David Wright Thu, 09 Sep 2004 04:45:16 +0000 http://cambodia.mellenthin.de/archives/2003/09/04/entry00084/#comment-299 I am surprised to heat that you found a village in Stung Treng that had never had a white visitor since I lived and worked there for six years (1995-2001) and visited every village in the province several times at least. We (PFD) helped the villagers elect and train Village Development Comittees (VDC) and conduct Participatory Rural Apraisals (PRA) which led to villager developed action plans and development acticvities. Villages planned and led interventions such as water and sanitation, schools rice buffalo and pig banks,community fish ponds, kitchen gardens, village health, nutrition and agriculture promoters, credit schemes and many other non assisted and externally assisted projects. I am glad you are taking an interest in the communities in stung Treng and are concerned about external influences on them, including governmental, but try to be careful that the information yo are getting is accurate. Allow me to suggest that you contact Chan or Ngoun Chantha at the Stung Treng Womens Development Center (SWDC)next time you visit. They can insure that you get an experienced translator who will not try and interpret or interject political comment into your work. they can also be very helpful in providing background information into what has been done in the province and who you can facilitate your necessary intercourse with the government. They are both fluent in Khmer, French, English, Lao and Vietnamese. They can be reached at swdcst@camintel.com and you can also visit their website at <a href="http://www.mekongblue.com">www.mekongblue.com</a> cheers and good luck, David I am surprised to heat that you found a village in Stung Treng that had never had a white visitor since I lived and worked there for six years (1995-2001) and visited every village in the province several times at least. We (PFD) helped the villagers elect and train Village Development Comittees (VDC) and conduct Participatory Rural Apraisals (PRA) which led to villager developed action plans and development acticvities. Villages planned and led interventions such as water and sanitation, schools rice buffalo and pig banks,community fish ponds, kitchen gardens, village health, nutrition and agriculture promoters, credit schemes and many other non assisted and externally assisted projects. I am glad you are taking an interest in the communities in stung Treng and are concerned about external influences on them, including governmental, but try to be careful that the information yo are getting is accurate.

Allow me to suggest that you contact Chan or Ngoun Chantha at the Stung Treng Womens Development Center (SWDC)next time you visit. They can insure that you get an experienced translator who will not try and interpret or interject political comment into your work. they can also be very helpful in providing background information into what has been done in the province and who you can facilitate your necessary intercourse with the government. They are both fluent in Khmer, French, English, Lao and Vietnamese. They can be reached at swdcst@camintel.com and you can also visit their website at http://www.mekongblue.com cheers and good luck, David

]]>