PROBLEM STATEMENT According to the experience from working with Khmer Kampuchea Krom people and the research and information collected, Khmer Kampuchea Krom Youth Network (KKKYN) has identified some challenges and difficult conditions of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who are currently residing in the Kingdom of Cambodia such as having no legal identity cards, living in makeshift shelters (slum areas) along canal dikes or reservoirs as they have no land for house building and farming, lack of skills and knowledge to earn their living, having high expense, but low income, suffering from domestic violence, and lack of solidarity which leads to conflicts in their community and with powerful people. Their children cannot go to or drop out of schools, so they are illiterate. These serious issues for Khmer Kampuchea Krom people currently residing in the Kingdom of Cambodia are detailed as follows: The issue of identity as Cambodian citizenship This issue is related to the provision of Cambodian identification cards, resident registry, family record book, etc. As mentioned above, many of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people currently residing in the Kingdom of Cambodia are considered as the immigrants by many people and authorities, so they are refused to provide with these documents by the police officials and local authorities unless they spend money to the polices. Moreover, Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have to change their background or places of birth by telling the police that they were born in Svay Rieng or Battambang province or other provinces, etc. Such treatments clearly reflect the corruption, violation and racial discrimination committed by some local authorities against them. These issues most occur in Kandal and Svay Rieng provinces. Residence in temporary construction sites In official report, most of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have resided in Cambodia since 1980s while some others came in 1990. When living in Cambodia without permanent residence, some people forced to site along canal dikes or reservoirs, etc. By building the cottage with the size of 3 x 4 meters made of thatch-roof and small column where four to five members live together. As mentioned above, they are living without clear identity and their future challenge is that their residential areas are located in the government’s development project, so they will be forcibly evicted. Then they will be hopeless and homeless and will be subject to greater restriction from Vietnamese authorities if they return to their homeland. These issues mostly occur in Kandal, Svay Rieng and Battambang provinces. Daily livelihood activities Living in the countryside normally is required to have farm land and some skills to earn their daily livelihoods. However, as mentioned above, most Khmer Kampuchea Krom people in the target areas do not have land for settlement and farming, so they become agricultural day laborers whose income is less than expense. During the rainy season, they are hired to work in the rice fields and some are illegal fishers or are hired to transport tax evasion goods across the border. During the dry season, some people borrow money from wealthy family for their daily consumptions and have to pay back by using their labors in the rainy season; some force themselves to migrate to other places to earn their living. These issues are mostly occurred in all target areas. Domestic violence and lack of solidarity Due to the inadequate living, permanent occupation, stress and depression are often developed so domestic violence also happens among those families; other families may come up with divorce while others lose their little assets. Because of the poverty, some families consider only on their own benefits without recognizing the importance of helping the others. This affects the social orders in the communities leading to non-solidarity, ignorance and insecurity in the communities. Educational issues As stated above, Khmer Kampuchea Krom people currently living in the Kingdom of Cambodia do not acquire enough education. They can read and write Khmer language by learning it secretly without the notice of Vietnamese authorities. About 95% of women are illiterate in their Khmer language. Illiteracy among the women currently living in the Kingdom of Cambodia is still high due to poverty. Their children never go to school as they lack relevant documents, for example, they will be refused by some school principals if they do not have clear identity, while some families send their children to school but they drop out of school in order to help their parents when they are in grade 4 or 5 due to the poor livelihood. OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF PROJECT Goal: Base on the basic principle of human rights, Khmer Kampuchea Krom people, especially youth shall be granted and protected as legal Cambodian citizens. They shall live in appropriate settlement and be foster with respect, dignity, freedom, progress, and harmony. Objectives: 1. To increase legal acceptances of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who are currently residing in the Kingdom of Cambodia; 2. To increase the income of community members; 3. To reduce domestic violence by promoting non-violent manner and solidarities; 4. To reduce illiteracy among the Khmer Kampuchea Krom women, youth and teenagers who quitted schools; and 5. To improve legal access for Khmer Kampuchea Krom to own social land concession for farming and house building. MAIN ACTIVITIES In order to response to above-mentioned challenges, goals and objectives, Youth Network of Khmer Kampuchea Krom will organize activities with some key points as followings: 1. Research into additional statistic on situation of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people moving to the Kingdom of Cambodia between 1980s and 1990s and from 2000 until now and those who have no Cambodian Identification cards; 2. Establish Community Dialogues with Khmer Kampuchea Krom people with the most participation of youth. The key points included in the dialogue are concepts of peace building of individual and communities, mainstreaming the perspective of gender equality and equity, the concepts of advocacy based on a non-violent manner, the five Principles of Human Rights including Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, daily life concerned Law (Law on Nationality, Land Law), Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, etc. especially history related to geography of Kampuchea Krom; 3. Establish Community Networks/Youth Network of Khmer Kampuchea Krom by creating a Self Help Group; 4. Build up capacity of Community Committees through training on capacity, knowledge and skill such as organizing a meeting, facilitating a meeting, documenting and managing community work, etc; 5. Provide chance to Community Committee to conduct field visit in related and successful areas of cooperative partnership organizations; 6. Research into and conduct investigation and intervention against Human Rights violation cases of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people; and 7. Research into social land concession of state in order to request land for Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who are currently residing at temporary settlements and indicate actual needs of target groups. EXPECTED MAJOR OUTCOMES 1. Statistical manual of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who have no Cambodian Identification cards residing in the project implemented areas will be produced and intervention will be made to local authorities, and those people will be recognized as legal Cambodian citizens; 2. Among 10 times of Community Dialogue, at least 300 community members/networks have participated in the program and are consciously aware of the principle of peace, solidarity and non-violence manner and mutual trust. Moreover, domestic violence has been reduced through promoting community solidarities; 3. 60 members of Community Committees are selected and appointed and most of them are youth and at least 40% of whom are female. Those selected and appointed members are capable of managing community through transparency, accountability and effectiveness; 4. A number of Community Committees undertake the study tours in the target areas of partnership organizations, gain experiences from the study tour and initiatives of Community Committees and share those experience to its members; 5. Communication with no discrimination among Cambodian citizens and Khmer Kampuchea Krom has been increased; 6. Local authorities and Cambodian citizens residing in the project implemented areas are aware of culture, civilization, and tradition in Kampuchea Krom territory; 7. The location of state land concessions are shown by authorities and the land located near commercial areas will be response to the areas required by citizens which is legally provided by the government; and 8. Khmer Kampuchea Krom people residing in temporary settlements have their lands for house building and farming which reduce migration, increase income and living standard and children are sent to school. REQUIRED RESOURCE In order to response to the goals and objectives and successfully accomplish the activities and the expected outcomes, Youth Network of Khmer Kampuchea Krom needs budget in the amount of 5,705.00 US$ (Five thousands seven hundreds and five USD) for a period of 1 years, starting from August 01, 2011 to July 30, 2012. All expenditures will be listed when the detailed proposal is permitted.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:02:25 +0000