Projects

 Sewing Skills Training Project
The Sewing Skills Training Project was set up in April 1996 to give victimized and vulnerable at-risk girls the opportunity to earn income and become self-sufficient. ACED has provided vocational skills to over 100 girls in Bavel District.
In 2009 ACED established Britt’s Learning Center (BLC) at its office, offering free English lessons for the poorest of the poor, especially girls. ACED is planning to set up computer courses, too. BLC is named after Britt-Mari Bjorklund from Finland, who became Member of ACED Board of Directors in March 2009. Also in 2009, ACED provides scholarships for up to 10 poor students of Bavel community, which enables them to attend school for a whole year and helps them to cover expenses for clothes, transportation, books, stationary etc. These scholarships can be provided thanks to the generous support by Noora Gisselberg and Britt-Mari Bjorklund from Finland. 

Self-Help Group and Income Generation (Credit Scheme) Project
The Self-Help Group and Credit Scheme Project began in 1998 in Bavel Commune. Villagers form themselves into savings groups, and ACED facilitates in the development of group policies and goals. After six months of combining their savings, the groups are given credit in order to start-up a business. On average, it takes ten months for a group to pay back the advance. To date, 560 members in 50 groups have participated in this project, earning a total of  30,675,700 riel ($  ). The project has lead to the reduction of borrowing high-interest loans from traders, and is successful in strengthening relationships amongst villagers, as they stand in solidarity and work to achieve a common goal.

Rice Bank Project
Rice banks were set up in the target areas in 1999, allowing villagers to pool and share their resources, and avoid borrowing rice from traders and paying high interest rates. To date, we have five village banks in Bavel Commune, with 16,790kg of rice in stock.

Agriculture Project
ACED and agriculture district officers educate villagers on advanced farming techniques to strengthen their capacities in planting vegetables and raising animals, in order that they yield better-quality crops and improve the breeding and feeding of livestock. ACED then provides the farmers with loans, giving them the opportunity to expand their food production, generate more income, and increase their standard of living.

Environment Preservation Project
ACED conducts environmental awareness sessions for villagers in all communes of Bavel District. The education and training on environmental destruction and preservation focuses on organic farming, sustainable development, and recycling. ACED also instructs communities on how to cultivate tree nurseries. We have germinated over 50,000 tree seedlings in public spaces such as schools and pagodas.

Poorest of the Poor People Project
This project was organized in 2003 with the support of CIDSE (DPA), CWS, and BTB. After intensive investigations, ACED selected 55 families in Bavel Commune, found to be the poorest of the poor, and provided them with opportunities that enabled them to create better lives for themselves.

Health Education Project
With the cooperation of area hospitals and other NGOs, ACED began this project in 1998 to educate rural villagers on various health related matters. Workshop topics include, but are not limited to: general hygiene, child health, nutrition, family planning, malaria, dengue fever, HIV/AIDS, and bird flu. During Dengue Fever and Malaria Week, ACED marches through the target rural areas with participating villagers to spread information about, and to work towards the prevention of the diseases.

Youth Participation for Social Development Project
With the support of World Bank Cambodia, this program, set up in 2005, gives the youths of Bavel District the opportunity to participate in social development and become active leaders in the progression of their communities. ACED formed 27 youth associations at the village level, and 3 youth councils at the commune level. The youth village associations conduct monthly meetings, and select representatives to participate in the monthly meetings held by the youth councils at the commune level. Topics discussed relate to human rights and law.

Women Commune Councils Capacity Building Project
This project was set up in 2003 in order to enhance the proficiency and confidence of the women in the commune councils of Bavel District. They are invited to participate in the monthly meetings and encouraged to voice their concerns and ideas, and share the results of their development actions by their respective commune councils. ACED provides training courses in project planning, report writing, meeting facilitation, gender equality, human rights, commune administration, and community development.

Commune Council Forum Project
This project was set up after the commune council elections of 2003, with the objective of improving communication between commune council members and villagers. ACED emphasizes the importance of practicing good governance to community leaders; imparting onto them an understanding that villagers have the right to be heard, a right to information about their communities, and a right to know that their best interests are being represented. The forums allow fellow citizens and leaders to build solidarity, and they motivate them to work together for the development of the entire community.

Human Rights and Advocacy Project
This project began in 1998 to provide training in human rights and law to villagers and members of the commune councils. The project is divided into three parts: training courses, prevention, and advocacy. The training courses in human rights and law are provided for all members of the communities and local authorities to ensure proper law-enforcement and social justice. ACED cooperates with other local human rights organizations to conduct these sessions. Working towards the prevention of child abuse and child labor, ACED formed the Committee for Prevention of Children’s Rights (CPCR), whose members were selected from various local NGO’s. It strives to protect women and children in the region against exploitation such as trafficking and abuse by providing awareness courses and income opportunities to the most vulnerable. It also acts as a staunch activist against domestic violence and rape, and appeals with law enforcement to grant criminals harsh convictions. The advocacy project primarily supports rural villagers in land conflict issues against more powerful individuals. With support from Star Kampuchea and DPA, ACED has formed three advocacy groups with over 250 members in Bavel District. 

Capacity Building Project
Aimed at strengthening the skills and knowledge of community development and human rights workers, this project’s objective is to have qualified staff, with knowledge of up-to-date information, conducting the training courses given to the villagers, so that they in turn can lead to the success of all other projects.

Strengthen Civic Engagement to Demand for Good Governance Project
The goal of this project is to instill a sense of responsibility in, and increase the understanding and practicing of good governance to village representatives, local authorities, and other relevant institutions. In order to ensure the success of commune development plans, leaders must gain the trust of, and the motivation to participate from villagers. ACED implements the following four activities in Bavel and Phnom Phek District: training course on good governance, reflection workshops on commune development plans, commune council public forums, and commune council monthly meetings. It is ACED’s goal to actively involve high-ranking officials in developing Cambodia’s resources in order to foster economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve public service.

Thai Border Land Conflict Resolution Project
This project focuses on land conflict issues near the border of Thailand, in Sampeuv Loun, Phnom Phek, and Bavel Districts of Battambang Province. ACED’s goal is to educate the villagers about land law and empower them to demand justice and solve their disputes, so they retain full rights to the management and utilization of their land. ACED has organized six Community Based Advocacy Networking Groups (CBANGs) in the three target districts that research disputes and analyze resolutions. Advocacy is carried out through publishing and dispensing materials on land law, by providing training courses on human rights and land law, and by producing theatrical plays as a means of educating communities about the issues. ACED supports CBANGs conducting of round table meetings and public forums, and acts in various roles such as advisor and monitor.

Clean Water Supply Project
Three of the most disadvantaged villages of Phnom Proek District lacked water during the dry season; ACED assisted in obtaining a clean water supply by digging two ponds and drilling ten wells throughout the area. The villagers provided 10% of the cost and assisted with the construction.

Emergency Relief  Project
ACED organized the Village Committee for Emergency Relief (VCER) to work on behalf of the poorest of the poor who have been affected by, and do not have the money to compensate for: illness, death, birth, fire, or natural disaster.

Education Project
Fighting against illiteracy, and for the rights of children, ACED began this project to expand the education system in rural areas, which have been largely ignored by the government. A school, providing education for 300 students, was built in Phnom Proek District. ACED formed the School Building Committee (SBC) to monitor the development and manage the materials. Villagers participated in the construction of the school and provided 50% of the land cost. ACED hired the teachers and provided materials such as pens, pencils, boards, and books.