CAMBODIA WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT AGENCYIMPLEMENTATION OF SUPPORTING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHIMPROVEMENT AND BUILDING LITERATE ENVIRONMENTS (SMILE) PROJECTIN CAMBODIA

Empowering Asian

Women to Dream

About the CWDA

� CWDA promote women’s economic and social rightsthrough three main programs:

• Community Self-Prevention Against Trafficking of Women and Children

• Women’s Health and HIV/AIDS

• Vocational Training

� CWDA have formal and informal networks with local, national and international governments and NGO’s.

� CWDA work with local communities in to develop and promote women’s rights.

About the CambodiaLiteracy Resource Centre

� Vast range of educational materials (books, posters, leaflets, newspapers, multi-media etc) on many topics

� Computerised database in Khmer and English.

� Awarded the status of national literacy resource centre in 1996.

� Provides books and materials to other organisations as well as supplying resources to the CLCs and the CPU Women’s Room.

Introduction SMILE 2008-2011

� Promotes maternal and child health education for illiterate and neo-literate mothers, to create literate environments and improve mother and child health.

� Focuses on the mothers’ role in families and communities.

� Target 2008-2009

4 villages in Prey Veng Province, 5 villages in Phnom Penh Outskirts, 250 pregnant women and those with children between 0-5 years

� Target 2010-2011

7 villages in 4 Sangkats of Khan Dangkor and 1 village in1 Sangkat of Khan Russey Keo , 162 pregnant women and those with children between 0-5 years

Objectives

�1. To improve women’s literacy situation

�2. To build literate environments at home and in communities

�3. To improve the health condition of mothers and children

Needs Assessment

� CWDA analysed existing education/facilities in target communities-identified existing resources

� Discussion with the CLC members, Chief of villages, facilitators, women leaders, project officers and female community members.

� Pre-test was made

Utilising Existing Resources

�Human resources:

• Community members helped restore already established and successful CLCs

• Contacted facilitators/ institutions who have previously worked with CWDA

�Used community sites to conduct the SMILE classes

INNOVATIVE

Facilitators and Learners

� Selected 16 facilitators of 8 villages (2 per village) 162 illiterate and semi-literate women

� CWDA collected information about the learners and facilitators to make detailed information sheets

� Organised training workshops for our facilitators and local authority on “Mother and Child Health”

� 12 facilitators (2 people per village) and 4 contract teachers were introduced to the DNFE curriculum

Mothers Groups

� To share experiences

� To plan, manage and process learning activities.

� Created money management scheme for community loans.

� Discussions with health agents

� Created message boards to share health advice with other women

INNOVATIVE

Gift Packages

� (1 pen, 1 note book, 1 soap, 1 towel, 1 Khmer alphabet poster including reading books relate with mothers and child care)

Literacy Classes

� Literacy through practice and theory Maternal and Child healthcare- now learners have a full knowledge of maternal/child healthcare which they can practice at home

Home Visits and Monthly Meetings

� To promote reading at home and follow up the learners home practice after SMILE classes

� SMILE members share a sense of belonging from the support of their facilitator through home visits.

� Extra classes were conducted when possible (i.e. How to process soya beans, practice food nutrition, make rehydration formulas)

INNOVATIVE

Learner Monitoring and Evaluation

� Project Coordinators collected information and detailed monthly reports from the female facilitators

� Monthly meetings with the facilitators to share the progress of learners and CLC activities.

� Pre test, Mid term test and Final tests were used to evaluate the learners progress

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

� September 2010 a delegate of ACCU and staff of Kao Company implemented the SMILE monitoring mission

Strengthening the Project

� Post-literacy classes were developed to support the learners.

� Self-study and sharing information.

� Husbands and wives conduct informal lessons in the family/ to the community.

� 2 men have enrolled in the SMILE class to learn about Maternal and childcare and share this information to their wives.

INNOVATIVE

Additional Achievements

� 67% improved their levels of literacy

� 100% households now have reading materials.

� All women reported that they received their vaccinations during pregnancy and immunized their children.

� 100% of have a healthcare card,

� 100% have access to post-natal care

� Seen as knowledgeable about health issues in the community.