job & Cambodian women in rural areas, especially poor women, have less ability to access higher education. This is an obstacle for them to hold…
Cambodian women in rural areas, especially poor women, have less ability to access higher education. This is an obstacle for them to hold senior positions in communities, civil societies organizations, or government.
Pen Sophea, 32, is a resident in Prey Nhom village, in Svay Chuk commune, Samaki Meanchey District, Kampong Chhnang Province. Sophea represents a success story in terms of enhanced rights of women in the Life with Dignity Organization which operates in four provinces (Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu).
Under a rural diversity development program empowering women implemented by Life with Dignity, Sophea took her first chance to become a veterinary agent in her village in 2004. In 2007, Life with Dignity supported the establishment of a village bank. Sophea was elected to be a director of the Prey Nhom Village Bank. This provided an opportunity to receive training in many areas.
Based on her capacities and achievement, Sophea was trusted by village bank members, by villagers, and by local authorities to be in charge of women and children’s affairs for the commune and a financer of the Commune Bank in 2009. In 2010, she became the Chief of an Animal Health Promotion Association.
Because the commune woman position is not permanent, Sophea decided to stand for the third commune council election held in June 2012. “Because this position is not permanent, I want to be a commune council member,” Sophea said. The result of the third commune council election surprised her. “I was very happy to hear that I was elected to become a Svay Chuk Commune Council Chief,” Sophea said.
Because of the greater responsibilities of this new position, she decided to resign as the director of the Animal Health Promotion Association and as a veterinary.
Finally, she transferred veterinary skills to her husband through day-to-day training. Her husband has become a successor to the village veterinary since 2012.
Extracted from the Life With Dignity Report 2012