Successful CBO celebrated Annual General Forum
19 May 2010

On 11th May 2010, Community for Agriculture Development (CAD), a successful Community Based Organization (CBO) collaboration with World Vision Cambodia celebrated Annual General Forum in Samlot District, Battambong province of Cambodia.

Ms. Esther Halim, World Vision Cambodia’s Country Director, Mr. Hen Sophal, Samlot’s District Governor, opened the event. Among those who participated in the event include: Dr. Ponh Oudom, Head of Battambong Agricultural Extension Department, and Mr. Chao Sophal, Representative from CP Group Cambodia and World Vision-Cambodia’s (WVC) senior staff.

About 526 participants who are the members of the CAD from 11 villages of 3 communes in Samlot district participated in the forum. It was the fourth Annual General Forum for the community since it was established.

The purpose of this forum was to reflect the community’s work over a year, present the financial report and status and income allocation to all shareholders (membership) and ask for approval for 3 year planning (2010-2012) from them. Also, it sought to strengthen relationship between all members within the community and also with private sector.

Mr. Hen Sophal welcomes all participants with optimism for the community and WVC. He said that the community is now growing with good achievements. These achievements will be sustainable in providing agricultural services to the community people. He encouraged the community leaders to try to make the community stronger and attract the private sector. So all members should work hard and make the community transparent in financial management. He further appreciates WVC’s collaboration with governments and local authorities in development Samlot District. “Because of WVC, we have everything here such as schools, Library, road, well and other that improve the living standard of Samlot’s resident” said Mr. Sophal.

According to Mr. Chum Rithy, Food Security Program Manager, “This community was founded on the 6th December 2005 by Economic Opportunity Project (EOP) of Food and Water Security Program of WVC by consolidating all existing small groups which were created by previous projects, Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled project. And now this community is running itself with 200 million riels ($1.00US = 4,200 riels) capital and 739 members. It operates in 11 villages, 3 communes of Samlot Districts. Although the community can stand on its own, it still needs technical support from the Economic Development Project (EDP), the continue project after EOP finished. The community has services such as agricultural business (buy and sell seed), savings, loan (cash and agricultural material), training on planting techniques and animal raising and more.”

Ms.Ether Halim appreciated the progress of the community and its achievement, “the community now has its own land for building community office and has developed 3 year plan. I hope that the community will succeed more if all of you work hard and work together with authority, private sector (CP Group Cambodia) and also WVC. We are happy to work with you. It’s a good example to other communities in Cambodia,” she added.

Mr. Pann Proeung, Chief of CreditCommittee of the community expressed his feeling that “Because of WVC, we have the community today. World Vision is our parent”. He said that he and the other community leaders will work hard to strengthen the community as well as to have the 3 year plan to help them grow in membership, capital and innovate more small businesses and agriculture Enterprises.

The forum lasted for the morning. All community services and financial reports were presented to all members to inform all about the progress of the community. The annual income of the CAD in 2009 was 27,195,600 riels; and the total Expenses 8,227,100 riels, annual Incentive for CAD leader was 3,723,300 riels and Net profit was 15,244,200 riels. Moreover, next 3 year-plan (2010-2012) were approved by all members in a vote by raising their hands. Finally, the prizes were given to poor children, active-members and Livelihood Group leaders.

« All News Stories