Yesterday, 3 hours after my breakfast in Hochiminh city, I was in the villages of Kampong Trabek, in Cambodia. Violent contrast with Vietnam. The average income in Cambodia is only about 2/3 of the same in Vietnam, and this is one of the poorest areas of the country. No electricity, while one hear the cars speeding on the Singapore-Peking highway, funded by international agencies. Children under 5 have a mortality rate 3 times higher than in Vietnam.

For the last 18 months I come to assist RADE, a small local NGO. Reflect on the goals, improve methods. Mekong Plus provides the funds. Suddenly, one year ago, the director and founder disappeared (no, he did not take the funds with him). On hears he is now in Canada! The team panicked because none knew the funders, none could say more than a few words in English. So I learn Khmer, several hours a day, and slowly begin to communicate in this new language for me. Mekong Plus has promised to continue its support with the condition the board would be strengthened; this has been done to some extend, it must be consolidated.

Kuch, is the leader of this team of 5, with him I visit of few households. Thiry is "alone" with her 5 children. Half a hectare and one small harvest of 800 kilos every year. Against 5 tons/ha in Vietnam. One lacks everything in this village: good seeds, fertilizers, water... Water? The water table is not so deep: 30 meters; the Mekong river flows not far, 35 km. «Yes but we need a pump». I tend to smile as

No need to look for the border:
the green part is in Vietnam…

As soon as RADE helps the people to install
a pump, the area turns green

maybe they could start on a small scale, by hand. One must not compare with Vietnam, the Khmer will choose their development, what and how.

I fail to understand: how does she manage? Yes, she also sells palm leaves stitched together, which the people buy for their roofs but she makes 1,5 euro per day at most. Well, this family survives with about 0,25 euro per person per day.

RADE requests the villagers to choose the poorest in their community: a group of 5 is made, saving is compulsory, deposited at the monthly meeting. The members talk and share, and encorage each other. The RADE lends each member 160 euros, which when added to the savings aloows them to buy one cow. It is repaid in 3 years, plus a small interest. No default: the cows are not sacred but well taken care off, the whole village watches, knowing RADE could discontinue its support is the people are not honnest and hard working. For that matter Mekong Plus is very srict as well and the experience in Vietnam may be useful: everyone is involved!

But why cows? They are easy to feed, pastures are plenty. There will be many calves! With the assistance from Mekong Plus RADE has distributed 57

cows. The first reimbursements have allowed RADE to add another 8, and there are already 23 calves! A cow is essential for the ploughing, wihtout her cow Thiry would have to spend 25$/year. Today, in the group and with the neighbors, one can help each other.

The deep poverty of these people makes me impatient, I would want to move much faster. These naked children with swolen bellies… so much time is wasted! 57 cows? Why not 5700 ? But this is for RADE to decide, how much, how fast. Besides the cow bank, RADE has also started a pilot goat bank, irrigation pumps, this reaches another 110 households.

Bernard KERVYN, the 6th April 2006.