Rural Assistance Program Prey Veng (RAP), Cambodia

Mark was in Cambodia the first week of September and during that period of time he visited Prey Veng, where our Rural Assistance Program is located.  The main topic of discussion was our well drilling program. We are currently considering applications for 20 wells. Mark met with several of the farmers . We will introduce you to two of these families below.

Access to safe and reliable water is a game changer for these subsistence farmers, many of whom have only tiny plots of land upon which they depend upon a single rice crop each year for income. In recent years, grown children move to the cities  in search of factory work to augment family income.

Here are two of our candidates located in Svay Pork Villae ( Speu Kor (which means starfruit)  commune, Baphnom district

Mr.LS , age 47 and his wife Ms VS are 45 have three children  ages 23, 20  and   years old. Their homestead land measures only 0.12 hectare ( abut ¼ acre) and their rice field measures about 0.5 hectare  , or about 1.25 acres. They depend upon a single rice crop per year and money their  older children earn from garment factory work.  They currently get their drinking water from the farm of Ms. VS’s mother which is located nearby.

Ms. YS , age 44 and her husband Mr. HC , also age 44 have three children: a sone age 18 who worls in a garment factory in Phnom Penh, a daughter age 16 and a second son who is age 9.  Their honestead land measures just 006 hectare  about 1.8 acre) and their tiny rice field measus only 0.2 hectare, less than ½ acre. They currently get drinking water from a well that is at  Ms. YS’s mother’s house which is on a farm adjacent to theirs.

Access to a well is a game changer for these families in terms of quality  of life and the ability to grow vegetables and lessen their dependence on a single annual rice crop. These farmers , 2 of the many who have applied, have been selected due to their level of poverty and their proven ability to be good farmers given the challenging circumstances that they face.

Current total estimated cost for a well are around $ 280 which includes drilling and modest staff costs for our local team.

Your continued support of this effort really does changes lives and help these hard working farming families to continue in their efforts to lift themselves from poverty .

We deeply appreciate your generous support.

Barbara & Mark Rosasco

 Mark Rosasco