SADP

Six of the poorest women in Changhaon village pooled their money to start a business selling rice.  When they build up $1500, they plan to pay dividends to each other.  As their money grows, they are becoming more influential in their community.

Eight students in Roluos and Toteung Tngay villages have organized a students’ club. The members who are stronger in a particular subject tutor those who are weaker.  They have pooled their money to help poorer members buy bicycles.  When one member wanted to drop out of school, others talked with his parents and neighbors to persuade him to continue.  They have read books about the roles of students in social movements, and they say, “When we face big problems in society, the least we can do is to talk.  When people start talking, then change will come.”

Kui people living in Smaonh village have united around their indigenous identity.  They collect rice and money to build up community funds from which people in the village can borrow.  In the face of rising land prices and temptations to sell land, they agreed not to sell their property.  They stopped people from coming into their village to take land, and they also stood up to district authorities who became too heavy-handed.

Behind all of these stories is SADP.  We help people see the world in new ways, make the most of what they have, work together to build their communities, and protect their resources.  We work to empower individuals and communities to create a better society: 

• We help the poorest people, who are left behind by other development programs

• We help communities protect the environment while at the same time protecting their sources of income

• We empower women

• We help young people attain higher education

• We help families and communities build up savings

Our approach is different from that of other organizations:

• We build Cambodian capacities to carry out their own development.  We treat people as partners rather than as recipients of assistance.  More than almost any other organization providing support to Cambodian NGOs, we have been able to work in a partnership relationship with them.  Program staff members of the NGOs feel comfortable approaching us when they face problems, and they also feel comfortable challenging SADP when their views differ.
• We support individuals and communities in ways that promote self-reliance rather than dependence or hierarchy.  Often we help them mobilize their own resources or ensure that government programs serve their interests (a rights-based approach to development). Our programs are sustainable, and we continually phase ourselves out of projects.

• We continually innovate and respond to new situations.  Our programs reflect an in-depth understanding of specific communities and different groups within them.   

• We help communities pioneer new ways of protecting the environment for their own benefit (community-based natural resources management).

 

The combination of our philosophy and our low administrative costs means that we are able to achieve significant results on a small budget.