Children's participation in Cambodia

Sustainable development is about enabling people to work together to create long-lasting improvements to living standards in their communities. Children’s participation is essential to this process. They are the future, and can often provide adults with a different, valuable perspective on a range of issues.

Children listing problems in their community

© Kamsan Sreng

Sakina Sakerwalla reports from Cambodia

'I am going visit a rural community in the Angkor Thom district, where 200 local children will gather.

'We are here to take part in a meeting which will help Plan learn more about some of the problems faced daily by people living in the area. A forty-minute car ride on dusty dirt roads takes me out to the countryside.

'As the meeting gets underway, groups are formed, and team leaders are being elected among the older children who know how to read and write. They gather around a big white paper on the floor to write down the problems in their villages. Discussions are loud and everyone wants to add to the list.

'It is truly rewarding to see the enthusiasm and determination among the children. The heat and humidity is intense but no one seems to mind.

'I am amazed by the children’s capacity to pinpoint most of the problems in the area. The lack of proper health care, education, nutrition, clothing, means of transportation, occasions of domestic violence are all high on the lists.
 
'In our experience, children's voices are a great help when planning how to tackle problems faced in poor communities. Children’s realities, hopes and aspirations are guidelines for our work.

'We discuss and listen to all members of the village and involve them in the entire process from planning projects, to implementation and evaluation.

'By listening to the children we can learn more about their realities and thereby help create a more child friendly world in the future - together.'