The orientation meeting was scheduled to start at 8am, but only 4 people were present at that time. The vice commune chief suggested that we wait longer for more villagers to arrive. At past 9am, around 11 villagers (composed of the vice commune chief, commune clerk and villagers from Tuol Srangam and Ampeang villages), with only one woman present, gathered in the commune center for the much-anticipated computer orientation session. The participants were notably all old people.
Being told that no other villagers would arrive, the Research Manager (RM) decided to start through a short introduction. Aside from the RM, also introduced were Hay Him, a student volunteer who agreed to do translation as needed by RM, Rob, who volunteers to work with the project and the moto-dop driver, who also joined the orientation session. RM noted that the villager from Tuol Srangam (Mak Khorn) who requested for this orientation session in the previous week’s commune (introductory) meeting was not present.
Before starting the orientation, RM asked the villagers if they knew what a computer was and if they had seen one. RM also asked if they knew what a computer was used for. The villagers were shy to answer to RM’s question, but one villager said that they knew the word but they didn’t know what a computer was like. Just a note, this orientation meeting was done out of a request from one of the villagers as a follow up to the commune introductory meeting. The villagers agreed on this because they wanted to see what a computer looked like. All in all, the villagers seemed to understand the concept and meaning of the word “computer” but, until the meeting, they hadn’t seen, touched or used one.
RM gave a short presentation on the kinds of computer (desktop and laptop), basic features of computers and how they function, and some features such as photo, video and audio storage/playback. Using two laptops, one from the RM and another from the MVU student, the different parts of computers were shown – from turning the computer on, to the function of the mouse, to computer programs and special features. RM occasionally consulted the MVU student-volunteer for some translation.
First demonstrated was preparing a document in a Microsoft word program. The villagers were pleasantly surprised to see that they could use the Word program because it had a Khmer font installed.
The vice commune chief was especially interested in the Microsoft Word program, he said it would be useful to him in his work. He said he prepares documents for submission to the commune chief, district and municipal authorities, as well as other organizations. RM didn’t notice any typewriters at the office, and when asked how they prepared their documents, the vice commune chief said that they wrote them on paper, then took the paper to Kampot to be typed and printed. He said that it takes time to produce commune documents because they have to prepare all the documents needed and then go to Kampot at a designated time. Urgent documents are a different matter though. Travel time is between 45mins to 1hr by motorcycle from Angkaol commune.
Other programs demonstrated were Microsoft Excel, the DVD/CD player, and a photo album. The villagers were encouraged to use the computers. They were hesitant at first, but later on, one by one, they started to loosen up a bit. After some explanation, the villagers familiarized themselves with the computers and took turns in moving the mouse, flicking through a file of photos (zooming in and out), watching a short video and trying out other programs.
The first question asked was how much does a computer cost. RM explained that some are expensive (like laptops and branded computers) while some can be bought cheaply. One old villager asked RM if the computer would turn off or break down whenever a wrong key was struck. Another villager was also curious about how long it would take to learn how to use a computer, and whether they needed to learn English to do so. RM explained that computer only breaks down if it’s used improperly or gets infected with a virus. RM added that a computer suddenly goes blank (turns off) when there is no electricity (in case of the desktop) and when there are electrical problems inside the CPU. The enumerator then explained what a virus is and how it affects the computer and talked a bit about CPUs. At this point, I am unsure if the villagers understood the concept of “virus” and “CPU”.
The villagers were delighted to see how a computer works and had fun having hands-on practice. One villager (the commune chief of Tuol Srangam) commented that there were lots of new things to memorize/remember and to do to be able to use a computer, which would possibly make old people more inhibited to use them.
The vice commune chief also said that if the villagers don’t know computers yet, they won’t be interested, and suggested that iREACH put computers in place so that it will attract more people. To which the vice commune chief added that we should be patient in teaching them, as most of the villagers in the commune have low levels of education, some none at all. He added that technology was difficult for them to understand and he urged that we should go slowly and not rush the villagers. He also added that it would take more meetings or training sessions before the villagers would be able to understand computers in particular, and the project in general. RM said that these comments would be noted.
Before the group wound up, RM asked the villagers whether their perceptions or ideas of computers had changed. An old man said that “now that I have seen a computer, I want to know more how to use it”. The village chief of Tuol Srangam said that after the presentation, he still didn’t understand computers, but he would still like to learn how to use a computer (very interested to learn how to use).
The vice commune chief asked if the computers would be placed in the commune center and if there were problems, who would help. RM said that it wasn’t decided yet where to put the computers but iREACH would employ local staff to man the computer centers and take care of their maintenance. The vice commune chief also asked where would the computers be located. RM then took this chance to explain about community ownership and the creation of a committee which would decide, among other things, where computers would be located.
One old man said that he wanted the younger people to be involved in this kind of activity because it would give them new skills which they could use when they looked for a job when they left school. The vice commune chief thanked us for starting a project like this in their commune and suggested we have more sessions next time and they would invite students and other villagers to participate. He reiterated that in their commune, technological skills are rare and the capacities of the villagers, both old and young, should be built.
RM then asked them to discuss among themselves a date which would be convenient for all to conduct another meeting. Before the group separated, the vice commune chief said they would set the date and give a call to RM.
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The computer orientation session ended, but RM stayed a little longer for pleasantries and had a chance to talk to the vice commune chief about the problems his village-mates are facing.
There is an existing community fishery in Angkaol commune, which was established in 2004-2005 (he can’t remember which year) through the facilitation of DANIDA (the staff’s name, according to him, was Lav Bunrithy). During that time, DANIDA assisted them in creating the community fishery group and in drafting their by-laws.
The problem in Angkaol was that there were big boats, owned by private companies/businessmen from Kampot and other areas and invading their fishing space, thus, leaving the fishermen in the village less fish catch. Sometimes confrontations ended up in violence.
So when the community fishery group was established and recognized by the fishery department, the fishermen cooperated in protecting their fishing area. They created an underwater fence made of coconut timber nailed together to prevent the big fishing boats from coming to their fishing area. However, as these boats are bigger and apparently have connections from the powers that be, Angkaol fishermen easily got defeated. But not only that, also some CF members themselves, perhaps due to frustration and hopelessness, turn to their old ways of using illegal fishing methods and ignore the very law that they have agreed on. So now, the members have lost their interest at all because their problem is still unsolved. Now the group remains inactive.
