Kep District Assembly

One of the big events that happened after the first i-REACH Project meeting was the district assembly in Kep. Since it was the first-ever assembly held in Damnak Chang'eur after so many years, the preparation was intense even the district Governor himself was involved in it. I, on my part, was a little bit nervous as I was in Phnom Penh for the meeting and I thought I should be in Damnak Chang'eur instead to lend a hand in the preparations. What added to my worries was the threat of monsoon rain. What if it rains and no one will come? Good thing that the rain stopped just before the meeting started. Good thing, too, that Gov. Tep Yuthy's staff were able to do everything that we planned out.

The district assembly was conducted at the same time that the i-REACH advisors had a field trip in Kep. The advisors who came were Sean O'Siochru, Cel Cadiz, Chat Ramilo and Pam Custodio. Mr. Chea Sok Huor was also there as the main guest and presenter and Dimanche from the Kamchai Mear Pilot, too, as I requested him to translate for the advisors.

The Ministry of Commerce representative, Mr. Tes Ethda was there along with the Kep Vice Governor which gave credence to the activity.

83 villagers attended the assembly, and they were composed of village and commune officials, farmers, fishermen, students, women, students, teachers and school directors, monks and achars (laypeople), police authorities, staff from different government line agencies as well as staff from other NGOs.

There were many speeches made. Governor Tep Yuthy welcomed the participants. He said that through this introductory meeting, the participants will learn about the project, its objectives, and benefits to the community. Kep Vice Governor Leng Loeung followed and in his speech, he thanked IDRC for choosing Kep as one of its pilot project areas. He talked about the low level of productivity in Kep and hopes that the project will help change that. Community development projects funded by international agencies are very rare in Kep and so he urged the participants to listen closely and take advantage of the benefits the project will bring.The third speaker to give welcome speech was His Excellency Tes Ethda, the representative from the Ministry of Commerce. He urged the people involved to be clarified of the nature of the project. He also mentioned that technology in Kep is still low and the people still use traditional methods. He also said that the problem is that people do not have the right market information, and so are not properly guided in their production.

The main man of that afternoon was i-REACH Project Manager Chea Sok Huor. Affable and gracefully natural when talking to common people, he easily charmed the crowd, especially the small group of women who were shy at first. He started his speech by translating iREACH to Khmer language and talked about one of its components, namely the Internet. Information, specifically on market prices, weather, techniques on rice production, etc., will be available through the Internet. He also cited the use of email (possible through Internet) as a way of communicating with other people inside and outside their community. He also told the participants that 3 centers or hubs will be selected in three locations/communes. These centers will receive Internet connection and community radio signal, and VoIP service. He also stressed that a committee should be formed with members selected by the community themselves to manage and oversee the services and other activities. He also said that community participation, especially women’s participation, is important because this IDRC project is aimed finding out how blended technologies, such as the ones he mentioned, can help in improving people’s livelihoods. Mr. Huor also mentioned that the district governor has provided rooms in the district office for the iREACH project to use as office. He ended his speech with a request to His Excellency Tes Ethda to give assistance in the renovation of the office building.

The crowd murmured, but it was difficult to ascertain whether the reaction was out of excitement or interest to the project or an expression of disinterest or that they did not understand at all?

So we encouraged the participants to ask us. There was a long silence, and the it was the Vice Governor of Kep who threw the first question. It served as a good lead as questions from the villagers came in. The following were the question and answers:

Question 1: Why Kep was chosen as the project site, how the staff will be recruited and who will be responsible for the equipment, and also about the sustainability of the project.
Answer: Mr. Huor explained that there was a set of criteria and Kep obviously came out fit to the criteria. The project has a capacity-building component. He said that in Kep there will be a pilot coordinator, radio manager, technical staff, etc. and they will provide training to the local people. He also mentioned that the project intends to recruit local people as staff and outsiders would only be considered if there is no qualified local person to do the work.

Question 2: I am interested to know more about the system of information and communication to be installed. Can you give us more information about it?
Answer: Citing Kamchai Mear pilot area as example, Mr. Huor said content developers will be recruited. This local content developers, guided by questions asked by the community, will assist them develop programs (for the community radio). The radio station has a scope of 10 km radius. The community computer/internet center locations will be selected by a committee, and that same committee that will oversee the communication system.

Question 3: Vegetable production in the area is unstable – sometimes it is too high that not everything can be sold, lowering their prices. Will the project then stabilize productivity in the locality?
Answer: Instability of vegetable production is due to the lack of market information to give producers bargaining power with the middlemen. The internet can help address this lack of market information. This will allow the people to access information not just from Phnom Penh but also from other parts of the world. Sean added how the quality of products can stabilize the farm gate prices of vegetable products. Dimanche added that schedule and timing of production are also important dimensions in improving the quality of vegetable produce. His Excellency Tes Ethda also added that a committee should (be formed and) coordinate with the centers to find out, for example, the price and variety of cassava or which crop is best suited in the market.

Question 4: Is there a post harvest technique that is appropriate for our produce?
Answer: Huor gave as an example sugarcane processing. The amount of production has to be based on the demand, which is information that can be gathered using the internet.

Question 5: How much rate (e.g. advertising) will the community radio charge? Will IDRC stop its support to the project?
Answer: The project will be implemented for three years, funded by IDRC. The cost of service charges will be set at an affordable rate, to be based on the advice of a committee from the community. IDRC is supporting this project to study how community life may be improved with the participation of the people in ICTs; to see how women’s participation may be improved; and to mainsteam ICT policies that favor poor communities. To make the project sustainable, the various ICT services will be costed, but only so that these may be sustained. It is also important that to set up an interim committee to advise the project toward its sustainability.

Question 6: Will all the equipments be pulled out after the duration of the project?
Answer: If the project and the community will be successful, the equipment will stay with the community. IDRC is interested in knowing the results of the project here. On the other hand, if there are still needs that arise at the end of three years, the project can ask for additional support from IDRC. Sean said that if the pilot here (in Kep) and in Kamchai Mear will succeed, the project management and advisers will try to persuade the government to do the same thing for the rest of Cambodia.

Question 7: Can you give us more information about ICT?
Answer: This is a new technology and a bit complicated to explain in just one sitting. Community centers will be put up in the future and the project and its components will be explained in great detail in succeeding meetings in your community. There will also be trainings as well.

There were other side topics, but equally important, that were discussed during the assembly. As there is still no electricity in the whole municipality of Kep, Governor Tep Yuthy assured that electricity will be in Kep by the end of the year. Electric posts and wires are currently being installed and it is expected that Kep will have power by the end of the year.

Over-all the assembly went well. Despite the threat of heavy rain, there were a total of 83 participants who arrived to listen and know about iREACH project. The participants were composed mostly of men. Although hesitant and shy at first, the participants showed interest in the project and asked questions. There were 15 women who participated, and through urgings from the audience, they stood up and participated in the open forum, and later overcame the initial shyness. ICT is a new concept for the participants especially in this remote town of Kep where the level of education and the level of technology awareness of the population is low. Although most have shown interest in the project, the challenge now lies in raising their knowledge, awareness and sustaining their interest not only in ICTs but in participation in the project in general.

Site Visit to Kep Pilot Area

Attendance: Seng Theary (CSD), Im Sophea (CSD), Hak Sokleap (Kep Radio Manager, CSD), Kim Dara (Kep Pilot Coordinator, CSD), Grant Helling (Gateway Communications), Rattanak (Gateway Communications), Che Viseth (Network Solutions), Seiha (Royal University of Agriculture intern), Nara (Royal University of Agriculture intern), Chea Sok Hour, and Zarah Almeida

The objectives of the activity was to do a site survey that will help both Gateway Communications and Network Solutions to address issues raised by Alberto regarding connectivity and for these companies to be able to submit a tender for consideration of iREACH. It is also for the newly-recruited staff of CSD, Hak Sokleap and Kim Dara, to be familiar with the area and to know the key people in the pilot site. Two students also joined the activity as part of their internship program at the Royal University of Agriculture. They are expected to create maps for the Kep pilot project.

Since the locations for the internet hubs/centers have not been identified yet, the group visited potential locations identified by CSD in their previous visit. The group’s first stop was the district office where iREACH project will be housed. We also visited potential sites in Chamka Bei village in Pong Tuek Commune, Tuol Srangam and Angkol villages in Angkol commune, Damnak Chambok and Ou Krasar villages in Ou Krasar commune. Apart from the site visit, the group also talked to the people in the places visited for more information about their villages and village life. The group also visited the municipal hall of Kep and studied the Minister of Commerce’s mansion which is one area needing Internet connection. The engineers from both companies took out their equipment, studied the potential areas in terms of distance from the headquarters and interferences (mountains), took pictures and jot down notes. It is expected that in two weeks time they will submit a proposal with comprehensive details of the results of their survey and justifying their respective budgets.

CSD Executive Director said that they will do a detailed renovation plan, which was requested by Damnak Chang’eur district governor Tep Yuthy during their previous meeting with him, soon. The governor asked for that plan because he needs idea in terms of design and costs to be able to find financial support for the renovation of the building. Also during the trip, CSD proposed to the Project Manager Mr. Chea Sok Huor that additional unit of motorcycle be provided to the team for more mobility and efficiency of staff travel to the target villages. Mr. Huor suggested that CSD submit a proposal to him and he’ll forward it to the donor.

As to the project staff, the Radio Manager will start to work in January 2007, while the Pilot Coordinator will start in February. The Research Manager suggested a meeting with CSD to update on the situation in Kep and revise existing plan of activities based on the current situation, as well as to draw the renovation plan needed by Governor Tep Yuthy. The agreed meeting date will be on the 2^nd of January.

Kep Updates (September-October period)

After the first project meeting in Phnom Penh, staff from both Pilot sites went back to their respective areas to continue what had been started. In Kep Pilot, the following activities were done:

1. Commune meetings
Three commune meetings were conducted in Damnak Chang’eur district as a follow up to the district assembly held last October 3. Permission to conduct the commune meetings was granted by district Governor Tep Yuthy. The commune meeting dates were originally scheduled for the first week of October, but were postponed twice due to the national electoral registration and its subsequent extension. The commune meetings were later held on the last week of October, on successive dates.

One of the things emphasized during the workshop was the creation of an interim committee that will work closely with the iREACH project staff for most of the project activities. The villagers however need more meetings to explain further the role of the committee as well as its tasks and responsibilities, both to the community and the project. The villagers agree to hold meetings again to discuss these matters. The report on the commune workshop will be completed soon.

2. Computer Orientation
One offshoot of the commune meeting was a computer orientation meeting requested by the villagers of Angkaol commune. Villagers attended the two hour meeting and showed interest in using the computers. The vice commune chief urged the project staff to take it slowly when explaining technology to his village-mates because of the apparent low-level of understanding. Also, he stressed that most villagers will be more enticed/interested to participate when they are able to see the equipment right in their villages.

3. Baseline survey
After the first project meeting, the research team sat down with the advisors to revise the existing PRA guidelines and baseline questionnaire. Further discussion and revisions of the questionnaire were made through an e-meeting. After the baseline questionnaire was finalized and approved by the advisors, the baseline survey was conducted in Kep on November 2-8. Eight student volunteers from the Maharishi Vedic University in Prey Veng province were sent to Kep as volunteer survey-enumerators. Prior to this, the students received training from Kamchai Mear Pilot Coordinator and Research Coordinator. A total of 45 respondents from the communes of Pong Tuek, Angkaol and Ou Krasar were interviewed using a 10-page questionnaire over the span of three days. Encoding was done in a computer shop in Kampot province. Currently, the data gathered is being analysed with the help of Kamchai Mear Pilot Coordinator and Researcher as the data collected is in Khmer language. Mr. Pin Vannaro, the Team Leader in Kamchai Mear, suggested having training on SPSS for the staff. SPSS is a computer software program used for analysing data. Mr. Vannaro will write a letter-proposal to the Project Manager about the SPSS training.

4. CSD Field visit in Damnak Chang’eur
Two weeks after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and the Center for Social Development (CSD), CSD staff paid a visit to Damnak Chang’eur district. Ms. Seng Theary, the Executive Director of CSD, was joined by her IT staff member Hay Chanthan. They were briefed on the situation in Damnak Chang’eur and after that had an ocular inspection of the target area. During this time, CSD identified potential locations for the internet/computer hubs. The field visit included a meeting with the district Governor. Coincidentally, the group met Brian Unger, iREACH advisor, who was in Kep at that time. Brian decided to join the meeting with the district Governor as well

5. PRA Activity
The PRA guidelines were approved in the last week of November. A PRA testing was done in Kamchai Mear. We reported the result of the PRA testing to Cel and Pam through another e-meeting and together we revised some aspects of the guidelines. The gender component was added only at the last minute as we did not receive the document on time. The PRA activity in Kep was originally scheduled to be done right after the PRA in Kamchai Mear pilot area. However, CSD decided to temporarily halt the activities in Kep. CSD opted to recruit the entire project staff first before proceeding with the activities.

6. Staff recruitment (CSD)
The radio manager, Mr. Hak Sokleap, has been hired and is set to report to work in January 2007. The pilot project coordinator was interviewed late in December and hired in the same period. Mr. Kim Dara, the newly-hired pilot coordinator, will, however, report to work in February, 2007. Other positions, such as Kep Research Coordinator, Local Content Developers and Technician will be filled in later. The Research Manager, on the other hand, decided to go back to Phnom Penh as there are no local activities to be done in Kep at the moment.

7. Site survey with Gateway and Network Solutions
Mr. Huor invited the engineers/technicians from both companies for a site visit to Damnak Chang’eur. Ms. Seng Theary and Mr. Im Sophea of CSD were there too, along with the new iREACH project staff – Mr. Hak Sokleap and Mr. Kim Dara. The group visited the potential sites identified by CSD in its earlier visit. The site visit was aimed for them to study the physical surroundings of the potential sites, assess possible difficulties, etc., and come up with a proposal tailored to our needs.

8. Others – DDD Research
Partial results from the Digital Data Divide’s research were sent to iREACH one month ago. However, we had difficulty in understanding the results, so we requested the research team leader Mr. Men Savornd for clarification. I read through the research report, which is written in English, and its meaning is very unclear. In the previous report that we sent to IDRC, what I wrote there was my interpretation of the original paragraph’s meaning and may or may not represent the intentions of the original author.

This report was cross-posted at the Basecamp so that advisors and other project staff would be able to give feedback on it.

Looking back, I couldn't believe it myself that I was able to accomplish all of these with only myself and Rob as my moto-dop driver in the target area. I realized that my limited stock of Khmer language was enough to tide me over while I am in the community! I noticed that my physical appearance, being similar to the Khmers, made it easier for me to enter the community, talk to the villagers and eventually earn their trust. Although at times I get frustrated at some point, and the frustration is largely due to my inability to understand words that are new to me. Now if only there is a better way to improve my vocabulary...

Staff Introduction - Kamchai Mear Pilot Coordinator

Mr Long Dimanche gained a degree in agriculture for Rural Development in 2002 from Maharishi Vedic University in Cambodia and a Masters degree in Rural Development from the International University. He lectured in MVU on rural and community development, moving to head of the Department of Rural Development in January 2004, and later worked for Centre for Study and Development Agriculture of Cambodia (CEDAC). He joined iREACH in August 2006, where he heads the Pilot Team in Kamchai Mear.

Staff Introduction - Research Manager

Ms Zarah Jane Almeida has a primary degree in Mass Communications from the University of the Philippines Cebu College in 1994, and spent several years working in media organisations as producer and feature writer and in NGOs before moving to Cambodia. There she has worked for NGOs including Swiss Interchurch Aid, the Association of Buddhists for the Environment, and Mlup Baitong, where she was Grants and Radio Advisor since January 2004. She was recruited by iREACH in August 2006, where she is Research Manager, working very closely with the e-community pilots in all aspects of their work.