Former OISCA Trainees of Cambodia support for Covid-19 Pandemic

   In cooperation with Phnom Pen Church of Christ, OISCA Cambodia carried out on May 16 and 23, food aid to support 77 local households who are suffering from poverty in livelihood under Corona virus pandemic.

   Since the end of February, the number of people infected by the virus is increasing in Phnom Pen.  The government locked down the city from April 14 through May 5 and restricted movement and activities. Particularly the area seriously infected was designated as red zone, and even after the lockdown, it has been prohibited to go out, hold markets and conduct business activities.

   In the midst of extreme poverty in the lives of people who have lost access to food and income, Mr. Chhourng Sovanna, former OISCA trainee and CFP Manager, started proving food aid. But the activities with the self fund were limited.

   In learning about such efforts, OISCA Nishi-Nippon Training Center solicited donations “for helping former trainees who learned at the Center” and supported Mr. Sovanna’s activity.  In the red zone of Phnom Pen where the movement of people is severely restricted, OISCA Cambodia with the cooperation of government officials, distributed food such as rice and noodles to 77 households.　

The residents who received the relief supplies deeply thanked “the Japanese people who themselves are facing the Corona pandemic and for their kind-heartedness of considering us far away”. They wished the Japanese people would be safe and healthy.  Mr. Sovanna who led the relief activities, expressed appreciation:  “I am very glad to have received support from Nishi-Nippon Training Center where I underwent training.  Thanks to this help, we could deliver the relieve goods to the people who need it and when they need it.”

   Presently the main OISCA activity in Cambodia is Children’s Forest Program (CFP) which is promoted mainly by the former trainees in Japan.  This time the support was made possible through the positive attitude of the former trainees to immediately tackle the local issue in front of them and the help from Japan.