By Kristina Novak, Brittany Cordero (Editor) | International Project Assistant
Since 2008, Doorsteps has organized an annual Project Cycle Management training for its members. This training teaches and equips grassroots Khmer leaders to strengthen their knowledge and skills in protecting vulnerable children and adults in their community. This last December, Doorsteps held their annual event in Phnom Pehn, where 46 Alumni members came together to celebrate their accomplishments, share lessons learned and form new partnerships. The event was filled with workshops on management, various networking activities as well as graduate presentations on their current projects.
The presentations at the event highlighted Doorsteps’ training and mentorship program as playing a key role in preparing leaders to start and run programs that are impacting and empowering their communities. As one member stated, “before coming to the training, it seemed like I was working without a plan and strategy. But in the training, they taught us how to set up and prepare our projects. It is important to have consistent goals and expected outcomes for the project.” One of the 2010 PCM graduates, this momeber is working as an HR and Operations Manager with a rehabilitation organization. Another inspirational piece shared at the event was presented by a PCM graduate who runs a prevention project in his local village. This village has a high illiteracy rate and the children often play in the garbage that surrounds their community. This PCM graduate started an education centre that offers training on parenting skills, information on domestic violence, human trafficking and child rights to education to help empower his community.
Many of the graduates expressed strong appreciation for the Doorsteps training and mentorship program for being able to build up their capacity to be influential and have a positive impact in their communities. What was most exciting at the event was the ability to actually measure the change our leaders are making. This change has been documented and measured through an increase in parent knowledge about domestic violence and child trafficking. We have also seen lower dropout rates for teenagers when they continue with employment training and hold a part time job to support their studies; this allows families to stay together because children are not forced to look for employment across the borders. Lastly, we have seen how Doorsteps training has had a positive impact on gender equality and empowerment to Cambodian women. Since its launch in 2008, we have seen an increase in female participants by 50%, bringing the male to female ratio to almost equal. This event showed the major progress and accomplishments we have made together and cannot wait to see the future progress of our many leaders.
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