Buddhism for Social Development Action: Collaboration and Community
By Leela Mitra, Communications Intern at GlobeMed
The collaboration between Buddhism for Social Development (BSDA) and GlobeMed at University of Denver has fueled public health and education projects through fundraising and community engagement in Cambodia. Despite the constraints of working remotely, they’ve been able to reimagine their partnership and remain successful.
“Not only do the GlobeMed students learn from me, I learn from them,” says NHE Sophors, BSDA’s Project Manager. “They have new experiences and technologies that they have introduced me to. Having the students builds a nice community in which we organize and learn together. It is a partnership, so students learn from BSDA, and we learn from them.”
BSDA was founded in Cambodia in 2005 to empower and support marginalized groups, like women and children, through social development initiatives focused on health, education, and livelihood promotion. The organization began in response to criticism from villagers around Wat Nokor Bachey temple, west of Kampong Cham City, who felt that local monks preached selflessness and altruistic principles, yet did not practice these values themselves. Unsettled by these complaints, seven monks founded the NGO in hopes to facilitate open communication between religious groups in Cambodia.
Although founded by monks and based in Buddhist philosophy, BSDA is secular, and aims to teach morals and encourage community engagement. Its programs encompass a wide range of issues, including education and occupational training for orphans and vulnerable youth, democracy development, support for people in recovery from drug use, and help for those affected by HIV. These programs exemplify the organization’s dedication to serving the most vulnerable groups and building trust while prioritizing collaboration and integrity.
Sustainable Action Against HIV
Helping those living with HIV has been a priority for BSDA since its founding in 2005. To reduce the impact of disease in the community, BSDA partnered with GlobeMed at the University of Denver. Together, they started a program for people living with HIV, where the community is offered loans to raise and sell chickens, promoting individual enterprise in the Tbong Khmom province in eastern Cambodia.
The initiative is built into the Sustainable Action Against HIV/AIDS in Community (SAHACOM) project, which intends to increase access to medication and education, reduce stigma around the disease, and provide leadership opportunities for people living with HIV within the community.
“100% of the beneficiaries feel that they are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS as well as their family and a large majority [follow their] medication [regimens]. Additionally, 100% of the beneficiaries would like to continue selling chickens. The beneficiaries are invested in wanting to make [their] business successful and interested in strategies for improving business.” — BSDA 2016 Annual Newsletter
BSDA and GlobeMed’s partnership has provided people with HIV a way to improve their chicken raising and selling skills, increase their household incomes, and learn about nutrition and family planning.
Mekong Kampuchea Kids
As part of its continuous efforts to support the education of marginalized youth, BSDA has implemented Mekong Kampuchea Kids (MKK), a vocational training program for students t0 learn professional skills that are relevant in their local economy. The three main areas of work within the program are preparatory school, vocational training, and aftercare assistance.
Students initially attend preparatory classes that cover a range of topics from mathematics to Khmer literature, preparing them with basic education and necessary skills to start an apprenticeship. At their vocational school, students spend 18 months focusing on hospitality, crafting, organic farming, and more, allowing them to grow their own healthy produce.
BSDA provides students with housing and healthcare to ensure they feel safe and supported in their studies. After finishing vocational school, the aftercare program helps students find paid employment, even allowing those who wish to start their own businesses to apply for a small loan. MMK integrates vulnerable children into Cambodia’s education system, brings local community members together to support the youth, and gives young people the ability to participate in the community network.
Despite the many hardships of this past year, BSDA has made the most of its partnerships and community in its ongoing journey towards health equity, gender equality, and access to education.
