This Global Village build recognises International Women’s Day, a focal point in the women’s rights movement, which falls on 8 March. In Cambodia, poverty affects women’s health and reduces opportunities for further education, community involvement and leisure. Although the burden of unpaid care and domestic work is one of the biggest obstacles to gender equality in Cambodia, it is seldom addressed by public policies or development efforts.
Join our build in March 2024 and actively contribute to programs that support gender equality to enable and empower women! It’s open to men and women (aged 15 and above), and no building experience is required.
You can learn more about the International Women’s Day Global Village Build
via this link.
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Cambodia is a vibrant country with a rich and tragic history. From the ancient wonders of the Khmer Empire to the modern horrors of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia has much to explore and learn.
Although the scars of Cambodia’s past are still healing, the resilience and optimism of the Khmer spirit remain strong, and Cambodia has made significant economic progress in the last two decades. However, Cambodia remains one of the poorest nations in the world, and inequality remains a reality of life. Around 18 per cent of the population and 36 per cent of young people live below the poverty line, and their access to basic facilities is challenging. Many people live on less than a dollar a day, and their housing is rudimentary at best, with dirt floors and fragile structures that often do not survive severe weather.
In the country’s second-largest urban area of Siem Reap, rapid growth has increased poverty and the lack of social assistance, secure land, appropriate housing, and urban infrastructure results in precarious housing conditions for residents. The impacts of inadequate housing take their toll. Families suffer health problems through a lack of secure housing, sleeping arrangements, and poor sanitation, and children often do not attend school.
Habitat for Humanity Australia works closely with future homeowners to improve access to safe, affordable housing. Through their hard work, Global Village volunteers help make the dream of safe and decent housing a reality for these vulnerable families, including those living with illnesses, child-headed households and older adults. Volunteers work shoulder to shoulder with the partner families over a week to build new homes and brighter futures.
Through shelter, we empower.
