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Cambodia
Responses were gained through both
group discussion (25 group discussions
involving 177 children), and individual
interviews with 127 children to reduce
the possible bias in group discussions
where one member may dominate.
3. A Community leaders survey was
undertaken with members of the Village
Development Committee in each
location. Twelve committee members are
elected from the community, each with a
designated area of concern such as
education or health for the village. They
form a recognised authority, elect a village
leader from their group, and link with the
next levels of government on matters of
development and order.
Each survey method involved an independent
facilitator, recorder and an observer from the
Cambodian Centre for Advanced Study
working in partnership with World Vision.
The research showed that:
• Children in communities where child rights
or child-led activities were part of the
program showed greater independence
and awareness of options than children
where such activities were not part of the
program.
• Equal access to school for girls is a concept
which receives greater support in areas
where children’s clubs/child rights have
been promoted than in communities where
this has not been the case.
• Children in a village where a club operates
are more likely to identify themselves as
having a role in caring for younger siblings
than where there are no children’s clubs.
• Child rights promotion through clubs
reduces support for the practice of
children working at a young age to
assist family income.
• Children assume increasing leadership in
activities that promote their ownership of
the activity and their independence.
• Children’s belief that they can work
together is significantly encouraged when
they have opportunity to do so with the
support of the community.
• Child-focused activities promote greater
awareness of risks and of the importance of
speaking out about abuse.
• Communities where there are child rights
activities have greater awareness of the
issue of abuse, and some groups had taken
action on problems children face.
• Clubs offer structure for children to
discuss, meet others with similar concerns,
and present their issues to the community.
• The existence of clubs does not stop the
occurrence of child abuse or neglect in a
community, but they are a first stage
towards giving children greater resources
to plan and lobby. The presence of safe
gathering places for children (clubs) also
challenges the existing child protection
concerns.
• Child participation in structured activities
informs and influences community leaders
to give greater attention to issues placing
children at risk.
• Community leaders are more aware of
avenues for local response if there is an
issue of child abuse in their village.
• Child participation promotes an attitude
among community leaders that not only
considers the potential of children but also
expresses concern on barriers they
encounter within the community. This is
significant, as it is inside their area of
control; their focus is more “what can we
do”, whereas in community (D) the
attitude expressed was more externally
focused on what others would do.
• Child participation activities and structure
at village level has (to paraphrase Covey’s 19
terms) increased children’s area of concern,
which is an important step in increasing
their sphere of influence.
• Planned activities give community leaders
greater appreciation of the link between
issues of risk and the law.
19 Covey, S R, The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective People, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1990
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