Japan International Volunteer Center Annual Report Fiscal 2008 Annual Report ／ Fiscal 2009 Annual Plan 1 About JVC Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) has various projects such as agricul- ture, water provision, forest preservation/utilization, children's education, peace building, and emergency relief. Cambodia, Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, South Africa, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, North Korea and Sudan are the current fields of our pro- jects. Here in Japan, we are devoting to enlightenment activities toward the fair and just society through advocacy, development education and networking. JVC was founded in 1980 by Japanese volunteers who rushed to Thailand to save displaced people in Indochina. Vision In order for all people on the earth to realize a society where we all can live in har- mony with each other and with nature, 1. JVC supports people in various parts of the world who are struggling to improve their living conditions despite of their hardships socially imposed. 2. JVC works for the creation of new lifestyles and human relations based on the protection and revitalization of the global environment. 2 Cambodia A The objectives and the combination of specific activities Livelihood Improvement through Ecological Agriculture / Technical School Program background Economic indicators have shown that Cambodia has continued sustainable growth. However, the country is dependent on imports from foreign countries for most of the raw materials used in the industrial sector. The kind of economic growth happening has hardly brought advantage for vast majority of the people. Population in rural areas accounts for over 80 % of total population, but their agricultural output reach to only 30 % of GDP and 70 % of domestic income is concentrated within only 20 % of the population. The gap between the rich and the poor tends to grow wider as Cambodia has yet to establish a system to re- distribute wealth equitably. In fact, the manufacturing sector is not yet mature enough to absorb labor from rural areas even though more and more people are moving from rural areas to urban areas as many have lost their prop- erties due to difficulties, which in turn leads to the spread of poverty in urban areas. In order to sever this vicious cycle, it is essential to improve the livelihoods of rural villagers. 1. Community Livelihood Improvement through Ecological Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (CLEAN)– Siem Reap Province – JVC launched the Community Livelihood Im- weeds. About 300 farmers in 10 villages were en- provement through Ecological Agriculture and gaged in nutrition gardening in order to secure a Natural Resource Management (CLEAN) in Chi stable yield of vegetables. In addition, JVC set up Kreang and Sutr Nikom Districts in Siem Reap training for cultivating young plants and 9,495 Province in 2007 for an initial phase of 3 years. young plants were grown. After that, JVC provided Under the CLEAN project, JVC sets up agricultur- tree planting training 13 times, and distributed 7,032 al training to increase production through ecologi- young plants to 238 families in 15 villages upon re- cal agriculture (EA), without chemical fertilizers quest, 1,450 young plants to five elementary schools, and pesticides that are a heavy burden on both and 193 young trees to two villages for their public farmers’ livelihood and the environment. reservoirs. 2008 Annual Report About 1,000 farmers participated in EA training on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The farm- ers successfully increased their yields 2.4 times on average. In fiscal year 2008, JVC also introduced a new method of rice planting involving feeding ducks in paddy fields on a trial to control pests and 3 2009 Annual Plan tree planting for schools and communities. JVC is JVC will not only set up EA training on System of eager to create opportunities to discuss various is- Rice Intensification (SRI), nutrition, home garden- sues in daily lives of farmers, and provide support ing and composting but also go ahead with its pro- for group activities for these farmers upon their re- jects centering on environmental education (EE) and quest. 2. Environmental Education, Trainers’ Resource Center (TRC)】－ Kandal Province JVC is managing a library of documents on sus- versity students, visited the TRC. In CRCs in rural tainable agriculture and the environment for farmers, areas, JVC held seminars for members of the library students and NGO staff, known as the “Trainers’ Re- management committees to reinforce their manage- source Center” (TRC), in Phnom Penh. At the TRC, ment ability. As a result, all CRCs now take respon- we lend out books, posters and audiovisual materials sibility for bookkeeping required in the management free of charge. In addition, JVC is also managing of their libraries. “Community Resource Centers” (CRCs) for farmers and prisoners in rural areas and two prisons. JVC is 2009 Annual Plan also providing environmental education in primary JVC will provide environmental education for 4 schools and the TRC to increase awareness of the primary schools in Sout Nikom District, Siam Reap environment and agriculture among younger genera- Province, in fiscal 2009. Making good use of its ex- tions perience, JVC is willing to have exchanges with 2008 Annual Report teachers, who are in charge of environmental educa- JVC provided environmental education to 694 stu- tion, in the Angk Snuol District, Kandal Province. In dents in five primary schools in Angk Snuol District addition, JVC will not only continue to open the li- in Kandal Province. JVC also held a series of semi- braries of CRCs to university students and NGO nars on the environment and development for uni- staff but also work to foster human resources versity students and young NGO staff at the TRC in through a series of seminars, and develop materials Phnom Penh, in which 34 people participated. The to be used in environmental education and agricul- TRC obtained 172 new books, and now houses tural training. 6,427 books. A total of 674 people, including uni- 3. Santa Piep Technical School (JVC technical school) － Phnom Penh – With a goal to foster young people who will take been providing automotive technical training since responsibility for the future of the country, JVC has 1985. At present, about 120 students are learning auto mechanic and repair work. The school has been financially self-sufficient since 2000, being able to continue free training, employing 37 instructors such as teachers, mechanics and staff members of the school, thanks to the income from the repair workshop affiliated to the technical school. JVC is providing support for students’ living expenses as 4 well as giving counsel to the school on its manage- ment. 2008 Annual Report At the request of Cambodian government, a new workshop and school started in a new site. The in- auguration ceremony was postponed until fiscal year 2009 due to the delay in the transfer of juris- diction over the workshop and school. The school budget including school management expenditure ran into the red because of the suspension of work- shop operations and the decline in the number of customers, but the deficit was covered by funds nical school, JVC will improve services of the from companies using facilities in the former work- workshop affiliated to the school for stabilizing the shop. At present, the school has a total of 150 stu- workshop’s income. The technical school will ac- dents, of whom, 50 of the freshmen and 50 of the cept 100 new students in October and continue to sophomores are exempted from tuition. offer scholarship to a total of 200 students, 100 2009 Annual Plan freshmen and 100 sophomores, as the occasion de- To continue to provide free training in the tech- mands. 5 Vietnam Fo Securing the Harvest in Rural Highland Areas Promotion of Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Soil-outflow Prevention Program background In Vietnam, GDP per capita went up to $1,024 in 2008, but GDP growth rate was only 6.23% due to the glob- al recession. The rural areas in the northern part were hit by a record cold wave from January to February of 2008 and damage to crops and livestock was widespread and serious. Moreover in November, the villagers were not able to harvest vegetables and rice because of torrential rain. Consequently many farmers were forced to sell their livestock and go to work away from home. Under these circumstances, the aid from overseas was mainly for preventing avian flu and HIV/AIDS. The number of organizations and groups providing information and tech- niques necessary for the farmers was limited. In order to improve the situation in the rural highland areas, JVC is promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture and soil-outflow prevention. 1. Promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture and Soil-Outflow Prevention (Tanlac District, Hoabinh Province) In the Tanlac District of Hoabinh Province located villagers did not have any route to sell them. in the northwest of Vietnam, approximately 85% of In this area, there has been depletion of natural the population is engaged in agriculture. Rice, corn resources such as water, wood and soil. Especially and sugarcane are the main products. In Hoabinh soil-outflow caused by decreasing forest is serious. Province, Tanlac District is regarded as a poor area. Loose soil causes landslides and rice fields are often Although the Vietnamese government has been covered with dirt. A decrease in natural resources providing various types of support aiming to increase causes reductions in the yields of rice, and that affects the cash income of villagers, it has been unsuccessful the lives of the villagers. In order to ensure a more so far. The crops introduced by the government were restful life for the villagers, JVC is planting seedlings, unsuitable for the climate of the area and disease and which will be effective in preventing soil-outflow and insects caused widespread damage to the crops.