natural resources

ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF SREY MOM

Produced for The Learning Institute

A face of the next generation in the community, she leads by example.

Set in the  Bak Amrek-Doun En community, Battambang, One day in the life of Srey Mom, portrays the struggles of women in rural Cambodia, how hard they need to work for their livelihoods and how gender awareness and women’s empowerment campaigns are essential to help give them a voice and the opportunities they deserve.

Bak Amrek-Doun En is jost one of the communities that our “Community Fisheries Management and Livelihood Diversification Project”, funded by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), supports.

One of our project goals is to improve the recognition of the role of women and integrate a gender perspective in the development of rural/coastal livelihoods and in community fisheries management.

Srey Mom’s day begins before the crack of dawn. At 3:00AM, she begins cooking meals to sell at the community’s secondary school catering to both the children and staff. With the help of her younger brother, sister and brother-in-law, the meals are transported to the school in a bike cart.

By the time she reaches the school, it is 5:30AM. For the next hour, she will set up her shop and begin to heat the meals in time for her young customers. 

Srey Mom waits until 9:00AM before shutting the stall to head back home after which she concentrates on her work with the community. She is a member of the Community Fishery (CFi) committee working in the role of a cashier, works with the youth groups, is currently working on seeking funding for road repairs  and most prominently, has taken on the role as the chief facilitator for the women’s savings group.

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WITH FUNDING  FROM  SEAFDEC, THE LEARNING INSTITUTE HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT THAT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION IN CAMBODIA SINCE 2013. ONE OF THE KEY PRIORITIES UNDER THE PROJECT IS IMPROVING AND RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF WOMEN WITHIN THIS SETTING.

Throughout this project, The Learning Institute has seen that the role of women in community fisheries is vital. Given the opportunity,  women have excelled in their roles by voicing out the real issues at hand as well as insights on how to solve the problems. The Kampong Samaki CFi (one of three Coastal sites under the project) in Kampot is a fine example of women who have taken on the responsibility and opportunity to work in the mangrove plantations and patrolling duties in the area to help save their natural resources. Joining in with these activities means that they are a part of or have a good chance of becoming a CFi committee member.

This leadership role not only gives them a sense of purpose within the community but also a means of exploring different ways to sustain themselves (livelihoods) rather than becoming dependent solely on fishing.

The Bak Amrek community is another example of a community filled with strong women leaders and that has been the one of the primary reasons why the gender awareness campaign has been a success in the community. To further help the women, The Learning Institute helped revive the community’s saving group.

The savings group provides financial help to women looking to increase their livelihoods, many of whom were willing to venture into small-scale businesses. The savings group provides a form of security; the women needn’t worry about high interest rates that would otherwise be charged by money lenders. This initiative has helped women, young and old, to rely on themselves and take a chance at supporting themselves and their families. 

The savings group is made up of 10 to 15 members with the facilitator, cashier and secretary making up the chief roles in the unit.

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Each member of the group agrees to put in a sum of money without any restrictions (i.e., it can be as low as 500 riel or as high as 200,000+ riel). In regard to who can borrow the money, the members take turns dependent on the urgency at that certain point in time. The sum of money borrowed can either be the whole amount in the savings or a part of it. This borrowed sum is to be paid back within a six-month time frame with the interest rate set at 3%.

If, however, a member is not able to make the full payment within this six-month window, the interest rate is affixed at the 3% and the member doesn’t succumb to an increase or late fine. This is a unanimous decision made by the community. members as each one is aware of the other person’s situation. More notably, they trust each other to pay it back when they can.

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THE SAVINGS GROUP WAS SET UP TO ESSENTIALLY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF HELPING PRIMARILY WOMEN, BUT THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF BOTH MALE AND FEMALE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

As the chief, Srey Mom’s responsibilities include managing the documents and facilitating the group during meetings as well as having to explain the functions of the savings group if the members, new or old, have queries (such as interest rates).

She feels that the group is important and one of the points she raises several times is that because of the savings group, they don’t need to borrow money from businessmen or micro-finance institutions that demand high interest rates. The information provided during the savings group meetings have proven to be insightful as it is shared with the family of the members and in turn, the rest of the community both in terms of money management (how to save and what to save for) as well as decisions regarding loans; that the savings group provides a more secure means of a loan.

Srey Mom is keen for more of the community’s youth to join in the savings group. Because the youth members of the community face a more imminent threat with their livelihood, she feels that it will be beneficial for them in both the near future and the long run.

 

“THE YOUTHS FACE LIVELIHOOD PROBLEM WHICH MAKES THEM WANT TO IMMIGRATE (OUTSIDE TO MAKE MONEY)”

- SREY MOM

 

Srey Mom bridges the gap between the older members and the younger ones. Being able to communicate to both age groups is probably one of the main reasons why she has been so successful in her role as facilitator.

Srey Mom and the rest of the members of the savings group are hopeful about continuing the group even after the Community Fisheries Management and Livelihood Diversification project comes to an end in their community. She says  that trust is an important issue and points out  that the savings group is transparent and free of corruption.

Phal Tavy, 21, is someone who has found the saving group helpful and beneficial. Her livelihood has increased exponentially and aside from farming, her usual means of income, she also has enough financial support to buy and sell fish in the market. Because of her profits, her family’s living situation has also improved. She hopes that the savings group continues to build on this success and progresses for the future. 

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“I CAN SAY THAT MY FAMILY’S LIVING IMPROVED BECAUSE WE DON’T NEED TO BORROW MONEY FROM BUSINESSMEN WHO LEND MONEY WITH HIGH INTEREST RATES”

- PHAL TAVY

The success of the savings group has been due to the experienced male and female members who make up the group and Mrs. Khel Khem, a Community Fishery (CFi) committee member, is one such leader.

THROUGH THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE PROVING TO BE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS.
MRS. KHEM IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITY SETTINGS CAN ACHIEVE

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Mrs. Khem has worked and continues to work with organizations and the welfare of women in her community has been one of her chief causes. She is an active committee member who is not only smart but also knowledgeable about the community and the needs of the people.

It is because of women like Mrs. Khem that Srey Mom is where she is today and undertaking the responsibilities that she has chosen to do not just for herself but for the community. 

Bak Amrek is a community fishery located an hour away from the city of Battambang. Situated along the Sangkae river, the community enjoys a peaceful setting and while fishing is their main occupation and source of income, farming is widely practiced and during the dry season, become wholly dependent on it. A small number of the population also rear livestock and run small businesses, mostly shops selling daily supplies and provisions along with farming goods and fish in the local market.

The women in the community are hardworking and effective and it isn’t uncommon to see women take on roles that would technically be seen as a “man’s job”. 

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Nevertheless, even in such a setting, Srey Mom is not your archetypal woman in rural Cambodia. She is 30, unmarried and is placed with the responsibilities of being the wage earner for her family. When she isn’t lending a helping hand in the community, Srey Mom works is working in the rice fields and fisheries while also taking care of household chores and looking out for the family. Well aware of her responsibilities, her mother is proud of her and continues to be supportive of her daughter in her endeavors. 

Mrs. Khem and Srey Mom are excellent examples of women’s involvement in Community Fisheries. If more Bak Amrek-Doun En women follow in their footsteps they can help promote additional positive outcomes in their community and also lead as an example to the management of other Community Fisheries. 


Interviews conducted for this story were translated from Khmer to English by Kong Phidor


WOMEN IN COMMUNITY FISHERIES

Produced for The Learning Institute. Originally published in the Learning Institute website on August 29, 2017

 
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In 2008, The Learning Institute (then known as CBNRM Learning Institute) issued a study entitled The Roles, Needs and Aspirations of Women in Community Fisheries in Cambodia, using six Community Fisheries (CFi’s) from the Tonle Sap Lake, Mekong River and Coastal regions for the case study. 

The study confirmed the general observations that women’s main role and responsibilities lie in household work and caring for their children while men are in charge of generating an income for the family. But it is worth pointing out that there were shifts in these traditional gender division roles as women were increasingly engaging in activities that contribute towards generating income for the family.

One of the ongoing projects at The Learning Institute, funded by Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), is Strengthening Community Fisheries Management and Livelihood Diversification in Cambodia. It is currently being implemented in the Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampot, Kep, Pursat and Sihanouk provinces and a significant purpose of the project is to improve the recognition of the role of women in order to integrate a gender perspective. 

The activities within the project includes public campaigning and awareness within the community, holding public forums, meetings with the commune and the Fisheries Administration personnel and also restoration of the conservation zone by patrolling and planting mangroves. 

Community Fisheries (CFi's) were introduced in Cambodia in the late 1990s to improve the management of local fisheries and also to ensure local food security [1]. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia (MAFF) 2015/2016 annual report states that there are 561 CFi’s (of which 377 are licensed and recognized by the MAFF) currently functioning in Cambodia, yet they all continue to face similar challenges such as illegal and destructive fishing and fishing methods. 

These Community Fisheries were envisaged as a “community to harvest fish” and not as a cooperative of fish producers. The distinction is important” it was as an institution in which all members of the community – adult men and women and young people – could participate, but the primary focus of the activity was intended to be on the harvesting of fish from the fishery domains created in accordance with the area agreement.


Kurien, J. (2017). Community Fisheries Organizations of Cambodia: Sharing processes, results and lessons learned in the context of the implementation of the SSF guidelines. 58.

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The Kampong Samaki CFi in the Kampot province is one of the seven communities whom The Learning Institute is working with. Although set up in 2006, it wasn’t until 2011 that they were officially registered as a CFi. The Kampong Samaki CFi was created through the collaborative efforts of Kompong Thnot and Kompong Noun villages and it covers 578 hectares of which 528 hectares is a fishing area while the other 50 hectares is a conservation zone. 

There was also a hope that the creation of this CFi would protect the mangrove forests. The hope was that protecting the mangrove forest would create a renewed fishing habitat hence preserving the declining natural resources. About 65% of the Kampong Samaki CFi residents earn their income by fishing while the rest depend on other forms of livelihood like rice farming, crab and shrimp fishing as well as selling fuel and fishing material.  

The Kampong Samaki CFi was established in 2006. Before the establishment of the CFi, private investors had sought access to mangrove and coastal areas for shrimp farming and salt pans. NGO’s and other agencies supported the development of the CFi to protect the mangrove forest and coastal areas from privatization.

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The importance and subject of the role of women in fishing communities and fisheries management is not documented enough but it has been accepted that women are equally involved in every aspect of fisheries-related activities. 

Through The Roles, Needs And Aspirations Of Women In Community Fisheries In Cambodia, the study observed an increasing involvement of women in CFi activities, particularly in savings groups and information dissemination.

Women are visible and prominent in the establishing and managing a saving group because of the traditional norm that financial management is a woman’s responsibility in the household. While this may still be true, it seems that the women in the CFi’s have found other activities to involve themselves in.

Heoun Sarin (51), Khuy Mom (52) and Soun Sokha (41) are three of the many women from the Kampong Samaki CFi who are actively involved in the CFi activities.

While Sarin, Mom and Sokha are all CFi members, Sokha also holds the role of finance and administration. She has worked with the community since its establishment (in 2006) as a member and was voted in as a committee member in 2013.

Sokha has been involved in community activities to help build bridges, community buildings and planting mangroves as well as collecting mangrove seeds.

I do it so that the next generation can see the beautiful natural resources and the community improvements. I do it for them because they can see us in them when we’re no longer there in the future. I do it because my mother used to do the same for me.”.  

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As mothers, the three of them have a collective fear for their children as they do not want them to endure the same hardships as they do. With five children, of which her older two daughters work in a factory in Phnom Penh, Sarin has three younger sons who are still in school and says “I am afraid because I am poor so I do not have ability to support them. What my husband and I can do is to try to work hard for the family. I really want to see them live a better life”.  

Sarin joined as a CFi member five years ago and is very grateful to the community for not only accepting her but also for giving her a home. “I love them and want to help the community” she says earnestly. Originally from Takeo province, Sarin moved to Kampot in 1993, initially living with her sister in law. Her family then moved to work in the salt pans while living in a nearby hut. But working in the salt pans wasn’t a full-time job and life was beginning to get difficult but fortunately for her, the community recognized their struggles and in the pursuit of finding people to take care of the mangrove farms, Sarin and her family were assisted by the community and given housing as well. Besides this, she also sells sea food in the market.  Another collective concern that the three women have is for the sustainability and the development of their community. It was the many cases of land grabbing along he sea that made 52-year-old Mom join the community activities.

“Land grabbing” refers to large-scale land acquisitions, mainly by private investors but also by public investors and agribusiness that buy farmland or lease it on a longer-term basis to produce agricultural commodities. These international investors, as well as the public, semi public or private sellers, often operate in legal grey areas and in a no man’s land between traditional land rights and modern forms of property. In many cases of land grabbing, one could speak of a land reform from above or of the establishment of new colonial relations imposed by the private sector [2].

In the case of the residents of Kampong Nesad Samaki in 2008, it was 72 hectares of mangrove forests said to have been illegally deeded to four local officials. The then Provincial Governor of Kampot, Thach Korn, said the land was being returned to the villagers’ care “as state land” [3].

The mangroves are essential for the benefit of the community, the environment and for marine life and Sarin, Mom and Sokha are all involved in the preservation and conservation of the mangroves by volunteering to help and plant the mangroves (an activity that has been implemented by The Learning Institute for the project). Sarin hopes that their village too will become an ecotourism community like their neighboring CFi (Trapang Sanke eco tourist community). But for changes to take place, there needs to be a cooperative and collaborative effort for which the women seem to be playing a big role these days.


The community chief and other community members always invite us to join when they have any activities. They also mobilize community members to work together. I am interested in these activities and volunteer to do it by myself” said Mom, who along with Sarin, is also part of the patrolling duty that keeps an eye out for illegal fishing activities, another major problem faced by fishing communities. Sarin observes that while both men and women participate similarly, it’s mostly men who are the leaders. “However, when women raise their ideas, men pay attention too” she adds. 

 Sokha has a different approach to gender. It wasn’t just about women working within her community but about girls and women in general. For her, it’s not so much inequality but about security and a cultural mindset.

 

Gender issues (in Cambodia) is being promoted much more and this is leading to more improvements. Nowadays, women can go to school, work and do anything that men do. The challenge is security. It’s not secure enough for girls or women to go out alone”. While talking about the activities in her community, she believes that there should be a continued effort to motivate women to not only raise ideas but participate more during meetings too. 

John Kurien’s 2017 research Community Fisheries Organization of Cambodia shows that the gender and age profile of the Community Fisheries membership were more or less the same across the three regions of his study (Tonle Sap, Mekong and Marine). However, Kurien also adds that the role of the women in the community was singled out by Focus Group Discussions (FGD) for the crucial role they play.

It was only once they (women) formally joined the CFi that their status as “fishers” were recognized thus providing them with a strong voice in CFi decisions. Thereafter, the role of women as a key factor in both conservation efforts and in the negotiating and educating of illegal fishers, was highlighted. 

So, for the success of Community Fisheries in Cambodia, the role of the women cannot be disregarded.  

 


NOTES:

[1] https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/community-fisheries/  
[2] http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/land-grabbing.html 
[3] http://cambodiadaily.com/archives/kampot-returns-mangrove-land-to-villagers

SOURCES:

1. Phone interview with Heoun Sarin, Khuy Mom and Soun Sokha translated from English to Khmer by Ork Sereirath, Kong Phidor and Khun Chanthorn from The Learning Institute.

2. Channyda, C. (2008, June 13). Kampot Returns Mangrove Land To Villagers. Cambodia Daily. Retrieved from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:CSlhVOcPVTQJ:https://www.cambodiadaily.com/ archives/kampot-returns-mangrove-land-to-villagers-58106/&num=1&client=safari&hl=en&strip=1&vwsrc=0  

3. Global Agriculture. Retrieved from: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/land-grabbing.html

4. Kunthear, M. and Chamroeun, C. (2008, July 11). Cautious Kampot Villagers Await Return Of Mangroves. The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved from: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cautious-kampot-villagers-await-returnmangroves 

5. Kurien, J. (2017). Community Fisheries Organizations of Cambodia: Sharing Processes, Results And Lessons Learned In The Context Of The Implementation Of The SSF Guidelines. 58. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/3/ai7206e.pdf

6. Learning Institute neé CBNRM Learning Institute (2008). The Roles, Needs and Aspirations Of Women In Community Fisheries In Cambodia.

7. Open Development (2015, September 07). Community Fisheries. Retrieved from: https:// opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/community-fisheries/ 

8. Penisten J. (2012). Hawaii, The Big Island. 23Retrieved from: https://books.google.com.kh/books?id=zuy6RT0HaNEC&pg=PP8&dq=Kampong+Samaki+fishing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin_NKvxuDVAhVF vbwKHUrNB80Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q&f=false