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GOAL: To provide the Bunong ethnic people of Cambodia with access to education, skills and legal information and to empower them to defend their land rights.
CONTEXT: The forces of globalization, especially private investors from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and even the Middle East, are accelerating pressures on Cambodia, putting enormous pressure on Bunong traditional lands, natural resources, and cultural heritage.. Exacerbating the situation, the Cambodian government permits – even encourages – foreign interests access to Bunong lands for mining, agricultural concessions, hydropower, and other uses.
TARGET GROUP: The Bunong ethnic group of the Mondulkir Province in the remote northeast of Cambodia.
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OUTPUTS AND SUCCESSES
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The centre has become a recognized and neutral location to host meetings and negotiations between Bunong community members and companies holding land concessions.
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The centre also serves as a classroom, providing adult literacy classes in Khmer, as well as English, computing, and related skills training.
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The centre allows representatives from the Bunong community to have greater access to the growing national indigenous networks, and has increased access to relevant lessons and materials.
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Related to these VFC initiatives, a young Bunong woman has recently begun studying for a law degree at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
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