China’s Poverty Alleviation Project Transforms Tanorn Village, Cambodia

A poverty alleviation project initiated by China in Tanorn village, Cambodia, has drastically modernized the area since 2021. Residents have gained access to essential services such as clean water and electricity, which has significantly improved their livelihoods. The project highlights China’s role in global poverty reduction and social modernization efforts.

In 2021, a China-supported poverty alleviation initiative commenced in Tanorn village, located in the Bati district of Takeo province, Cambodia. This project has substantially modernized the village, which houses over 600 residents across 130 households, transforming it from an isolated community into a thriving one. Previously characterized by a lack of roads, clean water, electricity, and essential services, the village has undergone remarkable improvements through the efforts funded by the China Foundation for Peace and Development and implemented by Cambodia’s Civil Society Alliance Forum.

Por Sokhim, a 51-year-old villager, shared her family’s experience, indicating that their livelihood significantly improved following the project’s implementation. Before the initiative, her family depended solely on rice farming, but now they operate a grocery store while her husband runs a motorcycle repair shop at home. Sokhim expressed gratitude, noting that the installation of concrete roads, a sewage system, solar power, and access to clean water have significantly enhanced their living standards.

Another resident, Touch Seanghong, 57, remarked on the transformative impact the project has had on the community. He explained that previously, villagers faced numerous obstacles due to poor road conditions that hindered access to markets for selling agricultural products and livestock. With newly paved roads, villagers now travel freely, contributing to their economic stability and growth.

Chea Munyrith, the planning and project director of the Civil Society Alliance Forum, highlighted the project’s significance in improving health, education, and overall living conditions. He noted that each family now resides in newly constructed concrete houses, indicating a shift from low-income to higher-income lifestyles. Munyrith praised China’s role in fostering social modernization in Tanorn, turning it into an exemplary village for poverty alleviation efforts that may inspire similar projects elsewhere.

The China-aided poverty alleviation project has profoundly transformed Tanorn village, Cambodia, enhancing the livelihoods of its residents and providing essential infrastructure. The initiative has not only improved access to markets and services but has also fostered a shift in lifestyle and economic stability for the villagers. As the project exemplifies successful international assistance, it poses a model for poverty alleviation efforts worldwide, illustrating the potential for positive change through collaborative development efforts.

Original Source: www.thestar.com.my