Research | EDW: The Cambodian Enterprise Programme

(Post 2/4 about entrepreneurship support programs in Cambodia)

- Aims
EDW's (Enterprice development worldwide) mission is to empower disadvantaged communities to unleash their entrepreneurial potential and create vibrant and economically sustainable enterprise cultures. Enterprise Development Worldwide (EDW) works with communities and organisations around the world. Together they create, adapt and refine holistic enterprise support and business incubation programmes in disadvantaged and developing regions, both urban and rural. EDW also has particular specialist expertise in the field of youth enterprise development.

The main aim of this project is empowering young people in Cambodia to break the cycle of poverty and deprivation.

- Problems to fight against
Many organisations have established schools and orphanages. Attention is now focusing on how to prepare the young people for work once they leave. Some good links have been forged with local businesses and small scale placement schemes have been started. There is an urgent need for vocational and technical training and also support for those young people who wish to run their own businesses. This will enable Cambodians to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the rapid tourism development linked to the Angkor Wat temple sites.

Due to the past problems of conflict, coupled with poverty and a lack of opportunity, many young people are unable to benefit from this economic growth. Despite the rapid development, more than 50% of people in Siem Reap province still live below the poverty line. People from the surrounding villages are drawn to Siem Reap in search of work, and poverty in the rural areas increases as the local communities struggle to cope when the young and able bodied leave, in the hope of work in the hotels or on the construction sites.

Access to education is difficult for many in Cambodia because of the costs. Around 80% of children start primary school, but only around 25% start lower secondary school, and less than 10% complete their secondary education.

- Strategy
EDW has been advising on approaches to be deployed in the development of an enterprise centre and will be training the staff to deliver an enterprise support programme to young people in Siem Reap and the wider community.

Young Cambodians are eager to learn and to better themselves. The new enterprise centre will offer opportunities for the young people of Siem Ream to break the cycle of poverty and become entrepreneurs or enter employment. It is a model that could be replicated throughout Cambodia and in other parts of the developing world.

- Reference
http://www.edworldwide.org/edw-projects/the-cambodia-orphan-fund-enterprise-programme-siem-reap-cambodia/