About Us
Khemara is Cambodia's longest serving local NGO. Khemara strives to educate, protect and empower women and children to improve the quality of their lives.
Our Story
Who we are
Since its inception in 1991 KHEMARA is the first local NGO in Cambodia to work with women and children. We have played a significant role in supporting the advancement of disadvantaged populations and enabling their voices to be heard.
We envision a Cambodian society in which all people, especially the women and children, are empowered to participate in their social development, from the grassroots level to the highest levels in political, public and economic life, as well as in the cultural and social spheres.
KHEMARA is set up by Cambodian people, for Cambodian people.
Why we exist
Whilst the situation in Cambodia is improving, with increases in income and development, there is still much to be done. Approximately 4.5 million people continue to live in 'near poverty', meaning that they are vulnerable to falling back into poverty when exposed to economic and systemic shocks.
In our equitable and people-centered development framework, we promote social and economic empowerment through cross-cutting programs, to create awareness about rights, to ensure development, care and protection, to facilitate access to learning, nutrition, institutional and legislative support for enabling the Cambodian communities, especially women and children to grow and develop to their full potential.
We exist to raise resilient Cambodian communities.
Our Approach
Khemara is a grassroots organisation, working directly with its beneficiaries. With our human rights-based approach for implementing programs across Cambodia, we are able to generate strong and supportive relationships from village through national level, with the aim of delivering improved circumstances for our beneficiaries.
We take a holistic approach to help the most vulnerable people in our target communities. As a grassroots organization, we offer services that best meet the needs of the population, and are able to adapt to any changes in circumstances. Our fundamental understanding of what vulnerable communities need has enabled thousands of women, children, and disadvantaged population to recognise their potential and rights to participate in decision making process.
We also work with government, aligning with the policies they implement, whilst remaining independent and nonaffiliated to any political party.
With our grassroots approach, we succeed in developing community ownership of the programs while enabling beneficiaries with the skills and confidence to bring the program outcomes to fruition, guaranteeing its long-term sustainability.
What we do
Our programs all aim to reach those who are most in need in the community. KHEMARA is a grassroots organization engaging directly with communities. We are working in Phnom Penh and Tboung Khmum with focus on:
- Early Childhood Development
- Child Protection
- Public Health
- Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
- Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities
- Climate Change Resilience and Nutrition
- Emowering Accountability
The single purpose of these programs is to improve the lives of Cambodian women and children, by promoting the capacity, empowerment and wellbeing of communities.
The Team
About Phallany
Phallany was in her late teenage years when the Khmer Rouge took power. After the Khmer Rouge she saw most of the families around her without a “male” head of the household. The women had to step up but with no voice, no education, no employable skills, neither the women nor their children could sustain the vicious cycle of poverty. Seeing this happen over and over again and fed up of hearing lessons from the Chbab Srei and other Khmer proverbs, such as: “Men are gold and women are white clothes”, or “Housework is the work of women”, Phallany decided to join Khemara which was led by the then Minister of women, Mu Sochua. She joined as a Finance Executive in 1991 and has grown with Khemara with the sole purpose of serving the Cambodian community, especially women and children.
Ms. Roeung Sopannha
Provincial Program Manager
Mr. Leng Timkosal
Child Protection Project Officer
Ms. Bun Seyla
Child Care Center Project Officer
Ms. Hang Dariya
Finance Officer
Ms. Phok Bunny
Project Assistant
Mr. Hang Kimchhun
Project Assistant
Board and Governance
H.E. Prak Chanthoeurn
Chair of Board
Mr. Seng Sopheap
Vice Chair of Board
Mr. Sim Chankirroth
Treasurer
Mrs. Ly Rosamy
Board Member
Mrs. Song Kunthea
Board Member
Our Partners
Information Kit
Engagements
Meeting local authorities in Takeo to discuss solutions for farmers to gain sustainable source of food Security and opportunity to earn income by selling surplus vegetable and livestock
At International Children's Day, in province Preah Sihanouk, distributing 100 bicycles to primary and lower secondary girl students most at-risk of leaving school in partnership with Lotus Outreach.
Mother's Day celebration at Naga World: who supported Khemara by offering furniture to 250 single mothers living in Russey Keo and Chroy Changvar.
Khemara works in close collaboration with Tbong Khmum communities to spread knowledge, address high risk behaviors and fight discrimination people living with HIV/AIDS
Network member of
• Network for Early Childhood Care and Development (NECCD)
• Cambodian NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Child
• Cambodia Against Child Trafficking (Cambodia ACTs)
• HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC)
• Gender and Development Network Cambodia
• Child Safe Organisation Committee and Monitoring and Evaluation of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Committee
• Orphans and Vulnerable Children Task force for Kampong Cham Province in 2013
• Working Group for Partnerships in Decentralisation (WGPD)
• The NGO Forum on Cambodia
• Cooperation Committee for Cambodia
• UNESCO’s Education Sector Working Group (ESWG)
• UNICEF’s Violence Against Children(VAC)
• District women and children consultation committee
• Provincial Multi sector working group on violence against women and children
• CEDAW - Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women