Gender Development

Many Cambodian women have lower status than men, stay close to home, and due to a lack of mobility have little contact with the outside world. Many also face a double or triple workload, combining income earning with household and family duties. They need management and negotiation skills, along with confidence-building, so they can trust their own judgment and strengths. Other important skills are also required, to give them a greater degree of independence by leading to profitable businesses.

FLD's gender development project, Get Ahead', provides tangible support for young women by teaching practical skills and providing small business training and support.

Get Ahead’ has increased employment prospects for young women who prior to this training had little or no opportunity for education and encouragement. To achieve success in impoverished rural communities, FLD believes that a three-pronged strategy is necessary to:

• provide vocational skills to improve productivity
• initiate access to micro-loans to establish small businesses; using their training to provide a more secure livelihood
• facilitate access to better, more profitable markets for greater returns.

‘Get Ahead’ has recently completed its first three-year cycle in four provinces, and is beginning its second three-year cycle by adding two more provinces. The training programme delivers practical, vocational and networking skills, along with small business training and access to micro-finance. This has enabled many of the trainees to establish their own business enterprises.