CORD Asia help our partners carry out their vital mission.

Local Cambodian organisations supported by CORD all face a common and pressing challenge: how to access the funds they desperately need to maintain their important work in empowering communities to protect their rights and their environment, to promote sustainable development and to find peaceful resolutions to conflict.

CORD advisors in Cambodia recently held a series of workshops for local partner leaders, helping them to develop fundraising strategies to generate reliable sources of income.

Entitled “The Secret Life of Donors” the workshops were aimed at enabling partner organisations to manage their relationships with donors more effectively, as well as identifying new donors whose funding priorities match their particular remit.

‘As well as a paucity of funding our partners also lack the knowledge and skills to find funding sources and to describe their project activities in ways which appeal to donors.’ said Noel Matthews, Cord Asia Regional Director. ‘Yet many international donors actually struggle to find quality local organisations with programmes that address their core concerns.’

In this sense, CORD is in a unique position to support the progress of development in Cambodia. By building and maintaining relationships with international donors and supporters on the one hand and with local organisations and grass-roots groups on the other, CORD can bridge the gap and connect the two.

CORD Cambodia Country Director Keng BunChhoeuth said that sometimes partners don’t immediately see how the work they are doing to enable communities to protect their human rights fits into a donor initiative for democratisation.

‘When we work with them to analyse this more closely they see that it’s a very good fit and has strong potential for successful funding,’ he explained.

Cheang Sokha from the Youth Resources Development Programme (YRDP) said he and his colleague had learnt a lot from the workshops and were starting to put some ideas in practice. ‘I really appreciate CORD’s way of working with us, with plenty of motivation, encouragement and openness. It’s led to good relationships and trust between us,’ he added.

Following the workshops, CORD Advisors are using coaching and mentoring sessions to help partners apply their new found knowledge. As BunChhoeuth noted there may be an equally strong need to educate donors about the realities faced by grassroot organisations in Cambodia.

‘Perhaps in the future we may run a workshop for donors that we call, “The Secret Life of Local Organisations”‘ he added.

The Ricoh Arena and Coventry City have twinned the club’s boardroom toilets at the multi-purpose venue with a school toilet block in Burundi.

It is part of the World’s First Toilet Twinning project which is being run by Leamington-based charity CORD to transform the lives of people who have returned to Burundi after their country’s civil war.

A framed photo of School Latrine Block Number Six in Giharo, Rutana Province which will provide sanitation for over 500 children has been placed in the gent’s of the club boardroom.

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, said this was a fun scheme with a serious message.

“This is an idea that is literally saving lives,” he said. “Burundian people are starting to return to their country having sought sanctuary in refugee camps in Tanzania for the last 15 years.

“Land has been desecrated and infrastructure severely damaged and building toilet blocks in schools are part of the rebuilding process.

“This twinning will make a real difference and I would encourage other organisations in the region to get involved.”

Wishes from CORD teams
around the world:

In 2009 CORD employed 900 international, national and refugee staff across the globe in Cambodia, Northern Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Chad and here in the UK.  Building sustainable peace is never easy; CORD’s long term commitment to that goal remains undiminished as we support thousands of people in rebuilding their community after the devastation of war and conflict.

Bechir Adam Daoud Head of CORD’s Literacy Programme Gaga Camp, Chad:

‘My hope for all of us in the Sudanese refugee community is that next year will bring peace to Darfur and that we can start to return home. We need to learn how to develop more and become less reliant on outside help.’

Louise Lloyd Jarvis Programme Manager Gaga Camp, Chad:

‘Fighting alone will not solve the problem in Darfur.  Those people who go to school and get an education are the ones who will solve the problem.  Fighting with guns; that will not solve it, even in a hundred years.’ Hedjewa Adam a rebel soldier with the Sudan Liberation Movement

My wish would be that more people understand this, act upon it and lay down their arms. 
My prayer is that God is raising up 'Peacemakers' here and it is these men and women who lead the community into the next decade, not the ones who hold the guns.'

Kit Lawry Supporter Relations, UK:

'My wish is that people in the developed world realize how important peace is, for all of us.'

James Griffin Security & Logistics Manager, Chad:

'Against the backdrop of all the problems within Chad – and in Darfur where these children have fled from, the amazing thing is that the children in the camps are still children, and maintain that playfulness and innocence which only they can have. May they continue to be my biggest inspiration.

I am extremely lucky to find great people here who I really enjoy working with and trust.  My wish is that this will continue and that the strain of working in Chad will not hinder us growing as a team.'

Serge Ntabikiyoboka Country Director, Burundi:

'Our main wish is to have peace consolidated in the country after the planned elections in 2010. There are real signs of violence at the moment, and the situation may become worse during this period.

Our second wish is to see our programme continuing to expand- and that everyone in the CORD Burundi team enjoys good health.'

Dennis Bailey Country Director, Northern Uganda:

'My wish for 2010 echoes the short prayer said by all members of the African Union as they gather in session:
God bless Africa,
Guard her people,
Guide her leaders and
Grant her peace.'

Angie Archer, Supporter Relations, UK:

‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.’

Kerry Bosworth Finance Director, UK:

'My peace wish is that the current child population in the camps in Chad will celebrate adulthood in their own home country.''