Aid for re-housing
Hygiene and living conditions of some families who were living directly on the rubbish dump were so appalling that we had to plan a programme of re-housing for some of them (now 70 families).
The land we bought is divided into small plots on which very simple houses are built in traditional Cambodian style, in wood and bamboo, on stilts.
By working at the Centre, the families repay a part of the incurred expenses. Thus, they have the opportunity of becoming owners of their houses.
PSE remains owner of the land and takes responsability for sinking wells, if necessary, and the construction of toilets.
Social employments at the Centre
PSE permanently employs around 120 day workers in exchange for the assistance given to their families to face extremely urgent cases or situations which are so difficult that they would compromise the education of the children, who are threatened to be sent to work, sold or even given to prostitution in the case of girls.
These jobs are under contract for a fixed term of 6 months in order to make them accessible to more people and not to create an irreversible dependence of the workers.
This 6 months long return to a professional life often allows these families to regain self confidence and to realize they are able to take on a proper job.
Job opportunities are not missing: builders, cooks, cleaners and maintenance workers, painters, dressmakers, assistants in the nurseries for the little ones...
A sewing workshop employs 40 mothers who make all the uniforms as well as the handicrafts sold in our shop at the Centre and by our volunteers in Europe. During weekends, the mothers are replaced at the workshop by older girls who can then take a little money home, otherwise their families would not let them study.
|
