Cambodia

Cambodia

Located in Southeast Asia bordering Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, with a population of 14 million, Cambodia is a nation that has undergone continuous social and political upheavals in the past 30 years. The genocide in 1970s was the most atrocious event the country has ever experienced, with almost two million people killed and many more brutally tortured. Challenges facing the Cambodian people today include poverty, lack of education, trauma-related psychological problems, and damaged trust between people and the government. Thus, how people survive depends on social networks embedded in cultural and societal structures that are available to them and the way they socially capitalize on them. Another prominent aspect of social networks in Cambodia is the presence of numerous national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Working in both rural and urban areas, these organizations assist in sectors such as health, education, and human rights. With underdeveloped infrastructure and low education levels, rural dwellers usually have difficulty accessing appropriate places such as governmental institutions that could provide help. Thus, some NGOs located in local communities act as networking points where people can seek assistance. Referral services provided by some NGOs connect people from one place to another, depending on their needs.

Eng, S., Zvonkovic, A., Mulsow, M. & Ritchey, E. (2011). College Enrollment Among Cambodian Students: How Did Their Journey Begin?: Journal of Adolescent Research. Retrieved from: http://www.ncfr.org/sites/default/files/downloads/news/2010_Program_Booklet.pdf Accessed on 11th November, 2012.

In this paper, Sothy Eng and colleagues studied the factors for facilitating Cambodian students' university enrollment where most respondents mentioned extended-family networks as being helpful. The report reveals that for some students who live in rural areas and whose parents are farmers, coming to the city to study can be a great challenge because of high expenses and the lack of accommodation. Thus, parents seek accommodation from their relatives in the ...