Cambodia has been decimated by war for three decades. Years of
summary executions, terrible privation, and
other appalling conditions have taken their toll on the
Cambodian people, economically, sociologically, and
psychologically. Cambodia’s development needs are massive and
pressing. Jobs, housing, health care, education, and
infrastructure are sorely inadequate. The traditional
solidarity of the village and neighborhood communities, which
make up Cambodian society, has been considerably weakened by the
distrust, cynicism, and the despair wrought by war. The natural
self-reliance of the Cambodian people has been damaged by a
spirit of dependence resulting from various poorly conceived
public and private social programs.
However, the spirit of the Cambodian people has not been
completely destroyed. Cambodian village and neighborhood
communities have proved themselves still capable of working
together to improve their condition. PHIC’s mission is to tap
into this spirit of self-reliance and solidarity to empower subsistence farmers to live a healthier
and more productive live.
