|
|
|
|
| Home » Features |
| |
 |
|
FEATURE |
|
| |
| CAMBODIA: Speaking Up and
Speaking Out |
| |
| "People need to communicate," Muny Vansaveth
explains, "I am able to use my position in society to tell
them to be open-hearted and not to exclude people. I ask them
to use compassion, and to look after the children of those infected.
Feature from CHOICES Magazine |
| |
Muny Vansaveth, a Cambodian monk, openly discusses
HIV/AIDS and its impact on the community. |
Norea, Cambodia (CHOICES):
Venerable Muny Vansaveth's orphanage in the province
of Battambang is like no other. The peaceful silence of
this holy place is broken by lively giggles and other
noises of children sporting traditional orphan haircuts:
shaved, save for a tuft at the front and back.
An orphan himself, Muny Vansaveth set up the home to care
for children who had lost parents to AIDS. Since the orphanage
opened in 1992, he has cared for over 300 orphans as well
as 58 adults with HIV/AIDS. Many of these children and
adults were ostracized by their communities, and all have
experienced the dire poverty that pervades this city.
They have been affected by domestic violence, civil war,
genocide and HIV/AIDS. |
|
| |
| Last year, Muny Vansaveth was trained to facilitate
UNDP's Community Conversations programme in his province. The
programme takes its roots in African traditions with communities
meeting to discuss issues of concern and collectively agreeing
on how best to address them. Community Conversations create
a powerful communication space for community members and help
them to identify the real nature of their problems and find
their own solutions. The programme was launched for the first
time in Asia in partnership with the Cambodian National AIDS
Authority and implemented in seven provinces: Sihanoukville,
Pursat, Beantey Manchey, Battambang, Siem Reap, Svay Rieng and
Kampot. |
| |
| "People need to communicate," Muny
Vansaveth explains, "I am able to use my position in society
to tell them to be open-hearted and not to exclude people. I
ask them to use compassion, and to look after the children of
those infected. Most of the time, we just have to explain the
scientific facts about the disease and reassure people that
they won't catch it just by being near those infected. It is
a simple process. |
| |
| "Here in Battambang province, farmers, carpenters,
brothel owners, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and
teenagers come together with Muny Vansaveth every month to openly
discuss the disease and its impact on their community. |
| |
| The monk starts the conversation by telling them
the story of Komsat, who is married with two children. Komsat
migrated to Phnom Penh, where he often frequented karaoke bars.When
Komsat returned to his village, he became very ill and discovered
that he was HIV-positive. "Komsat's story is not just Komsat's.
It is now our story. |
| |
| The feature may not necessarily
reflect the official views or policies of the United Nations
or its agencies. |
| |
| |
| Previous
Features |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
