FUTURE PROJECTS

The goal

Our goal is to become financially self-sufficient, by generating our own income - and to cease to rely on donors.

We believe this will be good for us, and will also provide a good model for other NGOs in Cambodia. As a first step - and a model of what we plan for the future - we established the cassava starch factory in Battambang. This yields us $12,000 per month - money which runs both the Battambang vocational training centre ($10,000) and our Phnom Penh HQ ($2,000).

 

 

 

 

HQ staff upgrades

Before expanding further we need to make sure our foundation is strong. Also, the exacting application and reporting processes our donors demand require high standards of monitoring, probity, transparency and report-writing.

Thus we have recently strengthened our Phnom Penh HQ by hiring a Communications Director, an IT and database expert, and other support staff. We are currently upgrading our computer network and website; as well as providing a higher level of staff training in the English and Thai languages, business communications, and the accountancy skills needed to ensure continued financial discipline.

 

Impending projects

Having thereby 'strengthened the base', in the near future we will seek funding for several new projects, including:

  • A $500,000 to $1 million re-purposing of our Banteay Meanchey vocational training centre (VTC) - which by October 2010 will have trained all the available locals - to take in trainees from neighbouring Siem Reap province.
  • Conversion of our Kratie VTC - which has also now trained almost all the province's landmine victims - into a co-operative for packaging yams and cashews. These will be grown locally, boosting local incomes. The co-op proceeds will provide jobs to graduates' family members as well as our loyal local staff.
  • When we opened our Battambang starch factory in 2007, we created sufficient floorspace and machine slots to double the plant (and thus output and profit). Now that the factory, and the market for our starch, have proved themselves, it is time to put this plan into action. We are working on funding arrangements for this presently, and the plant expansion will hopefully occur in 2010.
  • In accord with our gradual move toward financial self-sustainability, a second cassava factory, in Pailin province, is planned, to replicate the success of the one in Battambang. It will provide secure incomes to thousands of families, and a cashflow to fund a local vocational training centre. This project has the advantage of being modelled on a real-world success, rather than only paper plans.
  • A 'Friends of LOM ORNG ORGANISATION' network, for individuals and corporations to fund (or donate goods in kind to) 'niche' projects, such as the support of trainees' families whilst the breadwinner is training, or cleaning up a stream in a community near a project. These funds will be disbursed on a more ad hoc basis, and usually over shorter timeframes. 'Friends of LOM ORNG ORGANISATION' is being created without donor funding, and will be managed by existing staff, with zero overheads.
  • LOM ORNG ORGANISATION volunteer program. Though LOM ORNG ORGANISATION is run almost entirely by modestly-paid Cambodians, as the organization (and its exposure to the West) increases, slots for volunteers from developed countries are now materialising.

 

LOM ORNG ORGANISATION goes to Laos

Finally, one new project is already underway.

We believe this will be good for us, and will also provide a good model for other NGOs in Cambodia.

Thus at the invitation of the Lao government, and with funding from the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, in late 2009 LOM ORNG ORGANISATION will begin building the first large-scale Laotian vocational training centre for UXO (unexploded ordnance) and landmine survivors, in Savannakhet, southern Laos.

The centre will open in May, 2010, and will give 2,202 war victims from Laos' six southern provinces training in these ten vocations:

  • Horticulture & livestock raising
  • Motorcycle and small engine repair
  • Tailoring
  • Barbering
  • TV repair
  • Electrical appliance repair
  • Ladies' hairdressing & beautician
  • Mobile phone repair & maintenance
  • Commercial cooking 
  • Micro-enterprise management

Courses will last between one and twelve months. There will be a micro-finance scheme to kick-start graduates' businesses where needed.

'Indirect beneficiaries' - victims' families - are estimated at 11,010. Tens of thousands in local communities will also benefit from the region's elevated skill levels, and the buying of new equipment and general spending facilitated by the micro-finance scheme.

The special needs of Lao women will be especially considered: they will get a dormitory well-separated from the men, and a crèche for children.

The project will be partly run by 'counterpart' staff from the Lao government, whom we will train - thus building the country's native training capacity.