The Australian Red Cross AVID program has partnered with organizations in Cambodia since 2011, sending 65 volunteers to support health, social inclusion, and civil society initiatives. Key achievements include: improving maternal and child health services at Serei Saophoan Hospital in rural Cambodia which has helped reduce mortality; strengthening the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation's road safety education and advocacy work; and developing the Cambodian Organisation for Children and Development's strategic planning, monitoring, and first social enterprise project. The AVID program aims to improve livelihoods and access to services for vulnerable communities in Cambodia.

1. The Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program is an Australian Government initiative.
This flyer has been developed by Australian Red Cross,
a delivery partner for the AVID program.
Connecting people, changing lives, reaching our region.
Australian Red Cross has sent 65
volunteers to support 32 partner
organisations in Cambodia since 2011.
In Cambodia we have worked with
government, local and international
non-governmental organisations, and
civil society to strengthen:
• Health, increasing access to
quality health services for the poor,
especially maternal and child health
• Social inclusion, enabling people
with disabilities, prisoners and other
vulnerable groups to access services
and participate in their communities
• Civil society, supporting
stronger and more effective
community services
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
AVID PROGRAM:
Achievements
in Cambodia
“We work with the children, with
the family, with the community
and the local authorities. That
is our strategy – but the final
beneficiaries are children.”
Ung Pola, head of the Cambodian Organisation
for Children and Development (COCD)
Australian volunteer Toni Stokes and colleague
Prak Sinet prepare to check the heart rate of
Ly Tevy’s baby as part of her antenatal check up.
Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tiet Ho
“When we have a volunteer it
helps us to reflect on our
current practical to match with
theory standards. We’re proud
to have her.”
Dr Sy Peng Tann, Deputy Hospital Director,
Serei Saophoan Hospital
Australian volunteer Loretta Bellato talks with Seng
Chang, who received a bicycle through a COCD
scholarship. Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tiet Ho
Key achievements
Health
The Australian Red Cross AVID
program partnered with the Serei
Saophoan Hospital, in rural Cambodia,
to reduce maternal and child mortality.
• Two Australian volunteers, both
midwifery specialists, supported
staff to improve their technical
skills and knowledge in maternal
health. The hospital reports that
staff members are now better able
to effectively monitor and refer
difficult cases, which is helping
to reduce maternal and child
mortality.
• Our support has also strengthened
case management, improved
infection control within the
maternity unit, and supported
the hospital to reach out to
stakeholders within Cambodia’s
health sector for support.

2. The Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program is an Australian Government initiative.
This flyer has been developed by Australian Red Cross,
a delivery partner for the AVID program.
Connecting people, changing lives, reaching our region.
Australian Red Cross AVID program
partnered with the Asia Injury Prevention
Foundation (AIP), a leading civil society
voice in Cambodia, to educate people
about the importance of road safety.
• Through our support, AIP now has
stronger organisational fundraising
and advocacy capacity and is
in a better position to receive
new funding from domestic and
international sources for programs
which promote child helmet use,
and ultimately reduce road fatalities.
Thank you
We would like to sincerely thank all
partners, volunteers, DFAT staff in
Cambodia and program stakeholders
for your continued support and hard
work since the beginning of the
program in 2011. A particular thank you
to Cambodian Red Cross for all of their
support of the AVID program.
We have appreciated your strong
commitment to improving livelihoods,
health and access to services for poor
and vulnerable communities.
Strengthening civil society
The Australian Red Cross AVID program
developed a long-term partnership
with the Cambodian Organisation
for Children and Development
(COCD), which aimed to ensure the
sustainability of COCD’s program.
• Australian volunteers supported
COCD to develop a three-year
strategic plan, a monitoring
and evaluation framework,
identify business development
opportunities and develop strategic
business plans. More recently,
they assisted COCD to implement
its first social enterprise initiative,
which will improve community
access to clean water while
ensuring revenue is reinvested into
the organisation’s other programs.
Social inclusion
Road crashes are the leading cause
of death and injury in Cambodia.
They now claim more lives and cause
more disabilities than land mines. The
Australian volunteer Annelies Mertens supported the
Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Cambodia to
raise awareness about its vital mental health services.
She is pictured with TPO clients Buoy Lay Heng and
Chan Sy. Photo: Australian Red Cross/Tiet Ho
“I think with this good
communication TPO will become
recognised by various donors,
customers or partners. With
support from Annelies, TPO can
have the opportunity to attract
more funds, sustain services
for the future and increase our
services to other target areas.”
Meas Lok, Manager, Transcultural
Psychosocial Organisation Cambodia (TPO)
There has been wonderful,
inspirational and innovative work
undertaken by many of you with the
support of Australian volunteers.
We know that there have been
many challenges along the way and
through your good cooperation and
commitment we have succeeded in
overcoming them! We wish you all
great success in advancing your work for
the benefit of the Cambodian people.
We also recognise that all of our
partners and Australian Red Cross AVID
volunteers have jointly achieved great
program outcomes. It was very hard to
select a few examples to demonstrate
our joint success! Please take these
examples as our recognition of your
joint efforts to improve the lives of
vulnerable communities in Cambodia.
Sandra Veloso and Veary Ath
Cambodia Country Team
Australian Red Cross AVID program
Gerard Witham
Regional Manager, Asia
Australian Red Cross AVID program