Despite a decade of growth (1994-2004), poverty in Cambodia remains high at 38%. Siem Reap (the province where Trailblazer bases most of its projects) is one of the three poorest provinces of Cambodia with almost half (45%) of its residents considered poor. *World Bank statistics July 2006. Trailblazer Foundation is currently working specifically within Angkor Thom, Prasat Bakong and Puok districts of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. Our work area encompasses a 60 kilometer radius from our work site in Siem Reap City. We practice a sustainable, community-focused style of development, which is a low cost and long-term solution to alleviating poverty and increasing the quality of life in a sustainable manner. Rural villagers, our project beneficiaries, set our agenda by identifying their greatest challenges; water is a typical priority because it allows people to irrigate, bathe and drink. We then provide appropriate technology (locally built, affordable and easily maintained) and training which ensures villagers´ success in the projects and allows Trailblazer to eventually exit the stage.
