Sustainable Development

We have found that empowerment and equitable participation of the villagers is key to the success of their sustainable outcomes. Thirty-six percent of Cambodians live below the poverty line, 20% live below the food-poverty-line and cannot meet the minimum food requirements of 2,100 calories per day. Ninety-one percent of those who live below the food poverty line live in rural areas and spend 65% of their total expenditures on food. *World Food Program Executive Board Report June 2007.

Many rural villages in Siem Reap Province had little to no access to international aid prior to Trailblazer Foundation´s arrival. The result was residents of these villages suffered a high rate of disease, illiteracy and other devastating effects of lack of water, sanitation and food. Being the first to go into these villages where there were no other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), is a true definition of "trailblazing".

But our definition of trailblazing goes much deeper. We pursue projects that emphasize basic needs, health and sanitation, education and vocational training, and which use appropriate technologies. In 2011 our team supported vocational training of women by providing 7 sewing machines and 2 weaving looms to the Women's Development Center of Siem Reap.