Three new JICA volunteers will arrive in Cambodia under the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) programme of the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ).
According to a press release of JICA issued on Feb. 9, the three new JOCVs will work in Nursing and Primary Education, and will be sent to Kratie and Kampong Chhnang provinces. They have been studying Khmer language while waiting for dispatch, not only in Cambodia but also in Japan.
At Kratie Provincial Hospital, it continued, the JOCV is going to work with the director and fellow nurses to support the provision of patient-first medical services and improve the infection control to make the hospital cozier and more reliable for the local people.
At primary schools, the JOCVs are going to work in cooperation with the principal and fellow teachers to support students in physical education and music education. These subjects are new in Cambodia. Moreover, JOCVs will provide some workshops for teachers to practice skills and improve instructional method for such subjects.
“This is the beginning of new postings for these enthusiastic volunteers, but it is not restart of JOCV programme after re-opening of socio-economic activities of the county. JOCVs have been continuously working in Cambodia with their Cambodian colleagues and sharing the same struggles during the coronavirus difficulties of 2020-2021,” the press release said.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020, JOCVs were recalled to Japan. However, even while in Japan, the JOCVs continued until the end of their postings to work with their Cambodian friends by providing online support. In December 2020, six JOCVs and then in 2021 five more JOCVs were back in Cambodia. Through online activities, they were able to overcome difficulties together with the Cambodian people and even now some remain in Cambodia and are teaching science experiments, improving hospital environments, and so forth.
“The JOCV programme in Cambodia began in 1965, giving it a history of 57 years and almost 800 volunteers have been dispatched. JOCVs are always with Cambodia and the Cambodian people. Even under the Covid-19 pandemic, JICA continues to work together with the Cambodian people, and together we move forward the development of Cambodia,” underlined JICA.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press
