Contrasts

One of the things that has surprised me about Cambodia is the data that’s available.  A national census every 4 years ensures there is solid statistical information about the population.  I expected scant information at best.  Instead I have access to charts., tables, all sorts of statistical information  to help me complete the water and sanitation funding proposal.  This afternoon I was easily sidetracked analysing this information. 

Cambodia  has a rural population, only 20% live in urban areas.  There are 75 people per square kilometre.  So by Sth-East Asian standards its not too crowded.  The world average is 49 people per kilometre square – where as Asia is 130.  Cambodia’s neighbour Vietnam is much more crowded at 260, and the city nation of Singapore takes the prize at 7.013 people per square kilometre!!

The census data highlights the disparity between urban and rural, male and female.  The average adult literacy rate is 77.6%.  This breaks down to 85% for men, but only 70.9% for women.  Ratanakiri, the province that we are targeting for this funding, has the lowest literacy rate of all Cambodia at 45.9%.  Ethnic minorities are resident in this area exacerbating the problem.  The indigenous people do not speak Khmer – so CAREs focus on bilingual education in  this area is both necessary and practical.  Its pleasing that the government has  replicated this program giving CAREs efforts more scale.

The data also illustrates the extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure in Cambodia.  Only 26.4% of households have electricity as the main source of light, and whilst 44% have motorbikes and 64% bicycles, only 1% of households have internet access.

The most startling insight however is the way workforce participation is quoted.  The statistics report in terms of the “number of  persons over 5 years of age who are working".  5 year old workers! It's hard to get your head around this but here it is officially recognised and on the record

Tonight is Frank’s last night here so we have a lovely night out with Anne-Maree and Tim.  Happy hour at Raffles is very genteel and our dinner at Metro is fabulous.  The beef with red ants does indeed contain red ants – not sure that they were easily distinguished however amongst the lovely pepper and lemongrass flavours!

I fall asleep thinking again about the incredible contrasts in his lovely country.

Enjoying a nice NZ Sauv Blanc @ Metro with Anne-Maree

Frank & Tim.  I am going to miss Frank when he goes home tomorrow :(