In 2009, SISHA began a pilot program in collaboration with Village Earth’s Lakeside School to provide legal rights training and life skills to marginalised young people.
Phnom Penh’s Beoung Kok lakeside community is characterised by acute poverty, land grabbing and forced evictions and its young people are at high risk of human trafficking and exploitation. SISHA and Village Earth’s Youth Legal Rights Project aims to reduce their vulnerability, by equipping the students with the knowledge and life skills to protect themselves from exploitation, assert their legal rights confidently and develop a greater appreciation for the rule of law.
The Youth Legal Rights course, officially launched in August 2009, is being offered to young people aged 14 to 22 years old over a period of three months. Originally, the aim was to engage 25-30 target young people but the demand has exceeded expectations with 40 students currently enrolled. Modules include:
- What is Law?
- Main Actors in the Law
- Human Trafficking
- Domestic Violence
- Rape and Sexual Assault
- Labour Rights
- Drug Abuse
- Child rights under International Conventions; and
- Rights in relation to arrest and fair trial
Outstanding students will go on to become Youth Leaders (with SISHA’s support) and dynamically facilitate fun Youth Legal Rights workshops in the community and in regional provinces with other at-risk young people. They will also act as community monitors, actively helping to prevent and report crime and other human rights abuses happening within their own communities to the authorities and relevant non government organisations.
The students’ enthusiasm is overwhelming, with the group proving to be intelligent, eager to learn, and wholehearted about opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Students have been equipped with cards produced by MTV EXIT containing information regarding trafficking and hotline numbers.
The project was showcased globally on the MTV End Exploitation and Trafficking (EXIT) website.
SISHA thanks The Carracher Family for their generosity in funding this project.
About Village Earth
Village Earth is a US-based, international organisation working to empower local communities to take charge of their futures. By working directly with communities to distribute information and provide training, consultation and networking services, Village Earth enables communities to sustainably access and manage the resources needed to achieve their vision for the future.
The Lakeside School, which has been running since June 2008, is one of three schools it runs in Cambodia, offering education, language skills and practical training to around 200 young people.
Students listen attentively to information about domestic violence.
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