Thursday, 20th February 2025, RWC in collaboration with District of Education, Youth and Sport organized the first phase project closure workshop namely “Improving the menstrual health and hygiene management in remoteness schools in Preah Vihear province” at the Rovieng district hall, chaired by H.E. Dr.Soeur Socheata, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Objectives:

(i) To present the progress, key learnings and successes of the project.

(ii) To discuss on the key points, challenges and plans to ensure the sustainability of the project

(iii) To disseminate of 711 of menstrual hygiene kits to 21schools.

21 schools in Rovieng district successfully implemented the girls’ menstruation health and hygiene project
RainWater Cambodia (RWC) has successfully conducted the “Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management” project, which has benefited and supported 21 schools in Rovieng District, Preah Vihear Province, throughout the last year.
The pilot project titled “Improving menstrual health and hygiene management” in schools will run from September 2024 to January 2025. Phonix e.V. funded the initiative through KHA, which helped 21 schools in Rovieng District, Preah Vihear Province, including 16 primary  schools and 5 secondary schools.

Speaking at the project closure workshop, H.E. Dr. Soeur Socheata, Undersecretary of State Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, said that although the period of collaboration between Rainwater Cambodia and the ministry was short, the results of the project clearly demonstrated that all stakeholders worked together to address the most important topic, which is strengthening the effectiveness of reproductive health for children and young women. She added that the government is committed to promoting reproductive health for children and young women as a foundation for their overall development, which needs to start with knowledge, skills and attitudes related to reproductive health, especially for girls who have just started and are menstruating.

“The challenges our young people face in accessing education and comprehensive reproductive health services are complex and multifaceted, cultural misunderstandings, traditional practices which making them to maintain the girls’ menstrual health,” she said.

Pheng Kea, the Executive Director of RainWater Cambodia, focuses on Cambodia’s water and sanitation sectors.
He added that RWC is currently targeting Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear provinces, with two major projects in Preah Vihear province: first, the Stung Sen Basin project, which is being managed in collaboration with the Tonle Sap Authority’s ministry of water resources and meteorology. He added that the final project is related to girls’ menstrual health and hygiene because it contributes to improving the health of the population, particularly children, in response to the national strategy on health promotion through health education, disease prevention, and the provision of essential health services, environmental sanitation, and the provision of clean water to education staff and students in phases.

Caption: H.E. Soeur Socheata, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, attended the project closure workshop on “Improving Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management” in Preah Vihear province:
Credit photo: RainWater Cambodia.