PNKS Facilitates Community Exchange to Strengthen Savings Groups and Development

Kampong Speu, January 29, 2025 – PNKS facilitated a community learning exchange between residents of Chey Saen, Preah Vihear, and Chek Village in Kampong Speu. This visit aimed to enhance knowledge about savings groups and their impact on community development. Chek Village, a former PNKS target area phased out in 2019, has successfully implemented a savings group model that continues to support social cohesion and local development on its own.

The learning exchange provided an opportunity for community members to engage in discussions about self-sufficiency, group management, and strategies for sustainable growth. Participants included representatives from various community groups, local authorities, and members of the PNKS organization. The event also fostered collaboration between PNKS's past and present target areas, promoting peer learning and shared experiences.

The savings group in Chek Village, established in 2011 with PNKS support, has grown into a transparent and community-driven initiative that fosters financial responsibility and local development. Members contribute regularly, with a portion allocated to community projects, and decision-making is conducted collectively to maintain trust. Beyond financial efforts, the group actively supports families in need and works to address local challenges. Their commitment extends to education, with contributions to school infrastructure improvements and partnerships, such as with PNKS to enhance learning conditions.

The exchange visit underscored the importance of shared learning and community-driven initiatives. PNKS’s role in linking past and present communities continues to support sustainable development and resilience-building efforts.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to learn from Chek Village’s experiences, with plans to implement similar strategies in their own communities. The visit not only reinforced community-building efforts but also strengthened relationships between groups working toward sustainable growth and improved livelihoods.