2. Community conversations 1.What and why 2.How – a case study from the 2010 community conversation 3.What changes can you expect?

3. 1. What is a community conversation?  when community members come together to untangle their own problems, decide on solutions, and map out a course for action.  an event that draws on a participatory approach of co-learning among facilitators and communities  a process that allows development practitioners and community members to work in beneficial ways

4. Why community conversations?  They encourage confidence and people to speak out  They can generate new thinking and potential solutions  They provide a more enduring plan for social change  They encourage dialogue across difference and thus contribute to social cohesion.

5. How have they been used in the Cambodia?  UNDP – with villagers in relation to HIV/AIDS  KYA – young people from different communes  NRM Groups – community and Government  WB – governance and social accountability  VBNK – dialogues across difference

6. Key components of the process are:  Building Relationships  Identifying & Exploring Concerns  Building Agreements (setting priorities & action planning)  Reviewing and Reflecting

7. Steps in facilitating  Relationship-building  Identification of community concerns  Exploration of community concerns  Decision-making and planning  Action (implementation)  Reflection and review

8. A DECADE OF CHANGE (FROM 2000 TO 2009) ​ 23 rd – 25 th June 2009 2. How

9.  Positive changes in social development since 2000.  Critical issues facing communities today  How can we all address these issues?

12. Positive changes in social development in Cambodia

13. Critical issues

14. Our vision for 2015

16. Summary of outputs Positive changes & the critical Issues in social development in Cambodia during the last decade Internal and External Blocks Vision for the year 2015 How can we work together to overcome the blocks and achieve what we want? What will we do differently?

17. 3. What changes can you expect? What can the community conversation achieve?

18. Community conversations encourage confidence and allow people to speak out. An elderly woman from Stoung district in K Thom had this to say:...I felt that my own knowledge was sufficient compared to the others. This happened when I was in small group discussions, I could answer some questions. And I heard others listening to me and this allowed me to feel valued. The turning point was the new methods of silent drawing in a group to create a picture and the exercise on river of life. The river of life was an entry point for expressing my own history. And a third area was the “Café discussion” where small groups were asked to talk informally to each other about what came to mind. I liked this because I didn’t feel on the spot. VBNK 2010 Impact Assessment Study

19. Youth Community Volunteer Through the conference, I have come to understand more about critical issues that communities are facing and I have thought more about practical solutions, which are concrete and useful for my community. Most importantly, the process helped me to think deeper and to be more critical. This really pushed me hard...it pushed me further than my current thinking level. This has not been easy for me...I now realise that this is an important skill for me to develop more in my life End-of-conference reflection They encourage people to listen and think anew

20. They contribute to social accountability...now I dare to ask commune councillors (CC) about their schedule and agenda of the meetings. I joined the CC monthly meeting very often. I bring information about domestic violence to CCs to put in the CIP. I also volunteer to help CCs to disseminate and educate villagers about domestic violence. I am now gaining recognition from CCs. They often seek my advice and knowledge on women’s issues. I have become a focal person in the commune. VBNK 2010 Impact Assessment

21. They inspire people to action. Young woman As a student in a poor family I never thought that education has any worth for me and my family. When I joined the conference I met a lot of people with both high and low levels of education. I heard different types of conversation made by educated and non educated people. This made me feel that education is important for Cambodian society. I therefore decided to continue my study. I worked hard to convince my family to support me for study and I am now in year 1 of the midwife programme.

22. They contribute to social accountability NGO worker In the session of silent drawing I learned that it is important to read other people’s mind and to understand people’s feeling. I applied this in my meetings with members of community forestry and villagers. In so doing, I can find better ways to communicate with them. Now, they trust me and approach me very often to share and discuss about forestry issues in the community.

23. Action Practice Doing Walking the talk Relationship Emotions Commitment Trust Courage Passion Fear Feelings Because they connect the head, hand and heart HEART HAND HEAD

24. VBNK is not an organisation that gives money to Cambodia, but it brings ideas and we need these ideas to contribute in development of our country. Deputy Governor, H.E. Im Phoansophal (Conference 2008 closing)

25. I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again. Simple, honest, human conversation. Not mediation, negotiation, problem solving, debate, or public meetings. Simple, truthful conversation where we each feel heard, and we each listen well. This is how great changes begin, when people begin talking to each other about their experiences, hopes, and fears. There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about. Margaret J. Wheatley

26. Based in Cambodia, VBNK works with a wide range of civil society, public and private sector organisations to improve the effectiveness and quality of development practice and management in the social development sector. www.vbnk.org Thank you