The Cambodia Health Education Media Service (CHEMS) focuses on disseminating sexual reproductive health information and advice to young people in Cambodia, through interactive mass media broadcasts. CHEMS is an independent Cambodian organzation. Originally founded by Health Unlimited, UK, CHEMS became a locally registered NGO in 2005.
To reinforce key sexual reproductive health messages, CHEMS produces youth-targeted multimedia campaigns using television, radio, newspapers and community theatre. The project also runs outreach activities in advocacy and empowerment skills, aimed directly at community level - to train young people in sexual reproductive health and media skills, as well as to promote quality reproductive health care services and youth reproductive rights.
In 2005 CHEMS opened a regional office in Battambang, in order to have a greater presence in the provinces and have a reach some of the more isolated areas of Cambodia. The Battambang office runs outreach activities including running youth focus groups, who receive reproductive health, advocacy and media production training, as well as provide feedback on CHEMS media programming. The Battambang office also produces a regional version of the radio program, "Especially For You, Young People."
CHEMS also works with partners on projects focusing on wider health related topics such as human trafficking and modern contraceptive methods. CHEMS still enjoys a strong and fruitful relationship with Health Unlimited. We currently employ 26 qualified staff and an expatriate technical and management advisor.
Young People in Cambodia
More than half of Cambodia’s population is under the age of 20. Their health and well-being will play a large part in shaping the country’s future. With rapid social change, poverty, lack of educational opportunities and low access to appropriate information and services, the passage to adulthood is a risky one for Cambodian youth. Like young people all over the world, their adolescence is marked by change, experimentation and peer pressure. But for Cambodian youth, living in a context of poor public health, limited services and the social dislocation that follows war, growing up is a perilous journey.
Traditionally, rural young people in Cambodia are denied access to reproductive health information, while the rate of HIV/AIDS infection continues to be the highest in the region - most recent estimates (2002) are 2.6 percent of the adult population. Unwanted pregnancy can also be life-threatening, with many young women having to resort to unsafe abortion. STDs are a widespread problem and it is expensive and difficult for young people to access appropriate treatment.
Whilst the majority of youth live in generally poor conditions in rural areas, the rate of migratory movement among younger generations is on the increase, particularly with the immense labour requirements of Cambodia's garment and textile factories. CHEMS work targets the tens of thousands of rural young people who are drawn to Phnom Penh to find work, where they have no traditional support network and few of the life skills needed to help them cope with the experiences of urban living. For these young people, the majority of whom are women, the city allows new freedoms but also poses new threats. Furthermore, their knowledge of adolescent reproductive health is generally limited, especially regarding HIV/AIDS.
CHEMS also responds to the needs of other vulnerable groups of young people, including out-of-school youth, youth with low literacy levels, high human trafficking geographical areas, youth with disabilities and young people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Board of Directors
Mr. Berry Schipper
Board Director Business Consultant E-mail: berry@yahoo.com
