Differing perceptions of risk and the implications for the delivery of harm prevention programmes in Cambodia

ABSTRACT

In 2005, Cambodia implemented harm prevention as a guiding principle in their National Strategic approach. In this practice-based research, social and community work practitioners at a community-based non-government organisation (NGO) delivered harm prevention workshops to 18 villages in rural Cambodia. Findings indicated that traditional expert understanding of risk did not always match how communities perceived risk. By engaging with the community utilising a Participation Action Research approach, Children’s Future International (CFI) found their expert position shifted to one where the communities became the experts, empowering them to be actively engaged in risk reduction strategies. These findings have implications for community engagement, development and targeting of harm prevention workshops.

KEYWORDS:

• Cambodia
• participatory action research
• harm reduction
• community
• Global South

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lee Henley

Lee Henley was formerly the Executive Director of CFI. He currently manages research and evaluation for Manatū Hauora in Aotearoa while also completing a Ph.D. at Massey University.

Nicky Stanley-Clarke

Nicky Stanley-Clarke Ph.D. is a senior lecturer and registered social worker at Massey University’s School of Social Work. Nicky’s research includes understanding the interaction between the individual and the wider social environment with a particular focus on wellbeing.

Anya Appanna

Anya Appanna is a social worker in the family violence sector in Melbourne, Australia. She completed her Master of Social Work at Griffith University, with her final student placement being in Cambodia at CFI.

Emily Thompson

Emily Thompson graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work and completed her final social work placement at CFI. Emily currently is in Brisbane, Australia and is working in the residential care services sector.

Yary Chhay

Yary Chhay graduated with a Master of Law in 2021 and is now undertaking a Master of Arts in Teaching English at Dewey University. Yary is a senior social worker and technical assistant at CFI.

Solida Kea

Solida Kea is currently undertaking a Master of Develop Studies at the University of Phnom Penh. She was formerly a Senior Social Worker at CFI.