WORLDMERIT

Impact ReportMay 2019

Foreword

As the lead of the World Merit Impact team, I spent the month of May in the SouthEast Asian country of Cambodia. Having lived in Cambodia for six years, I have a good sense of current a�airs and the most pressing socio-economic and environmental issues there pertaining to the SDGs. Since the thematic focus during the month of May was SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” with many of the targets and indicators especially relevant to Cambodia, I was privy to join in many activities held by local council, World Merit Siem Reap.

What I learned was invaluable, the impact that is taking place is much more powerful that what our current reporting framework allows us to capture. I gained much from facilitating workshops about the usability of the Impact App and received essential feedback that can be used to improve the technology moving forward. Spending several sessions with SDG co-ordinators and supporting in the development and training on-ground was a worthy exercise for me, and I have communicated ideas for enhancing said trainings with World Merit senior management and head of Community Engagement.

Unexpectedly, I encountered a lack of access to technology, which negatively a�ects the logged impact numbers. I held the preconceived assumption that our members would have readily access to internet and smartphones, however this was not the case. Accordingly, not all historical impact created by World Merit Siem Reap has been logged in the app. The most pressing takeaway from the trip was the appetite and passion for making a di�erence displayed by these young people. The amount of sacrifice, consistent e�ort and commitment demonstrated was truly outstanding.

At World Merit, we foster a culture of sharing information and knowledge, which is underpinned by sound monitoring and evaluation. This allows us to identify trends, strengths and weaknesses at all levels on our pathway to delivery. I hope this report reflects the hard work throughout the month of May and we look forward to working throughout June to ensure this level of engagement and passion continues.

Arlene Gormley

“What I learned was invaluable, the impact that is taking place is much more powerful that what our current reporting framework allows us to capture.”

About world merit

World Merit uses the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for raising the awareness, appetite and capacity of young people to take local actions that tackle the most pressing global issues of the 21st Century.

Our roots are entrepreneurial, and we empower our members to deliver the changes they know are essential. Our bespoke World Merit Impact App encourages them to grow connections and to showcase their activity in a way that shares best practice and inspires those around them to take positive civic actions framed by the SDGs. Actions are awarded ‘points’ through a peer review process which in turn earn opportunity and reward.

World Merit Councils are our primary channel for developing and reaching out to global youth o�line and online. Local, National and Global World Merit Councils cover almost every country and other important initiatives include Team2030, a global competition to encourage youth to take action and to form e�ective teams in doing so.

World Merit partnered with the United Nations In 2015, formally adopting the United Nations seventeen Sustainable Development Goals at our core. Today, World Merit is acknowledged by the UN as its primary partner for engaging youth in the delivery of the SDGs and our links with the UN have enabled and reinforced critically important partnerships around the world.

“We have a long term plan for changing the world for the better and hope that you join us in doing so.”

About world merit

50968

MayTotal Impacted

Contents

Organization: Dhairya Cancer Foundation P. 07 - 12

Workshop linking SDG4 and SDG8P. 13 - 18

Tuk Tuk Drivers learning technology P. 19 - 24

Reduce NEETs in the DTCP. 25 - 30

End modern slavery and human tra�ickingP. 31 - 36

June 2019P. 37

1

732

681 13

638

226 10

6296

5288 28

2

11765

2996 45

17546

489 17

1905

236 12

3

574

881 08

10208

3123 21

668

232 12

4

662

1165 09

1708

237 13

1549

131 10

5 5

1726

291 14

1697

91 07

342

96 07

6 6

50968

20206 124

7320

163733

293

331 09

Total World Merit Impacted:

Nepal

7

May 1st

Impact: 348

Organization: Dhairya Cancer Foundation

8

9

IssueDeath from cancer in the world are projected to continue raising, with an estimated 9 million people deaths from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million deaths in 2030. Still in our Nepalese society cancer is taken as the communicable disease, incurable diseases, cancer patients’ are ignored from family as well as from society. According to a study, cancer patients are increasing from 2003 to 2011 and the number has become double in 2011. The number of cancer is becoming a major problem in Nepal. At the same time, mental disorder is increasing in cancer patients day by day in Nepal. 70 percent of cancer-stricken people are su�ering from depression and anxiety.

SDG 3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The majority of Nepal’s people are bound to struggle to a�ord expensive cancer treatment personally in the absence of proper health insurance system. In the same time, cancer patients are su�ering from mental disorder because they lose hope for life. Due to psychological factors: the trauma from being diagnosed, the uncertainty about the future, the grief for his healthy status and changes in body image. Financial factors: the economic challenges due to the extensive cancer treatment. Environmental and Social factors: the changes in the family; and the environmental change when in hospital. Physical/Biological factors: his poor nutrition and possible abnormal balance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Chemotherapy treatments may also contribute to changes in well-being and depression. She learned, got ideas from participates and mentors, present their project’s ideas, visited BBC media, Capgemini and these everything is possible because of World Merit, Merit360 conference. So, a�er coming back from Merit360 program she utilize her knowledge she learned in merit360 and Terisa Tamang established foundation in Nepal, named as Dhairya Cancer Foundation. The aims of this foundation are to care for the Cancer patients’ mental health through peer-support, organizing awareness program of cancer, cancer-related health camps, and informational support for cancer patient.

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Activity Teresa built up a team to organize di�erent program related to health. The first program was the “Youth Awareness Program: Cancer Patients' Mental Health” at British Gurkha College and 180 students, teachers and journalist were present and the aims to organize this program at college because youth is the one to change the world even they would spread the knowledge about mental of cancer in their societies.

Peer Supporting Program for cancer patients and the services will bring together cancer patients and survivors to share their experiences. The sessions were being facilitated by the psychiatrists and such program help patients to reduce their mental pressure.Basic Hygienic Program was done in di�erent government hospitals of Nepal where we distributed personal hygiene products such as Johnson's shampoo, antiseptic soap, toothbrush and paste so on.

Art therapy for children fighting with cancer and the program aims was to reduce healing and pain of children.

OutcomesTill now her foundation impact 1600 people, patients, students, school, colleges, government hospitals. Now, schools, hospitals, colleges want to more program of cancer. British Gurkha College, engaging the cancer’s campaign and students are joining Dhairya Cancer Foundation for volunteer. Cancer patients and survivors are coming openly to share their experience in front of the mass to support other cancer patients through Dhairya Cancer Foundation.

Verification Now public are more active to organize program of cancer. Global Citizenship Those students who are engaging in the Dhairya Cancer Foundation are more active to organize awareness program in their community. Vision for the FutureStill focusing on Cancer Patients' Mental Health is one of the unique concepts in Nepal so my vision for the future is to care for 10,000 cancer patients by 2022 and raise awareness of cancer whole of Nepal within 2025 which helps to reduce 30% of cancer. Empowering cancer patients so that they can earn money for their treatment or medicine.

11

IssueDeath from cancer in the world are projected to continue raising, with an estimated 9 million people deaths from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million deaths in 2030. Still in our Nepalese society cancer is taken as the communicable disease, incurable diseases, cancer patients’ are ignored from family as well as from society. According to a study, cancer patients are increasing from 2003 to 2011 and the number has become double in 2011. The number of cancer is becoming a major problem in Nepal. At the same time, mental disorder is increasing in cancer patients day by day in Nepal. 70 percent of cancer-stricken people are su�ering from depression and anxiety.

SDG 3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The majority of Nepal’s people are bound to struggle to a�ord expensive cancer treatment personally in the absence of proper health insurance system. In the same time, cancer patients are su�ering from mental disorder because they lose hope for life. Due to psychological factors: the trauma from being diagnosed, the uncertainty about the future, the grief for his healthy status and changes in body image. Financial factors: the economic challenges due to the extensive cancer treatment. Environmental and Social factors: the changes in the family; and the environmental change when in hospital. Physical/Biological factors: his poor nutrition and possible abnormal balance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Chemotherapy treatments may also contribute to changes in well-being and depression. She learned, got ideas from participates and mentors, present their project’s ideas, visited BBC media, Capgemini and these everything is possible because of World Merit, Merit360 conference. So, a�er coming back from Merit360 program she utilize her knowledge she learned in merit360 and Terisa Tamang established foundation in Nepal, named as Dhairya Cancer Foundation. The aims of this foundation are to care for the Cancer patients’ mental health through peer-support, organizing awareness program of cancer, cancer-related health camps, and informational support for cancer patient.

12

South Africa

13

May 3rd

Impact: 53

Workshop linking SDG4 and SDG8

14

15

The Issue

One of SDG4’s targets is to increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

In South Africa Youth Unemployment rate sits at 55% which could be attributed to lack of formal education. Many institutions require formal education, and in skills demanding fields, tertiary is even more important, when considering individuals for employment. A large number of South African youth are unable to acquire tertiary education due to a number of issues, one of them being access to information – Information pertaining to study choices and various funding options. According to Statistics South Africa, 51% of youth aged between 18 and 24 years, claimed that they did not have the financial means to pay for their tuition at tertiary level. Access to funding opportunities such as bursaries and scholarships can help address this problem and thus World Merit South Africa took it upon them to provide high school learners with information.

Adding to the lack of access to funding, many young individuals make uninformed career choices and end up studying degrees and diplomas that only not fulfil them, but also not provide them with employment following graduation.

The Activity

The activity was a career talk presented to Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners at Pretoria High School. The aim of the talk was to provide learners with information on engineering and science careers in the water sector; expose them to the real world as we experience it as engineering and science professionals; as well as present on funding opportunities provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation. A presentation which outlined what engineers, scientists and quantity surveyors at the Department of Water and Sanitation do on an average day was shown to learners. A question and answer session ran concurrently with the presentation as the goal was to create an interactive session to maximize our impact.

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The Outcomes

1. Prior to the event, the expectation was that only grade 12 learners would attend, however, learners from lower grades attended which exceeded our expectation. 2. Our aim was to leave learners empowered to make informed decisions regarding their post high school career decisions and from the questions asked at the end of the session, which rose from new-found information, it can concluded that we met our goal of information transferred. 3. It was highlighted by the learners and teachers that the information we provided was of great value and that they would appreciate if we went back to the school and presented to a bigger crowd.

Verification

1. Engagement with learners throughout the talk2. Email of endorsement from school

Global Citizenship

The career talk’s targets were SDG4 and SDG 8. Engagement of learners allowed for information to be conveyed so as award learners the opportunity to make informed career choices. This ultimately mitigates for future unemployment problems that arise due to lack of education or poor career choices.

17

18

19

Cambodia

20

MAY

Impact: 45

Tuk Tuk Drivers learning technology

21

22

The Issue

The most common mode of public transport in Cambodia is the ‘tuk-tuk’, otherwise known as a rickshaw. With over 8,000 tuk-tuks in the city of Siem Reap, the market is saturated and many drivers find themselves unable to earn enough money to support their young families. The government are driving forward a transport infrastructure of public buses and that threatens the tuk-tuk driver’s livelihood further. New technological advances have taken hold in Siem Reap in 2019 in the form of an “Uber” style app, named “PassApp”, where tourists can book rides and pinpoint destinations using smartphones only. While it is a welcome innovation by many tourists, the prerequisite that drivers must speak English, has excluded many of the most financially burdened drivers.

The Activity

On the 4th of May a group of members from World Merit Siem Reap, embarked on a one day awareness campaign about a program of training they were planning for tuk-tuk drivers that were concerned about their economic security because of the new technological advances. The group drove around the city and spoke with many drivers, asking them how they could help them to ‘keep up’ with the new trends of “PassApp”.

The group engaged and enrolled 20 tuk-tuk drivers on a one day course on the 12th of May, covering basic English and navigating a smart phone and the PassApp application. The group also went through the guidelines and tra�ic regulations as led out by PassApp and supported the group to apply for the PassApp driver status.

The Outcomes

The course was e�ective however it was agreed that a longer course would have been much better, however the driver expressed concern that they could not lose out on any more than one day’s earnings. Nevertheless, out of the 20 that were engaged, 17 attended, and 8 went on to become PassApp drivers. These 8 drivers can now avail of a new customer base and market and have learned transferable skills to ensure they do not become unemployed and financially insecure.

23

Verification

The 8 drivers who felt confident enough to become PassApp drivers, registered on the day, at the end of the program. Just like with ‘Uber’, they were instantly at work and jobs started to come through. The team held telephone calls with 7 drivers (one person did not answer) and each of them said they had seen a marked increase in earnings since working with PassApp.

Global Citizenship

This is a key example of how the members of World Merit Siem Reap identified and address an important economic issue and took action. By engaging the drivers, the team were able to support them to achieve higher levels of economic productivity through training in technological upgrading and innovation. By connecting the drivers with an online application like “PassApp” they were instantly connected with a global network of tourists who could access their services using technology. This interconnectedness is the very fabric of global citizenship and the team have shown a keen eye for identifying a niche group and progressing them along the route of global citizenship.

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The Issue

The most common mode of public transport in Cambodia is the ‘tuk-tuk’, otherwise known as a rickshaw. With over 8,000 tuk-tuks in the city of Siem Reap, the market is saturated and many drivers find themselves unable to earn enough money to support their young families. The government are driving forward a transport infrastructure of public buses and that threatens the tuk-tuk driver’s livelihood further. New technological advances have taken hold in Siem Reap in 2019 in the form of an “Uber” style app, named “PassApp”, where tourists can book rides and pinpoint destinations using smartphones only. While it is a welcome innovation by many tourists, the prerequisite that drivers must speak English, has excluded many of the most financially burdened drivers.

The Activity

On the 4th of May a group of members from World Merit Siem Reap, embarked on a one day awareness campaign about a program of training they were planning for tuk-tuk drivers that were concerned about their economic security because of the new technological advances. The group drove around the city and spoke with many drivers, asking them how they could help them to ‘keep up’ with the new trends of “PassApp”.

The group engaged and enrolled 20 tuk-tuk drivers on a one day course on the 12th of May, covering basic English and navigating a smart phone and the PassApp application. The group also went through the guidelines and tra�ic regulations as led out by PassApp and supported the group to apply for the PassApp driver status.

The Outcomes

The course was e�ective however it was agreed that a longer course would have been much better, however the driver expressed concern that they could not lose out on any more than one day’s earnings. Nevertheless, out of the 20 that were engaged, 17 attended, and 8 went on to become PassApp drivers. These 8 drivers can now avail of a new customer base and market and have learned transferable skills to ensure they do not become unemployed and financially insecure.

25

Cambodia

26

MAY 7th - 27th

Impact: 30

Reduce NEETs in the DTC

27

28

The Issue

A significant challenge facing Cambodian youth is a lack of employment opportunities. Those who are employed o�en find themselves working in exploitative conditions, earning less than the minimum wage and without a contract.Approximately half of Cambodian youth are employed in agriculture with 46.8% working for their families (ILO, 2016) earning little more than enough for subsistence. With the rapid growth of the Cambodian tourism industry, there is a significant shortfall of skilled sta� in the hospitality sector.There are just four hospitality training schools in Siem Reap. These schools o�en exclude the most disadvantaged youth by requiring high levels of educational attainment. There is need for a vocational training school that can provide the same opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

The Activity

World Merit Siem Reap have established a local partnership with the Dreams Training Centre, ten month training program designed to deliver vocational training for the hospitality sector. Most of the course is centered around the technical skills required and is delivered by specialists in each area. The role of World Merit Siem Reap is to engage the young people, to keep them motivated and inspired and to teach them so� skills needed to ensure a long and successful career. World Merit Siem Reap will facilitate monthly workshops, each focusing on one particular skill. This month, there were two workshop with the first being an introduction to career development and financial literacy. The second workshop this month focused on leadership skills and there were role play activities in the a�ernoon.

The Outcomes

Over 30 young people who have just embarked on a vocational training course, have been engaged and introduced to the additional skills required to excel in a role in hospitality. In addition, they have engaged with World Merit Siem Reap members and now have an introductory understanding of the SDGs as well basic financial literacy concepts.

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Verification

The Dreams Training Centre program manager gave feedback on the first two workshops and was pleased with how they were delivered. According to the centre manager, the staff are under-resourced and can only deliver the technical skills, so to have World Merit Siem Reap come in voluntarily to deliver workshops, has increased the quality of the program greatly. The sessions with World Merit Siem Reap were “opt- in” so the team were very pleased that 100% of the young people opted in and also gave positive feedback after the second session, commenting that they were looking forward to the next session.

Global Citizenship

Many of the young people on this vocational training program have never le� the local area and have limited knowledge about the world around them. By being employed by the hotel industry, they will encounter guests from all around the world, which will widen their worldview. The developing of so� skills, delivered by World Merit Siem Reap will support the new recruits to have the confidence required to speak with guests and to engage with others outside of their locality, and this global interconnectedness is key to developing as a global citizen. The activities from World Merit Siem Reap, supported by the Dreams Training Centre, is activiely contributing to Target 8.6 “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training”.

30

31

Cambodia

32

MAY 12th

Impact: 35

End modern slavery and human trafficking

33

The Issue

O�en young Cambodian men are lured across the border to Thailand with the promise of huge salaries and great conditions. In reality, Cambodian fishermen in Thailand are o�en paid below the minimum wage, see their payment withheld and face abuses, according to an International Labour Organisation study. Boats operating in the fishing sector, which is dominated by Cambodian migrants, 48 percent of respondents showed two or more indicators of forced labour. Only 29 percent reported no such indicators, which include abusive working conditions, intimidation, retention of identity documents or wage withholding. Wage withholding, notably, increased from 12 percent in 2013 to 24 percent in 2017. Even though there are many reports, like this one from the ILO, many young men living in poverty in Cambodia continue to aspire to work in Thailand on the fishing boats, unaware of the reality that may await them.

The Activity

World Merit Siem Reap worked in partnership with a local NGO to come up with ideas to educate young men about the signs of forced labour and human tra�icking, so that they can better protect their rights. It was decided that the best way to approach this would be to have survivor, from the local area, come and speak with a group about his experience.

The team held a one day event, attended by *Roeun, a 23 year old Cambodian man who had accepted an o�er to work in Thailand when he was 16. Roeun bravely relayed his experience to the group, of how his family had got into some debt and the o�er was put to the struggling family for Roeun to go to Thailand to ‘work o� the debt’. The family was assured Roeun would return within one year, and would be paid a competitive rate in addition to clearing the outstanding family debt.

With no passport or ‘papers’ Roeun was illegally taken across the border where he was met with his grim reality. The fisherman were made to work from 6 in the morning until midnight, they were given very little food and were horribly abused. A�er 2 years, and without one day o�, Roeun became very ill and was feared to die. He managed to escape back to the border Cambodian border, where he was arrested for having illegally crossed to Thailand. Upon seeing how gravely ill Roeun was, the authorities released him and he, thankfully, managed to get to a hospital. Some of the experiences he faced while in Thailand were too harrowing to report.

The day spent with Roeun ended with a Q&A and also the group held an interactive session, detailing ways to spot signs of human tra�icking or modern slavery.

34

The Outcomes

A group of 35 young men, who fit the profile of those deemed vulnerable to human tra�icking (low education and low income), gained a real life insight into the world of human tra�icking. Through a workshop style session at the end of the day, the group wrote on a whiteboard ways they now could identify if they (or someone they knew) may be susceptible to forced labour, and ways to prevent it. Some of the ideas the group came up included:

• Be wary of very attractive work opportunities outside of Cambodia.• Never cross a border for work without a passport or o�icial papers.• Never agree to a loan where you, or an family member ‘work o�’ the debt.• Read employment o�ers and contracts carefully before you sign them. • Never sign anything that is not written in your language or if you are illiterate. • Ensure you leave your address and telephone numbers with family members and friends before you • Travel (these details shall be ascertained before travelling). • Keep a copy of your passport and ID card in a safe place and never give to your employer.• Avoid employment o�ers that come through the internet. • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Verification

At the end of the session, each young person completed a short feedback form where they had the opportunity to rate the activities. Having a survivor speak directly to them was rated as the most important part of the session. All 35 participants responded the experience had been “good” or “very good” and all responded that they would pass on the information to family members.

Global Citizenship

Target 8.7 advocated Global Citizens to “Take immediate and e�ective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human tra�icking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms”. By organising and facilitating this one day event, the team at World Merit Siem Reap successfully contributed to tackling human tra�icking and modern slavery.

*To protect the identity of Roeun and due to the sensitive nature of this workshop, the group decided that photography should be prohibited. Those in the images shown are members of World Merit Siem Reap and supported in the organising of the session.

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JUNE 2019

Saturday, 1st Global Day of Parents

Monday, 3rd World Bicycle Day

Wednesday, 5thWorld Enviroment Day

Saturday, 8thWorld Oceans Day

Friday, 14thWorld Blood Donor Day

Thursday 20thWorld Refugee Day

Tuesday, 25thDay of the Seafarer 2019

Sunday , 23rdInternational Widows’ Day

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WORLDMERIT

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