Can you introduce yourself and your work as a Programs Officer at Catholic Mission?
Hello, my name is Samai. Previously I worked as a registered pharmacist for most of my life, and in February this year, I joined Catholic Mission as a Programs Officer in the Regional Mission Development Office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I work on community development projects across Asia, including local projects in Cambodia and broader initiatives in countries like Thailand, Myanmar and Mongolia. I visit these places to conduct Monitoring & Evaluation site visits, which involves assessing the projects to determine if they are progressing well and achieving their objectives. I also identify potential issues that could cause complications in the project. Some of these questions revolve around how can we fix things that are not going as planned? Are there any barriers that we need to overcome? While we plan projects step by step at the start of a project, unforeseen disruptions can occur at any time. It’s my role, working together with the broader Catholic Mission team to support the local partners to come up with solutions.
Can you talk a little bit about your personal background?
My hometown is Tahen, Battambang province, I grew up in a Catholic centre there, which was part of our village. Bishop Kike was in charge of the centre. The centre aimed to support the community and young people like me. I lived there for nearly 11 years. The centre supported me in my studies, and when I finished Year 12, I went to Phnom Penh to study pharmacy. I studied for three years to become a pharmacy assistant, then I moved to a clinic on the border with Cambodia and Thailand (Poipet). After that, I returned to Phnom Penh to pursue my bachelor's degree in pharmacy. I worked for a while in the pharmaceutical industry, and then I joined Catholic Mission because I could see the good things they were doing for my community. I am now studying my Master's in Public Health, and I want to use my experience and knowledge to help people. The reason I wanted to work for Catholic Mission is that the centre I lived in was supported by the work Catholic Mission does. It's a way for me to give back, to say, "This has helped me, and today I can do the same to help others."
When you work on a project, how do you ensure it benefits the community from their point of view? How do you build a project to ensure they get the best?
We ensure the project benefits the community by visiting them and spending time talking with them to understand the problems from their perspective, as well as identifying solutions that will be effective and sustainable. Using our Mission Development tools like the Monitoring & Evaluation framework, enables us to refine our processes to better respond to the needs of the communities. We personally visit people around the community, such as the beneficiaries, and ask them directly what benefits they expect from the projects, how these will affect them positively or negatively, and what obstacles or barriers may exist. This enables us to understand the real needs at the grassroots level, and ensure our work is reaching those most in need. Transparency and accountability are key aspects of our work, ensuring funds raised are used appropriately.
Can you give an example of a recent Monitoring & Evaluation you did?
I just returned from Mongolia, where Catholic Mission is supporting three projects in collaboration with Brother Andrew Tran Le Phuong, SDB, and Cardinal Giorgio Marengo. One of the projects is part of the Prefecture, and the other two are under the Salesians in Mongolia. The project with the Prefecture is called the House of Mercy, which we support. We assist with the renovation of buildings to help people facing hardship, such as homelessness, by providing food, first aid, laundry services, and access to hot showers. Br Andrew has even created a safe space with rooms to welcome people who are fleeing from domestic violence, if they wish to come and stay for a short while.
