About Us

Bareebo was legally certified as a local community development NGO by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior in September 2009. At that time, its co-founders and current directors, Mr. Kov Bong, a Cambodian citizen and David Emery of the USA, were the only staff. After securing a $45,000 USD donation Bareebo opened its office in rural Banan Village in Battambang Province, Cambodia in January 2010.

Our Theory of Change We believe that positive change begins in the mind, first and foremost. The ideas for change must come from the people that are actually seeking the positive changes in their families and communities. While outside influences can have a role in the change process, the ideas for change must come from within. We believe in asking questions, in listening to answers and ideas, and in sharing our own knowledge and skills to help facilitate the required changes identified by the people we work with. We believe that having patience with the communities, individuals, and institutions we work with is an important development tool, as well as having patience with ourselves, because having human beings as your work focus means that your work is complicated. We believe that when people actively participate in the creation and management of their sustainable water and food systems, they are much more likely to have the desire and the capacity to take the lead in their economic development, because in an agrarian society like Cambodia, resilient water and food production systems are the keys to improved livelihoods.