Community Association for Mobilising Knowledge in Development (CAMKID)

Community Association for Mobilising Knowledge in Development (CAMKID)

The founding members of CAMKID had started theatre teams in March 2004, in cooperation with the Rural Development in Mountainous Areas Program (GoL/GTZ) or RDMA program and the Lao Youth Union, with the support of a theatre skills expert from the GTZ in term of amphetamines, reproductive health and promotion of women’s attendances in non-formal evening classes in village schools.

We took the name CAMID (Community Arts and Media In Development) team in 2005, and undertook an additional project focussed on local knowledge and its potential for income generation, with support from the Canada Fund in Phouviengsai Zone, Pha-oudom District.  This was the beginning of the members formalising themselves as an independent organisation. In August 2006, they changed their name to reflect the new focus in their work on local knowledge to Community Association for Mobilising Knowledge in Development (CAMKID).

CAMKID then became a sub-association of the Rural Research Development Training Centre (RRDTC) or RRDPA in present time, in order to build their capacity.  They signed a memorandum of agreement with RRDTC, on the 9November 2006.  This agreement continues up until the present, during which time CAMKID has implemented projects with the support of the Schmitz Foundation and the German Development Service (2006 to 6/2008) and Oxfam Novib (7/2008 to 6/2012).

The Lao government has now passed of a new decree establishing non-profit associations, or NPA’s (No 115, dated 29th  of April 2009). After running the necessary documents and holding its first AGM, CAMKID is approved as an independent association in Bokeo.

CAMKID objective:

•  Support knowledge and skills to the community on gender, anti-trafficking, child rights protection, Natural resources and environment conservation and promotion of women and children’s health to adapt to the changes happening in the present.
•  Promote cultivation and forest conservation, promotion of livestock and home gardens cultivation to provide food and water for household and for income generation
•  Restoration and conservation of cultural minorities (dresses are colorful and traditional literature)
•  Improve ability of the staff of the association to implement quality activities and services