It is the 6^th workshop of its kind to be held on 18-20 August 2010 at AFESIP Clinic presided over by Somaly Mam, president of AFESIP Cambodia and SMF and participated by all managers of departments and centers of nearly 40.

Somaly told the meeting about AFESIP past long years’ experiences, the weak and strong points along with lessons learnt from these past years, saying that we are proud being the Khmers. She told the meeting about plan of staff retreat this year and residents’ recreation to Sihanoukville beach as previous year done. She praised staff solidarity, unity and mutual respect in office working environment making AFESIP a significant change. She informed about this year’s celebration of Anti-Human Trafficking Day to be held early December 2010.

Afterwards, following the 3-day set agenda, Mr. Chhoeurth Sao, AFESIP Cambodia Executive Director and CEO orientated the meeting for their 30 minutes’ limited presentation. Among the presenters were managers from investigation, legal, psychology, training, statistics, reintegration, accounting/finance and Admin HR and Communication departments and the 3 centers.

Each department and center presented its past activities, results, lessons learnt, strong and weak points and their future plan of action.

After the 3-day long consultative workshop, AFESIP Cambodia has found how the new strategic plan has surfaced in the next semester and for 2011. More requests for their projects from the participants but finally it depends on the financial availability of the grantors.

It is noticeable that in the morning of the 3^rd day, the representatives from the auditing  firm called PriceWaterHouseCoopers presented about their auditing work with AFESIP and showed why, how the auditing firm doing the control over the organization such as segregation of duties, review of operation, performance, verifications, monitoring and reconciliations.

A large 200-mass gathering on the topic: “A Turning to a Better Future “ was held on 6 August 2010 at the Pasteur Research Institute Auditorium in Phnom Penh by AFESIP Health Department. Its purpose is to gather targeted entertainment workers in the city, with whom AFESIP social workers daily work with, for a friendly talk with AFESIP Cambodia and government high personality officials in order to raise awareness about AFESIP service and to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and STD nationwide especially the EWs target group.

The meeting was presided over by Her Excellency San Arun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, His Excellency Mean Chhi Vun, Director of National Center for HIV/AIDS and Dermatology, Mr. Sopheak Vibol, Social Affairs’s Ministry’ department of children welfare. Also present at the meeting were representatives from Phnom Penh Health and Social Affairs departments, Tuol Kork Health Center, UNIAP, ECPAT Cambodia, HOPE, White Lotus, Marynol, CEDAW, CWPD, CPU, CCPCR, Women’s Network Union (WNU), ARV Users Association (AUA), AFESIP and Somaly Mam Foundation staff, SMF Voices for change team, hundreds of entertainment workers (EWs) and other AFESIP team.

Mr. Sao Chhoeurth, AFESIP Director & CEO told the meeting about AFESIP services and said that it is widely open to the EWs who decide to quit prostitution, changing the behaviors and accept the training at the centers. Dr. Mean Chhi Vun, NCHADS Director reiterated that all the EWs may come for blood test free of charge and it is your privacy, nobody knows you are positive and use ARV medicine free.

HE. San Arun told the meeting about her traumatic past and advised the EWs to struggle in life for a better future, do not leave themselves in the lurch : “ Use AFESIP service and change your life “ she said adding.

A member of SMF Voices for Change expressed her joy of being safe under AFESIP care and now become a staff of Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF). She talked without hesitation about her past traumatic experience and called for the EWs to use AFESIP service if decided to leave prostitution.

In turn, some of the EWs were invited to the floor and talked their will. Most of them said the police have beaten and raped them when arrested and requested for a change.

At the end of the meeting, there were gifts to be distributed to the EWs following the draw from the box ,where there were lots of hundreds of names and codes of those who have so far used to visit AFESIP clinic service.