Project Lokun

CROAP stands for Centre for Research on Optimal Agricultural Practices. It is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to help improve the lives of villagers and farmers within the Pursat Province.

CROAP is headed by Father Hernan Pinilla, and under him and his team of locals. An Agricultural School was set up to help teach young farmers techniques and knowledge essential for achieving a good harvest for each year. Once they graduate, these young men would be able to share their know-how with their own villages. Father Hernan has also set up kindergartens and cultural centers in support of both formal and “not-formal” education. These are aimed to provide young children with a basic education before primary level and allow for a healthy avenue for the kids to spend their days, as well as to sustain the current communities by cultural influences in a country where cities provide more jobs in exchange for one’s roots. Ultimately, CROAP has been devised through community and cultural bonds to help enrich the lives of the poor as they struggle through poverty.

Currently, several houses have been built within the CROAP compound for the Agriculture School, Kindergarten, housing quarters for students and visitors. Father Hernan has been a gracious host to many who would like to experience village life in Cambodia, as well as to lend their expertise and time to assist in the daily work CROAP employs to help the villages. To date, many world travellers have stopped by and helped Father Hernan build his compound, as well spent time teaching the children and interacting with the Agricultural Students and villagers. Several groups have also taken a brief stay with CROAP, one such example being a group from Nanyang Technological University who came in December 2009 to assist in building a new water tank for a village in Pursat.
To know more about CROAP please visit CROAP or email Father Hernan at hernanpinilla@gmail.com.