Puok Alcoholism Project
Puok District, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Just 10km from the world famous Angkor Temples, Puok District is one of twelve districts in Siem Reap Province, in northwestern Cambodia. It comprises mostly of farming communities. Major local industries include agriculture, fishing and silk production.
People
Puok has a population of about 110,000 people (1998 census). Most of them are farmers working the fields to grow rice and vegetables while others work as fisherman at the West Baray, a huge artificial lake constructed in the Angkorian period almost a thousand years ago.
In a typical family, the husband goes out to work in the day while the wife stays at home to look after the children. With changing economic circumstances, many villagers now travel to the booming tourist city of Siem Reap or further afield to neighbouring Thailand over 100km away.