CAMBODIA UPDATE
June 2001
Greetings from Battambang City. I always feel at home here, there is a certain air or spirit that seems a part of my soul, perhaps in a past lifetime...?! The indescribable scent of chumpaa and chanthou flowers, the muddy but constant Sanker River, the delicious mkut and mien fruit, and the warm and honest nature of the rural Cambodian people. Of course, like all other towns, the HIV threat to the thousands of young prostitutes, the street boys sniffing glue, and the depths of dire poverty are all sometimes overwhelming, but as the Khmer say, chumhieng madong, chumhieng madong- one step at a time.
Neang Nuan Woodwork Apprenticeship- Battambang
I have initiated a woodworking apprenticeship that Saboras organization will administrate (named the Neang Nuan Program, after a type of wood). A furniture-maker with a small shop has agreed to take on three poor and orphaned boys (living at the Buddhist temple) for a one year internship, in exchange for some additional tools (I will retain ownership) and a three month salary. He is excited about the growth opportunity for his shop, as he will eventually have three skilled workers to add to his production ability. The shop benefits as orders will increase through Saboras' publicity; the students gain a skill and hopefully a future (and a small salary), and Saboras can claim another self-help program for the indigent, complementing their sewing and cooking classes for troubled young women. We'll start small, and reevaluate in one year, but I am very optimistic, as the students are of course very grateful and eager.
Elizabeth School- O'Cheukram (#18) Village
In Pailin Province, things were a bit more difficult. The
roads are still very bad, the demining efforts seem very slow,
and generally it is still a tough and lawless place. My trusted
moto driver for the first time in three years even felt the
danger, and so I could not spend as much time in O'Cheukram as I
would have liked. Generally, these displaced refugees are doing
much better than before; they have cleared much jungle and are 
planting
papayas, peanuts, and corn. There is less malaria than before, so
I feel confident that the donated mosquito nets and medicine have
made an impact. However, the Elizabeth School has some problems,
as they can only afford one teacher at present, and she just had
a baby. Meeting with the village chief, I donated $200 for more
teacher salary and $50 in school supplies, but I cautioned him
that the village itself must support the school from now on. As
the surrounding plantations mature in another year or two, the
collective wealth will surely be greater. Ultimately, the
solution is to get the Pailin Provincial government behind the
school, and I met again with Mayor Y Chhien's wife, donating
requested soccer equipment; I am hopeful with Saboras' lobbying
help we can keep things going.
The young polio victim girl there was happy to see me and seems well, but it broke my heart to see that the wheelchair I procured for her two years ago is now broken and she cannot leave her hut again. Sometimes the future seems so hopeless for people and there is so little I can do, but with all your help we'll keep trying to move forward.
BUDGET
Revenue .......................................................................$2,000
Expenses
Neang Nuan Project
Elizabeth School
Literacy Project- Rattanak Mondol Prov. (Saboras)..........500
Other
TOTAL EXPENSES.......................................................$2,424
Special Thanks: Diane Sumoski, Harold Hietala & Lucy Stiffler, Debra Schwartz, RN, Charles Kemp, RN, Cambodian-American Assoc. of Dallas, Lisa Mochan, Parkland Health & Hospital Dist., Refugee Services of N. TX, Robert & Elizabeth Rasbridge, Paul Teel, Randy Harris