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THE CAMBODIAN KIDS FOUNDATION
Cambodian Kids is an Australian based not for profit organization that was founded in 2006 in the local town of Woodend. It began when Woodend locals, Donna and Sam Cooper visited Cambodia only to be shocked and heart-broken by the vulnerability of the country's people, and the poverty and coruption they have been subjected to. What started out as a small fundraising drive to raise money for the at risk children of Cambodia soon grew into an even larger project until finally with the support of many local people it became what it is today, The Cambodian Kids Foundation.
Now the Cambodian Kids Foundation focuses greatly on working at a ground roots level, with 100% of the funds raised going directly to a great cause. Cambodian Kids strives to provide support to the children, families and communities of Cambodia and surrounding regions. Support aimed at giving a hand up instead of a hand out.
Photos by J.Cooper
UPDATES
TEN KIDS IN TEN DAYS (TKITD)
Imagine living a day as a young Cambodian child. Seeing first hand the poverty, violence, corruption and experiencing it as though you were walking in their shoes.
Cambodian Kids latest project will allow us to do exactly that. See the world through their eyes.
10 Kids in 10 Days is a photographic exhibition, showcasing the works of 10 Cambodian students, aged 15-22.
The students hail from three areas of Phnom Penh. The Building Block, next door to the recently demolished home of many families, Dey Krahorm (See our projects). The Building, infamously known for its drug and prostitution scene, also houses hundreds of families and children and is the next site in line for Relocation. Two students from Aziza, in The Building, have participated.
Lakeside, a slum community on the banks of the Boeng Kak Lake. Corrupt corporate trading, has led to the sale of the lake for a major development scheme. This will involve, filling the lake in, and flooding thousands of homes. Four students from Lakeside School have participated from this area.
Relocation Site, this is the new Home to the evicted families of the Dey Krahorm tragedy. A recent bout of scabies and worms has hit this area, affecting many of the inhabitants of this area. Four students from the Relocation Site have joined our project.
The exhibition, will feature the photos from the students, based on their own chosen topics, as well as accompanying translated stories, explaining the topic.
It will open in October, but dates and venue is TBA.
To the right are some of the pictures taken by the young Khmers that will be showcased in the exhibition.
WOODEND WOMEN WUNNING UPDATE
CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU WWW TEAM
The WWW team who ran for The Cambodian Kids Foundation in the 2009 Run Melbourne Run event managed to raise a massive $2690 for the foundation.
The foundation is extremely grateful and would like to give a huge thank you to the team and all who supported them and donated.
100% of the donation will go toward helping the people of Cambodia and our newest projects.
THANK YOU! (:
WOODEND WOMEN WUNNING
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR RUNNING TEAM IN THE RUN MELBOURNE FUNDRAISER WHOM ARE RUNNING TO SUPPORT AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CAMBODIAN KIDS FOUNDATION
http://www.everydayhero.com.au/cambodiankidsfoundation
WOODEND WOMEN WUNNING ( AND WICHARD)
Written by Karen Basa
Woodend Women Wunning (and Wichard!) - picture as proof! ran in Run 4 Kids for Childrens Hospital. This time there are more of us and we are "Running for Cambodian Kids". The Cooper family and their team spend much time, energy and money both from Australia and many trips to Cambodia doing great work with the kids over there.
We are hoping to raise bundles of cash to hand over to them to continue this work. Such a small amount of money for us, goes such amazing distances over there. So, Brian from Woodend Health and Fitness is getting us all into tip top shape and we are looking forward to the challenge. Any donations will be very much appreciated and put directly to use for the cause. Many thanks!!
CKF OPENS ATTITUDE CENTRE FOR EDUCATION
Its been only a few months since we started the Attitude Centre for Education. We have done so many things, such as setting up the centre, conducting five workshops both in Phnom Penh and the provinces for 248 people who come from different walks of life.
Through our outreach program, we have helped Aziza school, Village Earth and Dey Krahorm after the evictions. Our scholarship program supports poor students who dream to attend university but cant afford it. There is a school program in Kanpong Thom province that we plan to build 3 classrooms, and another amazing project called Attitude Centre for Education that we just set up with the volunteers and staff in February 2009.
The facility suits our projects well and has seven rooms, along with a kitchen downstairs, a meeting room, one training classroom that should fit 35 students, and another big hall on the last floor for the dormitory and sport activities.
The Cambodian Kids Foundation has always wanted one thing, to make a difference in the lives of the Cambodian people. In particular, to empower the younger generation to become well rounded individuals who show compassion and strong leadership. This is why the foundation made the decision to open the Attitude Centre for Education.
The Attitude Centre for Education (ACE), is an institution which focuses on people's attitude towards each other, and their outlook on life. We equip them with the mental skills required to become successful leaders.
ACE provides a range of different courses at the centre, including: Leadership courses, Conflict resolution, Mental Health, Job seeking and Life skills.
With the knowledge obtained from these courses, students can not only became leaders in their community, but pass their skill on to others and create a better Cambodian future.
These courses are open to any organization, school or community group. They are run for groups of any size, ranging from 20-145 students. We run courses on site, in our new building and also travel to isolated rural communities.
As well as the ACE course, the centre offers accommodation for university students in Phnom Penh. These students come from the provinces, but are without sufficient funds to support their study. The ACE students, who live in the centre dormitories, are given a leadership training scholarship and receive free accommodation.
Future plans will involve university scholarships also. CKF currently supports 4 students on full scholarships and are able to accommodate 20 students in our dormitory project. We plan to expand ourselves, and with your support we will be able to.
A SPECIAL GIFT FOR CAMBODIAN KIDS
Recently the Cambodian Kids Foundation was given a gift of 1 acre of land in order to build a new and very much needed school. Obtaining land is always a difficulty for NGOs in Cambodia as land can only be purchased by a Khmer (Cambodian).
CKF has plans to build a 3 room school house that will teach English languages, Khmer languages, Leadership, Conflict resolution, Job seeking, Art, Hygiene procedures, Sports, Computer classes, environmental education and an after house womens group, where women can discus important issues.
Through the school CKF aims to improve the education of both the children and adults living in the surrounding villages, to empower women and children to become agents of positive social change and to improve the sanitation and basic health particularly of the children.
The proposed school site is located in Thnal Bek village, Trapaing Russey commune, which is 160km from Phnom Penh. The school will accommodate students and women from 3479 families in the 20 different villages within the commune.
From 3479 families only 962 children are able to afford school, our program hopes to facilitate a further 150 children within the first year of operation. Normally a child living in the Trapaing Russey commune would go to school for half a day if lucky and the rest of the time would be spent helping their parents to do the farm work.
When the children are older due to having a limited education they too become poor farmers or move to Phnom Penh to work as laborers or in garment factories.
The area currently has limited services to meet the needs of the villagers. CKF initiated this project due to both the need and local demand to improve educational opportunities, as well as the health and sanitation situation within the community.
DEY KRAHOLM EVICTIONS- 24th Jan 2009
There are many things in the soon to be demolished Dey Krahorm, that will not be missed by me. The thick black smoke of a flaming rubbish (probably human waste too) pile. The 24hr faux-love services available just out the front door, thugs with drugs and accompanying junkies and of course the newly acquired rat infestation. All of these, the world could go without. However one thing, or rather a collection of 120 things, exists in Dey Krahorm that don't deserve to be flattened. Their name is AZIZA.
A Phnom Penh development company, 7NG, has made plans to demolish everything inside this area and construct a new apartment and shopping complex.
The inhabitants of the land are given a choice of: Meager monetary compensation or equally meager real estate, 26 kilometres out of the city. Likely locations include: middle of paddock, side of road or bottom of ditch. Staying is not one of the options. Should a dweller take too long to decide or refuse to sell, armed breakers will come in and bring it to the ground while they watch.
Negotiations are currently being made between the company and the residents, to up the compensation to a fair amount. The current value of each house is $20,000 USD. But residents believe they deserve as much as $60,000 USD. When there is 1,400 homes in this area it does not seem like a lot of money for the company to fork out. Not so much when you consider the company will be reselling to other developers for many, many times this amount. Also consider the daily profit of a luxury high-rise apartment complex or a shopping mall.
I attended a community meeting come Braveheart pep-talk addressing the situation and advising the people on what to do when the breakers come for them. Suggestions were made to be strong but non-violent, stand your ground, and defend your rights.
Just when I was ready to hurl my long sword and cry FREEDOM, it hit me, this is it for the people of Dey Krahorm
Since we first joined Aziza in 2007, there had always been rumours of one day maybe being forced out. But this is really it. They are planning for when their house gets knocked down, notif. All they can do is hope like hell that the little money they do get will be enough for them to survive.
The Aziza school itself is inside a building backing onto the eviction site, a location thats safe from development for a good year at least. But many of the students are soon to be relocated, spread across the city. For most students, travelling to Aziza every night will be an impossible task.
So what will become of the great future leaders from Aziza? Although we can be sure that each and every one already has the ability to become highly successful without our help, Aziza still has more to teach them.
Fear not, for we are on the look-out for new locations for Aziza, somewhere all the students can still attend. Somewhere safe from the injustice of the development scrooges. Somewhere where the students can continue to become great, as we know they will.
Photo by J.Cooper
CKF TEAM
DONNA COOPER
CO-FOUNDER and COUNTRY DIRECTOR
"It's not what you have in this world, but what you give back to it that counts."
Donna's gift to the foundation is her boundless enthusiasm and commitment that she possesses. You cannot help but to be inspired and excited when talking to Donna about the foundation. Her eyes light up when she speaks of the children, people and communities of Cambodia and the projects her and the foundation are involved in.
Donna is 41 years old and is a resident of Woodend, a small yet big-hearted country town in Victoria, Australia. A mother of three teenagers, Donna has always been passionately involved with supporting youth and the underprivileged and has always been one to believe that 'It's not what you have in this world, but what you give back to it that counts'.
A role model to her children and peers alike, Donna decided that the successfulness of her business was a sign that it was time for her to start giving back to the world. Having no idea what to expect, Donna jet set across the globe to Cambodia only to be heart broken by the devastating poverty and the drastic effects that war had placed over this potentially beautiful country.
Donna was drawn to the country not by the temples, historical sites or beautiful landscape, but by the people and their will to live life to the full despite the horrible situations many of them may be in. It became obvious when Donna returned that she had left her heart in Cambodia and that it would now become a part of not only hers, but her whole family's lives.
Donna began fundraising for assorted foundations but decided that the best and most sure way that the people of Cambodia would receive aid was if she did it herself. With her daughter Sam, they began the Cambodian Kids Foundation in early May 2007 and have not looked back ever since.
After many trips to Cambodia, several projects have been established with many more coming up in the near future. "We have the potential to do really amazing things!" is Donna's outlook on the foundation. With every trip to Cambodia, the entire CKF board (Donna especially) gets excited, for the projects that are soon to be established.
The foundation is a huge part of Donna's life and it's hard for her to stop talking about it once she begins. Donna takes every opportunity to promote the vision and needs of the foundation, and many people find it easy to connect with her enthusiasm and passion. If you are lucky enough to meet Donna one day, you may very well find yourself inspired to get involved with the Cambodian Kids Foundation.
SAING SOKCHEA
KHMER COUNTRY DIRECTOR
"Opening the ATTITUDE Centre for Education is a dream come true"
Saing Sokchea, is our country director for CKF and the leader of our new ACE centre.
Sokchea was born into a poor rural village, Kom Pong Tom. He has always been one to believe in hard work and dedication, especially towards his studies as a student. As the best student in his village, he was sent to the City, to study at university. It was at university that he obtained a masters degree in Law, and spent four years in a leadership training dormitory.
He has been awarded several scholarships to education forums around the world, including Australia, Singapore and USA. Each forum, Sokchea learns something new to bring back to his country and teach to the young Khmers. He had been working as an English and Leadership teacher for the last few years, before finding and joining The Cambodian Kids Foundation.
Sokcheas dream had always been tp open a leadership centre, and now with the assistance of CKF this dream has finally come true. He is very excited about the ACE and all the projects which are to follow.
JUDITH REEVES
PRESIDENT
COMING SOON...
SAM COOPER
VICE PRESIDENT and
CO-FOUNDER
After reading about Cambodias history and hearing many of her friends accounts of the country, Sam felt a strong urge and desire to travel there and do anything she could to help. In June 2006 Sam made her first trip to Cambodia alongside her mother, Donna, and was shocked by the corruption and the drastic effects that war seemed to have over the country and its people. Driven by her love for the people of Cambodia and the country itself, Sam knew she had to do something to make a difference. Whilst working on smalls projects in Cambodia which were continuing to grow, it soon became clear to Sam and Donna there was a need for help on a much larger scale. This led to the beginning of what we now know as the Cambodian Kids Foundation.
Sam has a great love for the people of Cambodia, she is constantly amazed by their will to succeed and move forward in life. Sam strongly believes that no matter how hard or how big a challenge is, it can and will be done; with the helping hands of the foundation, the fighting spirit of the people of Cambodia and the generosity of the people of Australia.
Sam is currently studying nursing at University and hopes to one day utilise the skills she learns to help the people of Cambodia.
JACK COOPER
"Settling for good enough doesn't seem to be an option for these kids. Instead they have great dreams, hopes and ambitions "
Jack's awakening to worldly issues began at the tender age of twelve when he was selected to attend an exchange program in India. It has been through his travels and experience with different people and cultures that he now feels compelled to make a difference to those less fortunate.
Jack now seventeen lives in the small, yet big-hearted country home town of Woodend and is currently enrolled in Year 11 at Mowbray College, after being accepted into the schools scholarship program.
Jack's involvement in the Cambodian Kids Foundation began shortly after his mother, Donna, and older sister,Sam, returned from overseas. Finally in 2007, after hearing enough stories and experiences of Cambodia from his fellow board members, Jack decided to go experience Cambodia for himself. Like most people that come into contact with the country and its people, Jack felt inspired to help out after his first hand witness of the horrors of poverty and disease he saw whilst in the country's capital of Phnom Penh.
Jack is now taking a more hands-on position within CKF and has now been appointed the photographer of CKF. On one of Jack's many trips to Cambodia he taught English at the AZIZA school, developing close friendships with the students.
ANNE PETERSON
TREASURER
EMILY SIEGERT
SECRETARY
"Imagine what can be achieved when people work together."
Although Emily is one of the newest editions to the Cambodian Kids Foundation, her passion and hardwork has already seen many projects begin, and a lot of funds being raised.
Emily says that she "was inspired by donnas spirit for Cambodia. Donna lives for this foundation and is a very determined woman. I believe you get out what you put in and if you work hard for something, you achieve it. Imagine what can be achieved when people work together."
Emily truly believes that the Cambodian kids foundation will influence incredible positive changes within the country of Cambodia, and Emily is proud to help them achieve that.
Emily strongly believes that 'as humans we need to help our race move forward as one, we are not individual country's, we are one world. I want us to have a wonderful world.I think I'll start with Cambodia.These people need help from others who are more fortunate, people who have the ability to go in there and make a difference for them and their children. I have a house, a family, clean water, fresh food and medicine, I want Cambodia to have that too."
Emily knows very well that the Cambodian kids foundation is built on solid foundations, and says that "we have amazing volunteers and sponsors, succesful projects that are achieving the dreams of people that should be highly valued on this planet."
Emily will be travelling over to Cambodia for her first time mid 2009, she is very excited and looking forward to getting a hands on involvement on all the projects she has been raising money for. Emily can't wait to get over there and feels as thought she has alot to learn from the people of Cambodia.
PUT SET
CKF PROJECT MANAGER
"Im very excited to get these projects up and running"
Put Set is a character that the foundation values not only for his hard work, ethics and motivation, but also because of his positive attitude and constantly smiling face.
Put Set completed year 12 in 2006 in the Svay Rieng Province and began a Bachelor of Management at Build Bright University in June 2006. Along with his university studies, he began to study English and took on two Leadership courses at AZIZA. During his time at University in 2006, Put Set rented a room in a building block in the slum area of Dey Krahorm. After completing his courses, Put Set took hold of the opportunity to volunteer at AZIZA as a team leader, working and studying hard.
In 2007 Put Set started living in the AZIZA school and continued studying his English and other useful skills there. During this year Put Set applied for a traineeship at Digital Divide Data Organisation (DDD), he did this course for 5 months and on completion began work at DDD as an operator. Put Set was taught many things during his 6 months at DDD such as Computer, Leadership, Job Searching and Technical Skills, he also furthered his English while there.
Put Set took on the role of CKF Project Manager and helped to set up the Attitude Center of Education in Phnom Penh in 2009. Put set has been working very hard on many projects and jobs for the center. He says he is very excited to be able to get these projects up and running.
NOV SYNOEUN
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
"My life is changing step by step"
Nov Synoeun was born in the Svay Reang Province and at the age of six her family moved to Phnom Penh. Syneoun endured a tough life growing up, forced to leave school in year 8 due to her parent's poor financial situation, this left her with no choice but to begin work at the age of sixteen.
Working in a factory six to seven days a week, from 6am-3pm with only a one hour break was a tiring experience for Syneoun. On top of her nine hour shift, Syneoun would usually work overtime and often be brought to tears by the hunger she felt as a result of not being allowed to eat while at work. All of Synoeun's hard effort at work left her with a monthly wage of $65 US dollars, this was just enough to support her family but did not leave Synoeun with any money to spend on herself.
After working in a factory Synoeun, was fortunate enough to have a second chance to study. She was very excited about studying at a public school again, she thought that such an oppurtunity would never arise.
Drew (Director of Aziza School) helped Synoeun find a new job to pay for her schooling, and help support herself and her family. She took on two jobs, one as a cleaner and one as a dog walker. At first Synoeun found working for a foreigner very hard due to her poor english, a result of her interrupted education. Despite this obstacle Synoeun worked hard and made herself flexible, attending school and studying a diploma at the same time.
Synoeun is finding her life is changing step by step. This year she received a 50% scholarship to Pannasastra International School and is currently studying year 10 there, she continues to work to pay for the rest of her schooling expenses and plans on applying for a scholarship at Pannasastra International again next year.
Synouen has undertaken training from Saing Sokchea in Leadership Development Skill, Child Protection and other useful areas. The leadership training Synoeun has undergone has changed the path of her life and she says she is so happy and thrilled to work in Attitude Center for Education.
SRORS SAVY
PROJECT ASSISTANT
"My one wish would be for the world to have justice and no corruption"
Srors Savy, is a twenty-four year old male who was born in Tmey village in the Kandal Province. Savy is now an only child, after the death of his older brother who suffered from brain cancer in 2003.
When Savy was younger his father used to work as a night role army officer in Campochea, however he had to stop working for a while due to a terrible illness that almost saw his death. When his father regained his health he tried to go back to work only to be refused, as his boss said he had been away for too long to take back his previous position in the army. This caused his father to become unhappy as he was no longer able to provide for his family.
After Savy's father had lost his job the family decided to move to Savy's mother's homeland. Unfortunately when they arrived Savy's grandparents whom lived in the area were unable to support them, as they had already given all of their rice to their other children.
Savy says that they started their new life with nothing. He praises his parents, saying they worked very hard to come up with the money they needed to send Savy and his older brother to school so they could have an education. Savy remembers that although he was young he used to help his parents whenever he could, he wanted them to know he was thankful for their sacrifice to educate him and his brother.
In break times Savy used to sell cakes and vegetables to help pay for his schooling and then after school he would help his father in the fields. Looking at his life Savy says "Although I had a lot of difficult things, I still enjoy my life. My parents gave me lots of love and warmth. They helped me all the way to university."
Currently Savy is studying his third year at the Royal University of Law and Economics. He says that in the future he wants to be a good lawyer, working with an organization to help poor people when they are in trouble. Savy says that his one wish would be for the world to have justice and no corruption. Savy now works very hard to make money to support himself and his parents, as they are old and he wants to take care of them.
IAN COOPER
BOARD MEMBER
"...extremely proud of my family and my fellow board members for getting CKF to the point it is currently at..."
Ian is the husband and father of Donna and Sam, respectively. When the two arrived home from their first trip to Cambodia with millions of ideas and plans it was clear that the whole family was going to be involved in their new found love for Cambodia. It didn't take all the long for their love for the country to spread to the rest of their family, especially Ian, a very warm and kind hearted man by nature.
Ian was initially involved as "support crew" for the foundation, taking on lots of behind the scenes tasks, such as setting up for BBQ's, setting up marques, cooking sausages and so forth.
However it wasn't long until Ian, like everyone else on the board wanted to get even more involved, and decided to go over to Cambodia and see it all for himself. He has since been over twice to Cambodia and says that "In my two trips I have grown to love the people and cannot help but feel that I need to get more involved."
Ian has taken on a position on the Cambodian Kids Foundation board and is very keen to get some more projects up and running and to further already established ones. Ian says that he is "very happy with the direction of the foundation, and extremely proud of [his] family and fellow board members for getting the foundation to the point it is currently at".
Like the whole CKF team Ian is looking forward to being heavily involved in the new projects that lay ahead and excited for what the future may hold for this fast growing foundation.
BEC ZEINSTRA
FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
HISTORY OF
CAMBODIA
THE HISTORY OF CAMBODIA
The first evidence of an advanced civilization in present day Cambodia are artificial circular earthworks estimated to be from the 1st millennium BC. During the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries, the Indianised states of Funan and Chenla coalesced in what is now present-day Cambodia and southwestern Vietnam. These states are assumed by most scholars to have been Khmer.For more than 2,000 years, Cambodia absorbed influences from China and India, passing them on to other Southeast Asian civilisations that are now Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The Khmer Empire flourished in the area from the 9th to the 13th century. Around the 13th century, Theravada Buddhism was introduced to the area through monks from Sri Lanka. From then on Theravada Buddhism grew and eventually became the most popular religion. The Khmer Empire declined yet remained powerful in the region until the 15th century. The empire's centre of power was Angkor, where a series of capitals was constructed during the empire's zenith. Angkor could have supported a population of up to one million people. Angkor, the world's largest pre-industrial civilization, and Angkor Wat, the most famous and best-preserved religious temple at the site, are reminders of Cambodia's past as a major regional power.
After a long series of wars with neighbouring kingdoms, Angkor was sacked by the Thai and abandoned in 1432 because of ecological failure and infrastructure breakdown. After Angkor was abandoned, the buildings were swallowed up by jungle creating a myth of a hidden lost civilization. The court moved the capital to Lovek where the kingdom sought to regain its glory through maritime trade. The attempt was short-lived, however, as continued wars with the Thai and Vietnamese resulted in the loss of more territory and Lovek was conquered in 1594. During the next three centuries, the Khmer kingdom alternated as a vassal state of the Thai and Vietnamese kings, with short-lived periods of relative independence between.
In 1863, King Norodom, who had been installed by Thailand, sought the protection of France from the Thai and Vietnamese, after tensions grew between them. In 1867, the Thai king signed a treaty with France, renouncing suzerainty over Cambodia in exchange for the control of Battambang and Siem Reap provinces which officially became part of Thailand. The provinces were ceded back to Cambodia by a border treaty between France and Thailand in 1906. Cambodia continued as a protectorate of France from 1863 to 1953, administered as part of the colony of French Indochina, though occupied by the Japanese empire from 1941 to 1945. Cambodia gained independence from France on November 9, 1953. It became a constitutional monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk. When French Indochina was given independence, Cambodia lost official control over the Mekong Delta as it was awarded to Vietnam.
In 1955, Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his father in order to be elected Prime Minister. Upon his father's death in 1960, Sihanouk again became head of state, taking the title of Prince. As the Vietnam War progressed, Sihanouk adopted an official policy of neutrality in the Cold War. However, Cambodians began to take sides, and he was ousted in 1970 by a military coup led by Prime Minister General Lon Nol and Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, while on a trip abroad. From Beijing, Sihanouk realigned himself with the communist Khmer Rouge rebels who had been slowly gaining territory in the remote mountain regions and urged his followers to help in overthrowing the pro-United States government of Lon Nol, hastening the onset of civil war.
ber of Cambodians killed during the bombing campaigns vary widely, as do views of the effects of the bombing. The US Seventh Air Force argued that the bombing prevented the fall of Phnom Penh in 1973 by killing 16,000 of 25,500 Khmer Rouge fighters besieging the city.However, journalist William Shawcross and Cambodia specialists Milton Osborne, David P. Chandler and Ben Kiernan argued that the bombing drove peasants to join the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia specialist Craig Etcheson argued that the Khmer Rouge "would have won anyway", even without US intervention driving recruitment. As the war ended, a draft US AID report observed that the country faced famine in 1975, with 75% of its draft animals destroyed, and that rice planting for the next harvest would have to be done "by the hard labour of seriously malnourished people". The report predicted that
without large-scale external food and equipment assistance there will be widespread starvation between now and next February ... Slave labour and starvation rations for half the nation's people (probably heaviest among those who supported the republic) will be a cruel necessity for this year, and general deprivation and suffering will stretch over the next two or three years before Cambodia can get back to rice self-sufficiency.
The Khmer Rouge reached Phnom Penh and took power in 1975. The regime, led by Pol Pot, changed the official name of the country to Democratic Kampuchea, and was heavily influenced and backed by China. They immediately evacuated the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. They attempted to rebuild the country's agriculture on the model of the 11th century, discarded Western medicine, and destroyed temples, libraries, and anything considered Western. Over a million Cambodians, out of a total population of 8 million, died from executions, overwork, starvation and disease.
Estimates as to how many people were killed by the Khmer Rouge regime range from approximately one to three million.This era gave rise to the term Killing Fields, and the prison Tuol Sleng became as notorious as Auschwitz in the history of mass killing. Hundreds of thousands fled across the border into neighbouring Thailand. The regime disproportionately targeted ethnic minority groups. The Cham Muslims suffered serious purges with as much as half of their population exterminated. The professions, such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers, were also targeted. According to Robert D. Kaplan, "eyeglasses were as deadly as the yellow star" as they were seen as a sign of intellectualism.
In November 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia to stop Khmer Rouge incursions across the border and the genocide in Cambodia. Violent occupation and warfare between the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge holdouts continued throughout the 1980s. Peace efforts began in Paris in 1989, culminating two years later in October 1991 in a comprehensive peace settlement. The United Nations was given a mandate to enforce a ceasefire, and deal with refugees and disarmament.
In recent years, reconstruction efforts have progressed and some political stability has finally returned. However, Cambodia's natural resources, particularly its valuable timber, are still being exploited by interests from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Until 1999, the Khmer Rouge were still active in some areas, often supporting illegal timber operations. At that time, travel by land and river was still precarious.
The stability established following the conflict was shaken in 1997 by a coup d'état, but has otherwise remained in place. Cambodia has been aided by a number of more developed nations like Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, the United States and Great Britain. Cambodia is moving past its war torn history and focusing on national reconstruction. In recent years, the country has seen double digit economic growth, and seeks foreign business investment to modernize the nation and eliminate poverty. Especially since Thailand is in political chaos, Cambodia is an alternative for business investments.
extract taken from wikipedia
EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
'A Great Night Out' Annual Fundraiser
Saturday 24th October, 7:30pm-late
Top of the Range, Mt. Macedon
Tickets: $60 per adult,
$30 per child (15 & under)
Includes entertainment, food, dessert & coffee.
Drinks at bar prices.
Tickets available from Color Me Cooper & Top of the Range.
Cambodian Kids Festival
Saturday 14th November, 9am onwards
Woodend Community Centre
Jumping Castle, Cake Stall, BBQ, Face Painting
and the Color Me Cooper Closet
Color Me Cooper Closet
Sunday 15th November, 9am-5pm
Woomba Festival
Saturday 5th December
Cake Stall, Face Painting and Jumping Castle
Cambodian Kids Stall
14th-24th December
Outside Color Me Cooper
Cards and Xmas Gift Wrapping
PAST EVENTS
Mother of All Cake Stalls
Father's Day
Sunday 6th September
Woodend
Raised over $680.
Minefields and Miniskirts
Thursday 27th August
Mount Players
Mountview Theatre
CKF Benefit Gig & BBQ
Sunday 16th August 4:30pm-12am
The Tote Hotel, Collingwood
Line up:
Mick Thomas
Nick Barker
James McCann
Dead River Deeps
Willy Wagner
Raised over $2200
'Because of you' Information Night and Dinner
Friday 17th July
Cake Stall
Saturday 11th July
Outside Coles Supermarket Woodend
Raised over $450
The Cambodian Kids Family Fun Day
May, 2009
Raised over $4000
The Mothers Day Open Gardens
'Ramble amongst the Roses'
Riddells Creek
Raised over $2700
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THE CAMBODIAN KIDS FOUNDATION TRAVELLING BLOG
Stay Tuned for blog updates by the board and staff on the ground in Cambodia, for all the latest news on projects and happenings of the Cambodian Kids Foundation.
Blog posted 21/8/2009 by Jenna (CKF volunteer)
Title: Cambodian Kids care
Here in Cambodia we have mostly been working at Cambodian Kids Care with Tevin and the 3 lovely boys, Chet, Power and Parkway. They are beautiful, spirited kids - brothers Power and Parkway have rolling infectious laughs and bounding energy, Chet a little space cadet with chubby cheeks and a wide smile.
Each morning we wake up early to clean the kindergarten and shop for the days food before picking up the boys at 8 and bringing them back for the mornings play, usually involving lego - which can occupy the boys for hours as they make the strangest of creations and proudly show them to you then fly them about the room with sound effects.
Lunchtime comes around, which we help Tevin to make, then shower time - which is squealing fun as the boys slip around and scream with delight under the cold shower. Next its nap time and as Tevin puts the boys to bed we too often fall asleep for a little mid-day nap before walking the boys off to school and then riding 2 people per bike for a few hours of translating and proof reading and writing at ACE. 5 o'clock rolls around and it's time to walk the kids home again before an evening of coconut shakes and noodles or 'dancing' in the park - free aerobics on mass in the big city park.
It's great here in Cambodia and being able meet everyone who is working very hard with the foundation and seeing all the projects which are run by this little bunch of people. This foundation can surely only grow with time and support and the learning of new skills which are being learnt and taught at the centre.
I've had a wonderful time in my short stay in Cambodia and I'm sure Mere and Soph will continue to as they get more involved joining Attitude Forums and continuing to hang out with Power, Parkway and Chet.
Blog posted 03/07/09 by Donna
Title: New Projects
OK where do I start...First, it was AWESOME having Anne here. I think she loved it but just not enough time, it never is.
We followed up on an email we got from George saying his sister has a lump in her breast. When we met George he wasn't very clear about much, just that his sister needed help. We made arrangements to take her to a womens clinic to have a mamogram. On the way she told us that she has had the lump for 3 years and every day she thinks that she will die. It was so sad to think all that time.... Well we were at the clinic for the morning and ALL CLEAR :)
While we were at the clinic Bora's sister, Lina, who also came with us, told me how hard it was for girls just to buy pads. It got me thinking and 'BAM' we have a new project. So we now take 2 girls to the clinic each month and buy pads for everyone. I hope to expand this project, as we raise more and more funds. We are also calling this Eliza's project after the young girl who is raising money for us from Sacred Heart College.
Next, we were told of Peap our cleaner. Her husband had a stroke and was in hospital, but was getting better every day. So we prepared for him to come home buying him bedding (something no one in the family had) to keep him comfortable when he came home. Well I'm sorry to say he had another stroke and is now on life support. Very sad for a beautiful family.
Peap has 4 children, so we will now need to help them alot. We go every day to the hospital to buy food for Peap and baby formula for Bora(Peap's husband), they tube it straight into his belly. We also have arranged all meals to be cooked for the children who are doing their best to look after each other.The little chooky we paid for some one to look after.
Next, we got an email about two little boys that were really being neglected.Meeting after meeting after meeting we decided to open our own kinder garden to look after not only those two little chooks but Peap's little one as well.
So we now have another full time staff member and a kinder that runs 6 days a week. New kinder is called Cambodian Kids Care!!!!!
Donna Cooper
Country Director
Cambodian Kids Foundation
Blog posted 16/6/09 by Donna
Title: Cambodian Rotary
Hello Everyone,
I just went to my first Rotary meeting outside of Australia.. . WOW how different meetings are... Anyway I am proud to say that Rotary Cambodia have given us full support with our projects. They loved what we are doing and loved our Cambodian team of Fresh Young Leaders.
They were so impressed they have invited Sokchea, our Country director, to join Rotary. " We so desperately in need of Fresh Young Leaders such as yourself in our club" were the President's exact words. He also suggested we ask my club, WOODEND, to sponsor Sokchea's joining fee and dinner, as this would be something way out of his means.
The joining fee is $100 US and his lunch would be $5 per week. He would be able to make about 3 meetings per week so all up it would cost our club $280 US, which is $355 AUD. This would be a great connection for us, a great link to this 3rd world country. I think its an AWESOME idea, what do you all think?
Lets all be a part of giving Sokchea the experience of ROTARY .... MAKING DREAMS REAL...
He is someone that you can be proud of sponsoring, as he MAKES THE DREAMS of the Cambodian people REAL every day.
Thanks guys looking forward to hearing from you all
Donna xx
