ACODO
Contact me
Assisting Cambodian Orphans and the Disabled Organization
Why Donate?
Originally this website was intended to be a sprint fundraising project with an aim to raise $5,000 in roughly two weeks to meet some of the immediate needs of ACODO. Since it's inception, it has become more of a long term project with the ultimate objective of connecting ACODO with people interested in becoming sponsors of ACODO's initiatives.
Below is a quick look at ACODO's short and long term goals:
Short Term:
1) Finish the construction of the children's sleeping quarters before the rainy season begins. (June 2010).
2) Obtain sponsorships for all 64 children to attend private school.
Long Term:
1) Adopt Western academic curriculum standards and teaching methods to provide the children with a more structured academic experience and strengthen their opportunities to attend university abroad. (ACODO volunteers are currently working on adopting Australian elementary education curriculum standards).
2) In conjunction, with long term goal #1, ACODO aims to recruit volunteers for periods between 3 months to 1 year in order to provide children with consistency in English instruction. (Note: Volunteers teach up to 3 English courses a day. These courses are supplemental to the private school sponsorships we are hoping to obtain).
3) Develop permanent sponsors (annual or monthly) to reduce the orphanage's reliance on earning funding through the children's performances of traditional Khmer dance, enabling to orphanage to stop living "day-by-day".
4) Acquire 100 acre plot of government land 15km outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia to build a new self-sufficient orphanage. The plans for the new orphanage include planting vegetable gardens and starting a livestock farm--steps towards developing a sustainable capacity for producing all of their own food. In addition to the construction of a new orphanage, ACODO aspires to build an aid clinic, school, and vocational skills center. The new facilities will open the doors to rural villagers to attend school and the vocational skills training center. We hope the new center will serve as a model of excellence for other orphanages to follow.
I have been teaching English at ACODO for the last two weeks and can attest to the integrity of the organization. All donations will go directly to the aforementioned objectives listed above and I will do my best to keep this page updated to show all donors exactly how the money is being used and how much money has been raised.
If you think this is a worthy cause, I am asking that you donate...even if just a couple dollars. All you have to do is click on the "Donate Now!" icon on this web page and you'll be taken to a secure server where you can donate either through PalPal or you may use a debit/credit card. All donations will go directly into an account in the name of ACODO. I will stay involved with the project after I leave the orphanage to ensure transparency is the use of funds. For anyone that donates $50 or more, I will provide you with a receipt when I return to the U.S. in May to be used when you file taxes next year.
Even if you decide not to donate, I hope you'll post this link on your Facebook page to help get the word out.
This project is a work in progress. I encourage feedback, ideas, and questions. You can use the "contact me" form at the right side of this page to send me a message (also sent to the assistant director of ACODO) or to post a comment just use the comment box at the far right of this webpage. Lastly, if you prefer to send me a private message, please email me at dustin.g.cathcart_gmail.com.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Dustin Cathcart
Donate Now!
About ACODO...
A Day in the Life
ACODO is a Cambodian non-governmental organization assisting orphans, the disabled and indigent families through providing Life-and-Vocational Skills and Indigent Family Support Development Program. ACODO was registered as a charity in Phnom Penh on the 14 of July, 2008.
Website created by Dustin Cathcart. Contact: dustin.g.cathcart_gmail.com
© Assisting Cambodian Orphans and the Disabled Organization (ACODO) 2010 - 2012.
