Sok San Village school opening

So pleased to have been able to open our latest (8th) school in Sok San village. I emphasized the need for the village to take ownership of the school and the necessity to look after the school.

Seated on my right are: Commune Head, Principal, Village Head, Village Dy Head. 

We had a bit of hiccup earlier when the commune leader indicated that he might not be able to attend because of a clash of duties as Prime Minister Hun Sen's son was going to visit the village. But things worked out and we are glad the commune leadership was represented in our school opening ceremony.

Distributing used clothes to the villagers.

 

Water quality in Baray

In the recent trip, we were able to take water samples for chemical and microbiological analyses from various locations at the places we frequented.

These places were, from West to East:

a] Boeung Rial:

i) from a water container of their drinking water, obtained from the lake;

ii) direct from the lake source itself;

iii) from an open well.

b] Phum Ley:

i) tube-well at the school;

ii) tube-well at centre of village;

iii) open well at centre of village;

iv) just outside Phum Ley, at a ditch.

c] Andaut:

pumped water from an open well

d] Baray:

i) un-filtered water from open well at SOLAR Cafe;

ii) filtered water from open well at SOLAR Cafe;

iii) pumped water from open well at Khmer Village Homestay;

iv) drawn water from open well at Palm Village.

The results below:

If you need a better print-out of the data, please drop me an email. For reference of what the WHO standards are, please check out their publication:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/GDW8rev1and2.pdf

Unnecessary?

There were more than a few raised eyebrows when our bus driver showed up with his pistol, complete with holster, belt and bullets. This seemed really unnecessary nowadays. We had been accompanied during the last trip by weapon toting armed guards, but this had seemed more for display than anything else, since the District Officer was officiating.

So we really don't know what to make of this display of machismo. Was it really necessary? Was there a level of threat we were unaware of? The locals were neither concerned, nor aware of any risks.

For me, this was a grim reminder of the very real heritage of violence that still affected the community.

Hostel@Baray (Sanctuary)

We've started work on the hostel (Sanctuary), and are hopeful it will be completed by March. By His grace we should be able to have a opening/blessing for it. The hostel should be able to support about 12 high school students from the villages. The students can self support to a limited extent and we are praying for a steady level of sponsorship for the 12 student-hostelites. We estimate that food and tuition fees for each student will be about US$50 per month, i.e. about US$600/year.

Any takers to provide scholarships for the students? (See Current Needs). Please contact me.

Can we put a student hostel in Baray?

Schools in Cambodia, for obvious reasons, are sited in urban centres or along major roads. For this reason, many of the rural communities that are distanced from the main roads have very limited access to the school system. That is why we have been trying to plant small lower primary schools in remote villages, so that young children can have a chance to develop some literacy and numeracy skills. As they grow older, we hope they can then travel slightly longer distances to upper primary level schools or even secondary schools.

Recently we have been thinking of how to support older children from these remote villages who have been able to make it academically to high school, but now face the problem of having to commute the great distances between their homes and the high school in Baray.

One solution we might be able to offer is to provide a small hostel in Baray that could house about 10-15 boys. A 2 storey 12 x 6m structure with toilet and kitchen facilities would provide adequate dormitary types facilities, and would cost about US$25,000 to erect. We have already identified a young Christian man who can be an "older brother/mentor" for the kids staying at the hostel.

In addition, we will need about US$720 per year to support each student at the hostel.

We are thinking and praying about this badly need resource for the students. If you have any ideas, or think you can help, please contact me. If the concept works, we can consider having a separate hostel for young girls. Also badly needed.

Baray Santuk Referral Hospital

We were also able to meet with one of the doctors at the Baray Santuk Referral Hospital. The Oerational District Chief Dr Meas Chem was away that day.

Meeting with the Baray Administrator (District Officer)

We had the privilege during this last trip to meet with Mr Hak Movseng, the Administrator of Baray District. It was a good meeting and we were able to discuss with him some of our ongoing projects in Boeung Rial (Fishing Village) and Andaut, as well as the proposed cataract surgery project in 2011.

Andaut (An Dot)

Approximately 30kms due East of Kampong Thmor, at the junction of Highway 6 and 31, is a pair of large villages called Upper and Lower Andaut respectively. Lower Andaut, where we are focusing on consists about 400 huts with 700 families (go figure the maths... ). The picture above show the approximate position of the village relative to Kpg Thmor and Baray (circled extreme left). But if you Google Earth 'An Dot + Baray', you can see the pair of villages in a bit more detail. The red marker is placed a bit southeast of the 2 villages.

Socka and her husband are moving into Andaut as local missionaries. They are from Somrong (a local CMS church led by Ps Kia) Church, but salaried by Esther's SOLAR Ministry. A church is being started in Lower Andaut through some seed money (USD5000) from the US based Cornerstone Church. Through Socka's pioneering work, the village has already 29 believers who meet regularly in a wooden hut (see above).

Socka's testimony, which we were fortunate to make an unplanned recording can be found here:

Socka's testimony

Socka sharing about her work in Andaut

The village is quite inaccessible except through poorly maintained dirt tracks, and the children have no school. The nearest school is in Upper Andaut, a few kilometers away.

I feel the burden very much to place a school here. I believe this will complement the developing church activities in this village, especially since Socka and her husband are already moving in as missionaries. It will also be very opportune time for a church to step in and 'adopt' this fledgling missionary work.

Hostel in Baray?

Cambodia has developed quite impressively over the last decade, but much still needs to be done in the educational environment. For example, many schools are site on main roads and far from rural villages. We have tried in our own small way to help alleviate the needs to the rural community by building small village schools so that small children do not have to travel large distances just to go to school. But the problem resurfaces when they outgrow the village schools.

Many of the village when they do complete primary level education and seek to go to middle/high school, they have to travel great distances from their homes.

One way we can help here is to establish affordable hostels close to district high schools, for kids coming from these villages. Good Christian run hostels that provide decent accommodation, food, and most importantly, mentoring can go along way in shaping these young lives.

We welcome anyone who can help us build upon this idea. Currently we are exploring with Esther Ding, the establishment of a hostel next to the Baray High School. We think this is very doable and can support perhaps about 25-30 kids from the villages. What we need is some financial support for the construction of the hostel, plus an annual salary for the caretakers.

Let me know if you think you can help.

Open letter from Esther Ding - SOLAR Ministry

This is an open letter from Esther Ding, with respect to her SOLAR Ministry in Baray.

(S.O.L.A.R...School of livelihood and rehabilitation)

Dear Friends,

We are grateful to God for sending a Chef all the way from Canada to help us to start our Cooking School 101 . We trained 8 High school students and some Solar staff joined in the 20 days course.

We learnt alot about the preparation for Western foods and some Chinese food.
We hope that this cooking school will be continued in another 6 months times with returm of Chef Tan from South America. Currently he has skill development ministry in Bolivia.
We completed the course and looking forward the second intake coming November 2010.

Our main objective is to provide a skill in cooking for high school leavers who will pursue for their Higher education in Phnom Penh. This will help them to find part time jobs at restaurants. So in this way they will be able to take care of their expenses while studying.

Solar Cafe has 13 staff. Our customers are not many at the moment. Please pray for us that Solar Cafe will provide delicious food at a resonable price, a nice and clean place, provide good services.At the moment SolarCafe looks the best amongst Highway stops.We do have the Japanese tourists coming to Solar Cafe for lunches over these 6 months. This is one of our good references.

Khmer Life in Phnom Penh has 11 staff. Out of the 11, 7 are students. This place is a place where students have hands-on training. Students hold different position and manage the shop. We thank God for the new place in Baray, next to Solar Cafe that will be ready in one month time. By then we will move in our sewing ,weaving,wood carving, embroidery and printing projects.
Please pray that we will have more stable buyers so that the sales will increase and this will help us to be sustainable. We will continue to train up more people in sewing . In June we will start another sewing class with a minimum of 10 sewers.

Our main objectives is to recruit the village poor widows and mothers to have a skill in sewing . This will help in their family economy and will help to upgrade their livelihood . Having skills will bring dignity and boost their moral because they will find happiness in their contribution towards the communities.

In Baray we have 5 full time staff and about 15 producers who work from Khmer Life production center and a few work from homes.We hope to have increase in sales as this will definitely bring food to the producers and their families.We need your kind support to buy our nicely handmade products.

Your purchase of Khmer Life products will give the poor a chance of an abundant life. You buy with a good cause.So far we do export some of our recycle rice bags to England and USA eventhough it is not a big quantity. We are very thankful to God for helping to open doors and hope for more markets.

Khmer Village Homestay business is getting better as school holidays in Singapore starting soon. We are going to join a mini Expo in Siem Reap, organized by Mekong Tourism. We hope to be able to get connected with tour companies and other Community-based tourism agencies. We hope to be able to get to know more people who could introduce Khmer Village Homestay to others who want to experience khmer lifestyle in the rural areas. Khmer Village Homestay has 7 staff and some tour guide work as part timers.

Khmer Village Homestay is getting to be known by many. We need lots of help in promotion by word of mouth. Those who has been here were kind enough to put in their blogs and introduce to friends. Weare becoming more specialise in organising for School groups who come to help in implementing community projects .

We handle many Polytechnics, Universities, high schools and primary schools' educational tours. We hope that more will come to experience true khmer lifestyle at our Khmer Village Homestay. We are praying for connections to schools and colleges throughout the world to come to experience and to help the poor and needy communities. The coming of school groups and tourists will definitely bring good things like in aspect of motivating higher education for the rural students, better knowledge of people from other culture, exposure to foreigners, having the good chance to speak English, to proudly present Khmer culture and rich heritage to the world.
We at Khmer Village Homestay would like to bring the WORLD to Baray District, Kampong Thom Province, Kingdom of Cambodia. At Solar Cafe we would like to see that this is a place where the WORLD meet!! At Khmer Life, we show to the WORLD of our rich cultural heritage of weaving, craft making. Khmer artisans at work at Khmer Life production center.

Most of my guests at Homestay will ask me...why are you here 15 years ago? There are only two answers either Esther is a mad woman or Esther heard God's calling in her life to come to help the poor and needy in Cambodia?? This is a very good opportunity to share of God's faithfulness in my life as I choose to be in the heartland of Cambodia. His GRACE is indeed sufficient for me. HE will supply all my needs according to His richest in glory..My favourite chapter in the Bible..Psalms 23. Some friends commented that I am a pampered and a rich missionary. Amen to that.

Making God's Glory known is the ultimate objective of all these programmes which only act as a mean to the end.

I am also helping to network with Churches and friends who want to experience first hand of mission work in the fields . We welcome volunteers to come to give yourself a few days then a few months and a few years in partnership to serve God in this nation.

Thank you for praying for us and your kind support in giving the Cambodians a better life.

To God be the Glory



Esther
Dara...Stars in Cambodian language


Khmer Life...abundant life
Solar Cafe..the place where the world meet
Khmer Village Homestay...experience true khmer lifestyle
S.O.L.A.R...School of livelihood and rehabilitation
Station of Life and Refuge

A new venture?

So we return to Cambodia tomorrow. This will be the first trip for 2010. Jhon, Jimmy, Piang Ngok, Veron and myself. For Piang Ngok and Veron, this will be the first time.

On the previous trip Ps Kea had raise the possibility of a visit to a very remote village in the Santuk district. Poor, isolated and often exploited because of timber concessions, he asked if we could help. So here we are heading towards Tropeang Russei (Bamboo Pond), not knowing what to expect. It will be a rough ride...approximately 40kms NorthEast, off the main road at Kpg Thmor. This relatively short stretch of dirt track will takes us approximately 4 hours to navigate through. Because there is nowhere to stay in the village, it will be a day trip.... meaning 8 hours of slow bumpy travel. We will do what we can, get to know the village leadership...and evaluate their needs.

We will need your prayers for journey mercies and for security.

The other mission will be to revisit the fishing village, and meet with the village leadership. The idea is to discuss how we can build a school for them.

Meanwhile Esther has planned for a small party for the handicap in Baray. Piang Ngok has offered to sponsor the party and I went today to the Verge in Tekkah to pick up a whole bunch of balloons and party blowers for them. Pray that all will have a great time.

Pol Pot dam

Because we often travel down highway 71 on our way to the villages (which are north-east of 71, bottom right of map), we often visit the dam and the lake behind it. This time because we had occasion to visit Sreynich, we spent a bit more time there.

Very peaceful and rustic. The waters were high because of the rains. Fishermen patiently took theirs turns to cast their nets.

The serenity of the place of course hides the horrors that had gone into the construction of the dam. During the Khmer Rouge era, Pol Pot constructed this dam diverting parts of the Stung Chinit and Stung Tang Krasang tributaries of the Tonle Sap, using an estimated 40,000-100,000 slaves. Many thousands died during the construction of the dam.

The lake behind the dam. On a previous trip 2008.

Today, the dam (sometimes called the January 1 Dam), supposedly provides water to 20,000 hectares of land in Baray and Santuk districts during the rainy season, and to 2,000 hectares during the dry.

Meas San, 58, was one of the thousands who labored under excruciating conditions to build the January 1 Dam. She said six of the 10 people in her work group disappeared within three months. "They were sick. Their bodies were swollen. All of a sudden they disappeared," she recalled. Lon Keam, 60, also worked on the dam, while pregnant. She had so little food, she could not feed her baby, and watching him suffer was unbearable. "My breast milk was not enough," she said. "I wished that my baby would die." Trucks came by night to take people away. "We were just like pigs," she said. "They could kill us at any time." Today, the dam enables Meas San to eke two rice harvests a year out of less than 1 hectare of land. Lon Keam uses the water for her rice, too.
But it is a bitter harvest. "Sometimes I look into the water and I feel hatred of the Khmer Rouge," Meas San said. "They killed my husband, they separated my daughter from me. I was so hungry." Cambodia Daily

Tonle Sap flood plains

The TonleSap flood plain. The dark blue areas represent the permanent waters of the Tonle Sap, while the lighter blue regions are the flood plains. I have inserted the approximate location of Baray in the map so you can see where it is relative to the flood plains and the Tonle Sap.

Extracted from the Inventory of Conflict and Environment (ICE) website. For more information about the Mekong flood plain please go there.

Through a unique natural process, the Tonle Sap, which is fairly small and shallow for the most of the year, increases in size and volume almost nine-fold during the monsoon season when the Mekong floods and pushes water into the lake. Due to its rich biodiversity, the Tonle Sap floodplain is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world, supporting over 3 million people and providing at least 60% of the Cambodians’ protein intake.

The problem is further complicated by the overall decline of the Mekong River, caused by adverse human interference and climate change. While exact origins of the Mekong have not been identified, it is known that its source lies somewhere in the mountains of Tibet. Every spring, when the ice melts the resulting water flows into the river, replenishing it. With Asia becoming hotter and drier as a consequence of climate change, the glaciers that provide Mekong’s water may diminish with time, supplying less and less water with each consequent year. Such decline in water supply at the source, exacerbated by excessive demands imposed on the Mekong’s flow by filling of dam basins, may lead to severe deterioration of the Tonle Sap and its biosphere.


Here are some pictures to show you what the flood plains look like when they are flooded. These pics were taken on the way back from the 'fishing village'. In the dry season, these would just be open land, some being cultivated with padi.

Blessings abound, we set forth...

Thanks to the generosity of friends and relatives, we have put together a total of US$4000.

This morning as Esther and Samreth left, I passed them US$2000, and will give the rest when we see them tomorrow in Phnom Penh. I am particularly concerned that we use some of the money to buy milk powder for the nursing mothers.

All in all, we are pretty excited about going to Cambodia again. When I first went to Cambodia almost 10 years ago, I never thought I would build up such an affection for that country, and the people there. This trip will see us bringing 60kg of old used clothes, children's books and toys with us.

Thank God for His leading and protection. We continue to entrust our lives to Him as we set out early tomorrow morning.

Economic hardships in Baray - a cry for help

Many of the villages in Baray have been existing very much below the poverty line. As Cambodia begins to pick itself up, the situation in the urban centres have improved considerably. But the villages still remain pretty destitute.

It seems this year has been particularly bad for the villages in Baray. Part of it is related to the global economic meltdown. Jobs are hard to come by. Many of these villagers are not landowners and cannot grow their own subsistence crops. So no job means no food. And the damage in the trail of recent typhoon Ketsana sure didn't help. The recent rains and floods have added to the misery. The rising inflation has seen the price of rice go up from 1000 riels (US$0.25) per kilo to 2000 riels

Esther and Ps Samreth have reported that there have been increasing visits at their centre from villagers desperately asking for food. Mothers with babies in arm who just have no milk to breast feed, and no way to feed their families. Mothers who offer to trade their babies for food so that their other children can have something to eat.

It is heartbreaking to say the least. I can't say I know what to do, other than to put out an open call for help.

I have pledged a meagre sum of US$3000. This is from some donations I have received plus some of my own. $2400 will be used to support the families whose homes have been destroyed by Ketsana. At the moment these families are living under tarpaulins and plastic sheets. Not particularly effective given the rains but better than nothing. We have targeted our efforts in just one village Phum Ley, where there are about 30+ families affected.

The remaining $600 will fund some rice distribution to about 50 of the poorest families from Phum Leav and another 50 families from Phum Ley. It's a small start but better than nothing.

If you feel you can help, please let me know.

I lead a small team to Baray on 28/10, to commission the schools and to distribute supplies for Phum Ley and Phum Leav. Please pray for journey safety, and for wisdom to know what to do.

Typhoon Ketsana - Damage in Baray

The latest information about the damage done on typhoon Ketsana in Baray. The District Officer has put out a call for help, reporting that 135 homes have been flattened by Ketsana. I am not surprised. The homes in many of the villages are pretty rickety wooden and palm leafed structures and it doesn't require much more than a strong wind to blow the roof off.

The damage is of course, nothing compared to what happened in the Philippines, but for the people in Baray who have lost their homes, their plight is nonetheless very real.

I am trying to raise some money to help the villagers affected. It costs approximately USD800 to construct a 4m square structure with a zinc roof.

If you would like to help please let me know.

Ketsana skirts Cambodia

Ketsana seems to be skirting past Northern Cambodia on its way through Vietnam and Laos. Latest news reports indicate 8 deaths when Ketsana hit Kompong Thom. Not much news from friends in the Baray district. I suppose no news is good news. I think the most damaged areas were in the north of the country. But villages further south might have ill effects associated with rising flood waters.

Schools commissioning

We are all getting a little excited as we get closer to the dates for the coming trip to Cambodia. The schools in Phum Leav and Phum Ley should be about complete, and we will be there to commission them.

There are currently 6 on the pax list:

Yoon Ping + me, Jhon, Kok Yong, Jimmy and Cheow Tuan. We are especially excited to know that Chern Chern might be going up with us to do some dental work. The schedule might be a bit tight though for much dental work to be done on this trip.

Our schedule:

• Arrive Phnom Penh/Baray 28 October morning by Jetstar Asia
• School openings (Phum Leav and Phum Ley) and visits (floating village/ Touk Pii) on afternoon of 28/10 and whole day 29/10. Possibly morning of 30/10 as well. Planning for some dental work through ChernChern and team. Details to be worked out.
• Return to PP on 30/10 afternoon
• Return Singapore 31/10 morning

We don't have much in terms of checked luggage entitlement as some of us are flying 'cheapskate class' on Jetstar Asia (really good deal!!), but we'll try and bring some old clothes up. We are especially looking for old babies clothes this time.

Typhoon Ketsana about to hit Cambodia

Typhoon Ketsana, which has wreaked so much havoc in Asia is about to hit Cambodia. The attached is reproduced from Khmerbird.com and PhnomPenh Post.

Kpg Thom will be among the first parts hit. Please pray for safety of the people there.


Cambodia gouvement alerts about storm Ketsana
Cambodian government issued an alerted letter about storm Ketsana that will hit Cambodia from 29-30 September 2009.
It was reported around 100 deaths in Philippines, this morning the storm have been reported moving to Vietnam and estimated arrive in Cambodia at 01:00 of 29 September 2009.
Those provinces of Cambodian northeast: Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri, Kratie, Steung Treng, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom will hit first on the 29 September 2009 and it will continue to effect to all provinces around Tonle Sap on 30 September 2009: Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambong, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Udor Meanchey and Kampong Thom.
You can find the official letter issue by Cambodian government on dap-news.com , please inform all your relative in those provinces.
I hope it will pass and everybody will be safe. Take care everybody.


Kingdom braces for torrential downpour
Monday, 28 September 2009 15:03
Khouth Sophakchakrya

SEVERAL provinces have been warned of flash floods ahead of Tropical Storm Ketsana’s collision with Cambodia.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology released a statement on Sunday to alert people living in upland and coastal provinces that heavy rainfall is expected from Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Meteorology Director Seth Vannareth said Sunday that floods are to be expected in Kampong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng provinces as well as along the coast in Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
Mao Hak, director of the Department of Hydrology and River Works, said Ketsana had already increased water levels in the basin of the Mekong River while in Vietnam, and that the current is flowing downstream towards Cambodia.
“It will flood the homes of Cambodian people [along the Mekong River] for three days or more,” he said.
Ketsana was formed in the Philippine Sea, killing 73 and putting parts of Manila under 6 metres of water.

Population Census 2008

For those who are interested, here are some early data emerging from the 2008 population census for Cambodia: