Donation to CHA/Visit to Phnom Penh/Record Wine-tasting!

Hello all,

It's been a hectic few months, so I thought I would do one last update on recent happenings before the year ends and another begins.

First of all, we became aware back in September that the Cambodian Handicraft Association (CHA) were struggling a bit for money due to the economic downturn, and due to the earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan meaning that two of their regular customers were not in a position to place any orders with them. As such, we made a donation to them of three months' rent (US$ 2100) on their shopfront, workshop and dormitories in Phnom Penh.

Not long after the donation was received in CHA's bank account, I got this email from Kim Tha, the director of the CHA:

Dear Alan,

Warmest greeting from CHA, I send you this email to tell you that three of our group got jobs at the garment factory in Phnom Penh. They are Mom, Sareun and Malin, and we have two new trainees who come from the countryside to CHA, one is polio victim and another one is landmine victim.

These are the photos of the new trainees.

Chun Ry

Danei

This is proof positive that the money you donate has a huge impact on peoples' lives in Cambodia. Thank you all so much for your support!

I also finally made it out to Cambodia in November, and I visited both main projects the Cambodian Futures Foundation supports. The CHA was buoyant after our donation, it just gave them the little breathing space that they really needed. The workshop was busier than I ever remember it being, reflecting the fact that Kim Tha has been able to take on several new trainees over the past few years, as I have mentioned in previous updates.

The New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA) has changed a fair bit over the past couple of years, as the children get older. Most of the children are in their teens now, and many are doing extremely well at High School, with one already at University. Ty is in the first year of his degree studying engineering and architecture, and is a very open and gregarious lad, a pleasure to talk to. All the other older children were also very welcoming and polite, but the days when they all wanted to play with me are gone - now they just want to hang out and talk about things that interest them, like Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham!

The younger ones, like new boy Arin and twins Monika and Molika, are still full of fun, as I think these photos will testify.

Arin and Molika

Monika

I enjoyed my stay as much as always, and came away very content that all donations we have made to both organisations have been sensibly spent, and are starting to show tangible results. Neth and Thavy as directors of the NCCLA and Kim Tha all inspire huge confidence, and make me as eager as ever to do as much as I can to help them reach the desired outcomes for the people they are dedicated to helping.

On my return we held the 5th CFF wine-tasting hosted as ever by Henry Butler of The Butler's Wine Cellar. We had 67 attendees this time, and from the feedback I received it would appear that a good time was had by all. People showed huge generosity in buying raffle tickets, spending over £230, which meant the overall profits from the night reached a phenomenal £700 - the most we have ever raised. I would like to use this forum to thank Henry, Kate and Cassie for their wonderful generosity and support, and I would also like to thank all organisations and individuals who donated prizes for the raffle for their generosity, which made such a difference to the amount we were able to raise.

And I think that is about all the news for now. I would like to thank everyone who supports or has supported the CFF for your belief in the charity, and for your wonderful support. We hope we can make you proud as we continue to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Cambodia.

We wish you all an extremely Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and happy New Year.

A long overdue update

I thought it was about time that I updated you on happenings in Cambodia and here at home. Since the turn of the year I have been working on claiming all the Gift Aid money owed to the CFF since it was founded, which meant a lot of trawling through bank records and a lot of form-filling, but it was certainly worth it - a couple of months ago a payment of close to £1100 was made into the CFF bank account by HMRC. So thank you to all the CFF supporters who signed Gift Aid declarations, it really is worthwhile as you can see!

With that extra money sitting in the account I contacted Neth at the New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA) to find out if there was anything they needed help with at the moment. Below is the reply I received:

Dear Alan,

Many thanks for your kind reply, as for the new assistance requested, the purpose is to pay for the Mathematics and Geometry teacher for the six big boy & girls who are studying grade 12 this year and are preparing for their exam in July to finish high school next year, 2012.

They are Henry, Anna, Joe, Jasmine, Phyllis and Figo

Mathematics Teacher $120/Month (Grade 12)
Geometry Teacher $120/Month (Grade 12)

So if you be would be so kind enough, we ask you to donate $2400 for both teachers to teach NCCLA kids these two subjects for the whole year until their examination finished 2012.
May you, your family and all our friends in the UK be blessed with eternal peace, prosperity, longevity and good Health!

Yours sincerely

Neth, Thavy, staff all the kids of NCCLA

 I put this request to the Trustees of the CFF and they agreed that this would be a good initiative to support, as of course the children's education is of paramount importance in giving the children a chance to live independent lives.

The donation of $2400 was sent in June, and after a few hitches I have now had confirmation from Neth that the payment has reached the NCCLA account.

As always, this kind of support would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors, and I thank you all for your continued support.

Unfortunately I still haven't been able to make it over to Cambodia this year, but I do hope to go in November this year, and I will update you on all the latest news when I return.

In the meantime, this little newsletter I received from Neth recently gives a good idea about how things are over there, and how much your support is appreciated. To read it, please click on the image and it will open in a new window. Clicking it again should enlarge the image so you can read it. Please let me know if this doesn't work for you in which case I can send it to you as an attachment.

Best wishes to you all,

Alan.
 

Christmas update from the CFF

Just a quick update on recent happenings at the Cambodian Futures Foundation. First of all, we made a donation of $1000 to the New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA) at the end of November, in response to a plea from Neth, the manager of the orphanage, as things have been and still are quite difficult over in Cambodia. Our recession here is also having an impact on them as less people are travelling further afield for adventurous holidays.

As such, the number of customers at the Veiyo Tonle restaurant, which is also run by Neth and directly supports the NCCLA, has dropped off making it harder to afford the essentials needed for the children, such as their education. Our donation allowed them to pay school fees for all 30 children, and was a great help to all at NCCLA, as Neth confirmed in an email once the donation had been received:

"Many thanks for your new coming donation last week of $1000. We all are very happy with the coming of your donation to our Association, and we promise that the funds given will be only spent for the children to go to school, provide them good education about general knowledge like English, Japanese languages, computer skills, traditional arts, dances and culinary skill, etc…

These would all not have been possible without your incredible support!

Many thanks for all the hard work you and your good friends are putting into raising funds to help us continue our work here in Phnom Penh.

Wishing all of you and family, a Good Health and Happiness always.

Neth, Staff and Kids at NCCLA"

Please find below a photo of some of the older children at school in Phnom Penh (click on the photo for the full-sized image).

The second bit of news from Cambodia is that no one involved with either the NCCLA or the Cambodian Handicraft Association (CHA), who we also support regularly, was involved in the recent tragedy in Phnom Penh. For those of you who missed it, there was a stampede at the annual Water Festival at the end of November in which 351 people were killed. Below is a link to a report in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/24/cambodia-stampede-swaying-bridge?intcmp=239

I had an anxious wait of a week or so before Neth and Kim Tha, who runs the CHA, confirmed that everyone was OK. It was a huge relief to hear that, but of course my thoughts do go out to all who did lose family and friends.

Unfortunately I have not been able to get out to Cambodia myself this year , but hope to get out there earlyish next year and will send another update then, unless we make any further donations in the meantime.

Finally I would like to thank everyone who has supported the CFF over the past year, it has been hugely appreciated as always, not only by me but also by all the children and disadvantaged adults that your money helps, as I am sure this photo will bear witness to (click on the photo for the full-sized image).

With very best wishes for a happy Christmas, and may the New Year bring you all you wish for.

Alan.