More Village Visits in Laos!

We've taken a few days to rest and recuperate from a few minor ailments here at Steve's house in Luang Prabang - so a good time to try and catch up on the numerous village trips Steve has taken us on.

It was amazing to see the two schools Adopt a Village in Laos has built in Had Chan and Pha Yong villages. Click here to see Steve Rutledge's blog: Adopt a Village in Laos

Adopt a Village in Laos has provided water filters for every village home and has plans underway to install hygienic toilets throughout both villages. Here are three photos from Pha Yong:

  



The trip from Luang Prabang to Had Chan and Pha Yong villages is one of the most scenic I have ever experienced.  We left Luang Prabang by van early in the morning to arrive at the Nong Khiaw boat docks 2 hours later. The 40-minute boat ride up the river Ou was filled with breathtaking scenes and areas which took us through small rapids.

Below is a photo of the Nong Khiaw boat docks:

We spent the first night in the village of Had Chan and on the second morning we took the boat to Soupkhan village from which we hopped on a tractor taxi for the hour-long, bumpy trip through the hills to Pha Yong. Below is a taste of some of the astounding scenery along the way.

To give you an idea of the area we covered, below is a map of Luang Prabang province showing the Road 13 route from Luang Prabang to Pak Mong and Road 1 to the docks at Nong Khiaw. The area in the square indicates the village areas along the Ou river (but you won't find many small villages like Had Chan or Pha Yong named on any map!)

We spent Khmu New Year in the Khmu village of Had Chan. Here I had my first Bacci Ceremony experience. This ceremony is held for many occasions - births, deaths, special village guests, etc. - when we arrived in Had Chan, they were just about to start. This Bacci ceremony was being held outside under a makeshift awning. Food was laid out on a low, round table with guests and village elders sitting on mats around the table.  As part of the ceremony, white cotten bracelets are tied around each other's wrists with an accompanying Buddhist blessing. Food, music, dance and Lao-Lao follow. Here are photos of Steve and I at the Bacci Ceremony.

That was the pleasure part of our villages escapades - now on to the projects!

Steve has a wonderful rapport with villagers everywhere. His easygoing manner wins over everyone in the villages and they know from past experience that he is there to make a positive improvement in the quality of their lives and their village.

He may venture into a village with a water or school-building project, but it never ends there - he truly does 'adopt' a village, and revisits it to monitor and evaluate existing projects and then implements the next step toward improvement. These two villages had schools built by Adopt a Village in Laos. Steve was now back to show these villages the benefits of hygienic toilets and to start the process of implementing a project that would provide both Had Chan and Pha Yong villages with such toilets.

I'm watching Steve's every move  - it will be wonderful to bring this knowledge of hygienic toilet systems back to the rural areas of Cambodia!

Had Chan Village - Steve Discusses Hygienic Toilets with Villagers


I had a great time in Had Chan village. We slept comfortably at Oudom's family home in the village. Everywhere we went we were offered big meals which included village delicacies such as water buffalo meat, dried seaweed, sticky rice, chicken and all the local Lao fare. It is customary for people to eat from communal bowls using their hands.

A few days ago, Pauline Johns, Steve and I went with our Lao friend Somnuek to visit another village area - a 'New Village'. 

Ban Nong Buekhon - name of the new village - is comprised of four relocated villages. The people were moved for developmental reasons. This new area will give these people better future access to education and transportation. 330 families had been relocated to this area with an anticipated total of 375 families once all have been relocated.

Throughout the 48 hectares of this new village, families were busy rebuilding their homes and starting anew alongside the Mekong river. There are many future needs for this village which include a secondary school, clean water sources and bicycles for these children and the children in the nearby village 5km away.

Much to my surprise our convoy to this New Village was accompanied by the Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister of Agriculture and other officials from Luang Prabang Province. Our truck was filled with 80 mosquito nets and 100 blankets which were presented to the villagers in a special ceremony. The Governor presented the four of us with framed certificates thanking us for our kind donation.

Pauline, Lisa, Governor of Luang Prabang Province, Owner of Bel Air Resort, Steve

All these trips to villages and seeing the need for schools has got me really inspired to get a small A Mine Free World Foundation supported 'Muskoka School' project going in one of the Adopt a Village in Laos targeted villages. Once we all get over our colds, we'll be heading back to more villages in the northern part of the province.

On the way back from Ban Nong Buekhon we made a final stop at the village of Nong Hepe where we came along some students walking home from secondary school. Each day these students spend 3 hours walking to and from school. As in Cambodia, many families can't afford the cost of a bicycle for their children, let alone the secondary school enrolment cost of over $10/year. As in most developing countries, bicycles provide this vital link to transportation for education.

Nong Hepe Village Boys who walk 5km Each Way to Attend School

Off the Plane and Into Northern Laos Villages

It's been four years since my last visit to Laos, and I must say I have been eager to get back ever since...and thanks to Steve Rutlege, a fellow-Rotarian from Ontario - there are reasons to be back here that can get some beneficial projects going for the small villages in the remote Northern hill villages of Laos!

Before you read on - check out Steve's Blog at: http://adoptavillageinlaos.blogspot.com/

Adopt a Village in Laos is a non-profit Canadian organization building wonderful schools and providing vital clean water to these small remote villages. We'll be seeing many of these projects and intended future projects - one of them being a VERY exciting prospect - A Muskoka School site in the village of Hat Kham, by the Ou river near the northern boundry line between Phongsali and Luang Prabang provinces. More on that project in future postings.

Pauline Johns and I spent a very special Christmas Day. We took a flight to Luang Prabang which saw us arrive there at 6pm. We were met by Steve and Mike and a host of friendly Laos friends who wisked us away to Steve's lovely house (The 'Hilton' compared to some of the villages we stayed at in Cambodia)here in Luang Prabang.

After a toast to the season, it was time to enjoy a restaurant celebatory meal. We all caught up on projects at hand in Laos and Cambodia, and it was about midnight until my mind settled down enough to sleep...I was just so wound up with all the plans ahead that could transpire into such meaningful projects for the children here.

Next morning, Steve had the day planned with our first trips into the villages. Laos has got to be one of the most beautiful countries on earth - these hills in the north are lush, water is abundant, and a climate that is much more bearable than Cambodia.

Rich in beauty, but unfortunately that's where the weath ends. Laos is a struggling developing country seeing far less organizations at work in the rural areas than it's surrounding countries. There is a serious lack of schools and many that are operating are unsafe for the children attending.

Our first visit was to Xieng Nguen District School. Over 1300 students attend there 3 wooden structures that have main beams so badly infested with termites, it will soon pose a danger to the students attending. Four of the classrooms have been 'added on' under the floor beams resulting in 4 dungeon classrooms where children can barely see the blackboard at the front of the school. Steve's got a great plan that will save these students from there presently over-crowded, unsafe classrooms.

Next, it was off to Na Dad village where Steve is investigating a possible solution for a clean water source for the families there. At the top of the mountain, water flows down the mountain into a generating station and then continues into a river which flows through small villages alongside the water. Halfway down the river, there is a pig farm! Every bacteria you can think of from that pig farm is flowing down that river and is the water source for the people living alongside!

Some of the villagers have dug rusty steel wells right beside the river. We suppose that they think that that is a clean source of water, but it really is only the same river water that is a few feet away!

Last stop of the day has been recorded on video, which I'll have linked up to this site soon. A visit to a thoroughly neglected district clinic.

Many challenges, most that can be solved through the provision of education, schools and provision of clean water.

So many children here need bicycles to get to school. Steve and I will be investigating the logistics to provide some future Rotary Wheels for Learning bicycles to the rural children here.

A Mine Free World Foundation Board Members, Pauline and I are here to also investigate the needs of landmine victims here. There is apparently a whole village of landmine survivors living together that we'll be visiting.

We are off to more nearby villages tomorrow, and then after that we'll be making a 3-day trek by land, water and foot into some more remote areas up the Ou river.

A Mine Free World Foundation: Canadian Landmine Foundation Funds Businesses for Landmine Survivors

Cambodian 'Muskoka School' Children Receive Bicycles

On December, 22nd here in Ta Trav village,Siem Reap district, 20 students receive bicycles funded by the volunteer endeavors and donations by the citizens and Rotarians in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. US$3,500 was raised through A Mine Free World Foundation's Giant Garage Sale in Muskoka towards 100 bicycles for rural children in this area lacking transportation to get to school. The Trailblazer Foundation, here on the ground in Cambodia is conducting this vital project. For info:schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com

THANK YOU MUSKOKA

Cambodian ‘Muskoka School’ Students Receive Bicycles

Christmas has come two days early to 20 students here in Ta Trav village in rural Siem Reap province.

This past summer, a Giant Garage Sale was held at the Curling Club in Gravenhurst, resulting in US$3,500.00 raised for 100 bicycles for area children at the Muskoka School in Cambodia.

Thanks to the generosity of Muskoka citizens and Rotary Clubs, a bicycle project is now in place for 100 area children who lack the transportation to get to school.

The project saw funds raised through A Mine Free World Foundation http://www.aminefreeworld.org/ . The organization on the ground here in Cambodia handling the distribution program is the US Charity ‘The Trailblazer Foundation’ http://www.thetrailblazerfoundation.org/

Many Thanks to Scott and Chris Coats and Ung Rattana of the Trailblazer Foundation for the implementation of the project here in Cambodia.

Today saw the second lot of twenty bicycles distributed to students at the school here. Most of the students who received bicycles were those that will be going to a secondary school next year. At the Bicycle Distribution Ceremony, the Commune Chief urged them to use these bicycles to continue and further their education.

The ‘Muskoka School’ was built by the Trailblazer Foundation in 2009. Muskoka residents and Rotary Clubs raised over US$20,000 towards this school-building project.

Two more days to go until Christmas Day – when Pauline and I will be on a flight to Luang Prabang in Laos to meet fellow-Rotarian Steve Rutledge from Ontario who is building schools and providing clean water to the villages in the hills there. I’ll be there one month. Check Steve’s blog: http://adoptavillageinlaos.blogspot.com/

A Mine Free World Foundation - Etobicoke Rotary Meal Plan

A four month Meal Plan at Big Love School in Trapeang Thum village, Takeo province, Cambodia sponsored by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke Ontario. 70-80 children receive a nutritious hot meal of rice, meat, and vegetables six days a week. The children's weight has increased since the induction of the Meal Plan. Cost is aprox. $20/day to feed the children, plus start-up costs. After today's meal these children will receive Dental Hygiene education from Cambodian Dentist Dr. Khom Pisal, plus tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes sponsored by funds raised by Rotarians in Gravenhurst and Huntsville, Ontario. Projects conducted by A Mine Free World Foundation, Canada.

For information on supporting a meal plan for impoverished rural children in Cambodia, contact: schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com.

Business Support for Landmine Survivors in Cambodia - Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke

Click on above photo to view 13 Landmine Survivors who were provided with occupational and vocational support funded by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke.

11 businesses and 2 vocational courses were supplied to Landmine-affected families in Koas Krala district, Battambang province on November 19th, 2010. Total Project Cost for these 11 businesses and 2 courses was US$2,038.00. This was part of 'A Mine Free World Foundation's' PROJECT BATTAMBANG, which saw 32 businesses implemented, 2 vocational courses provided, educational support for 14 students provided and bicycles distributed by A Mine Free World Foundation and Rotary Wheels for Learning. To help support a landmine-affected family please email: schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com

Educational Support for 14 Students from Landmine-affected Families in Cambodia

Click on above photo to view 14-students from landmine-affected families supported by the Canadian Landmine Foundation

Over the past three weeks A Mine Free World Foundation board members Pauline Johns, Lisa McCoy and Un Vanthon have been busy implementing projects in Battambang and Takeo provinces here in Cambodia.  There are many updates to post!

The first stage of educational, vocational and occupational support has been implemented in Battambang province for landmine-affected families.  This undertaking is supported by the Canadian Landmine Foundation and the Rotary Club of Etobicoke. 

In Takeo province, we've visited Big Love School where the Rotary Club of Etobicoke has sponsored a four month meal plan for over 70 children.  We've also spent the past couple of days with Dr. Khom Pisal visiting area schools where she teaches the children Dental Hygiene and where we have distributed about 1,500 tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes. Thanks to Rotarians from Huntville and Gravenhurst for supporting this ongoing successful program.

All our team members have experienced great joy as we travel about Cambodia providing bicycles for children, self-sustainability to families affected by landmines, and educational support to students in need.

Keep tuned to this blog as I try to update all these continuing projects.  November was a busy month:

On November 20th, 2010, landmine-affected families received educational, occupational and vocational support. Funded by the Canadian Landmine Foundation, these 14 students in Koas Krala district, Battambang province have received bicycles, 2 sets of school uniforms, school supplies, school bag and a meal a day for two years. This is a part of 'Project Battambang', conducted on the ground here in Cambodia by 'A Mine Free World Foundation' www.aminefreeworld.org/ board and volunteers. Thanks to the Koas Krala District Office of the Cambodian Red Cross who helped identify these students in need, and is continuing to monitor their needs in the area.

Dental Hygiene Education and Supplies for Hundreds of Cambodian Children

Dr. Khom Pisal from the Angkor Dental Association in Siem Reap teaches valuable dental hygiene to over 300 children at a rural school location in Koas Krala district, Battambang province, Cambodia. This A Mine Free World Foundation project was realized thanks to generous help and support from Bill & Dora Rathbun and Cathy Jordan and members of the Rotary Club of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada. Our team went to 2 more village locations where hundreds more were taught and received toothbrushes and toothpaste. Help us do more! We want to help 300 children at a dump in Phnom Penh receive this help. To donate, please see: http://dentalhygieneforcambodianchildren.blogspot.com/

Cambodian Landmine Families Receive Support and Learn Dental Hygiene

On November 20, 2010 vital support was provided for 52 landmine-affected families in Koas Krala District, Battambang province, Cambodia. Dr. Khom Pisal from the Angkor Dental Association teaches dental hygiene and dental supplies provided to all through generous support from the Rotary Club of Huntsville. 34 businesses provided to families and educational support for children funded by the Canadian Landmine Foundation and the Rotary Club of Etobicoke. Projects conducted by A Mine Free World Foundation. Rotary Wheels for Learning provided 24 of these bicycles to children of landmine survivors. This has been the first self-sustainable support many of these people have received.

You small donation of $5 could provide dozens of toothbrushes and toothpaste for rural families in Cambodia....dental education is vital and non-existant in the rural areas of Cambodia. 

A Mine Free World Foundation,
906 Fung Pl.
Kitchener, ON
N2A 4M3

‘Project Battambang’ Plans Underway Here in Cambodia

Greetings to all from Phnom Penh! It certainly is good to be back here and involved in project plans that will be of benefit to landmine-affected families and impoverished children throughout Cambodia.


The monsoon floods have subsided, but there are still days where a raincoat is needed. When living in a hot, humid country of 80 to over 90 degree temperatures; cloudy days with a little rain are a welcome break.


Plans are underway for several projects that will take us into the remote areas of Takeo and Battambang districts.


With generous support from the Canadian Landmine Foundation and the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, 50 landmine-affected families will each be provided with educational, vocational or business support.


A Mine Free World Foundation (AMFWF) board member, Pauline Johns arrived from Australia earlier this week. Along with Un Vanthon and family and assisted by Red Cross worker Sophany in Koas Krala district in Battambang province, plans are well underway for our trip to Battambang on November 19th to provide this vital support for these 50 families.


You can view an album of these 50 landmine survivors and their families at this link:
Photos of 50 Landmine-Affected Families

On this 291km road trip from Phnom Penh, our vanload of volunteers will be accompanied by a truck carrying supplies for 32 businesses, 29 bicycles and school supplies for 14 students. The same local team of volunteers who conduct the AMFWF and Rotary bicycle distributions will conduct the first stage of this project along with 3 volunteers in Koas Krala.


A special volunteer will be also coming along – Dr. Khom Pisal from Siem Reap. She has had years of experience in teaching dental hygiene to rural families throughout Cambodia. She will be volunteering for Project Battambang as well as teaching dental hygiene at at least two scheduled sessions in Koas Krala – one for the 50 landmine-affected families on November 20th and another at a local school location. Thanks to generous funds raised through the efforts of Rotarians Bill Rathbun, Cathy Jordan and members of the Rotary Club of Huntsville, over 2,700 tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes will be distributed to rural families in Koas Krala and Takeo province districts. For more details, click here:
Dental Hygiene for Cambodian Children

In August of this year, AMFWF board member and local project coordinator, Un Vanthon made a trip to this remote area of Battambang province to identify 50 families in need of assistance. Working with district, commune, village officials and Sophany, Vanthon and a team of three local volunteers visited the homes of these landmine survivors to conduct an initial needs assessment. Care was taken to investigate each family’s distinct needs. Families without any sustainable income were interviewed to assess skills and personal interests to determine which village-level businesses could bring improvements to their lives. Families which already had an operating small business were assessed for business needs that would improve their existing businesses.


Each of these families lived in conditions that you and I cannot imagine. Most rural people live far below the poverty level, but landmine survivors are at the very bottom. Most are treated as outcasts in their villages as there still remains a strong, superstitious belief among rural people that landmine victims have befallen their fate due to bad luck associated with them.


Landmine survivors deal with social, psychological and physical hardships. But for these 50 families, there will be a marked improvement in the quality of their lives through the provision of education and self-sustainability.


32 families will receive supplies and start-up capital to implement a small business, or, supplies and capital to make improvements to their existing business.


Two landmine survivors will receive a year-long motorcycle repair course which will enable them to acquire a job at local shop, or with some help, eventually open their own small enterprise.


The following 20 businesses will be supported through grant funding from the Canadian Landmine Foundation:


9 Chicken Rearing Businesses


1 Barber Business


4 Bicycle Repair Businesses


1 Carpentry Business


5 Small Food Stall Businesses


The following 13 businesses and courses are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke:


6 Bicycle Repair Businesses


1 Watch Repair Business


1 Television Repair Business


2 Small Food Stall Businesses


2 Motorcycle Repair Courses

1 Barber Business

The ladies of Daphne’s Drop In at the Women’s Resource Center in Bracebridge are sponsoring a Sewing Business for a landmine survivor.


Costs for these small businesses cost between US$100-150 each, and include capital. For example: each $125 Chicken rearing business will receive 10kg of small chickens, a chicken basket and capital to buy more chickens and build a wooden chicken house on their property. Chickens are free-range in Cambodia, so there is no need to buy feed.


Please consider sponsoring one of the 16 remaining landmine-affected families in a small business that will lift them out of poverty. For more information you can contact me at: schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com . You will receive biographical information on your sponsored family and will receive a photo of them with their new business.


Pauline, Vanthon and I will be revisiting the current 34 recipients in a few weeks after they receive their supplies and support to document the improvements these vital businesses have made in their lives. We’d be so happy to be able to supply more businesses to the remaining families at that time!

Give the Gift of Self-Sustainability to a landmine-affected family this holiday season.


Cheques can be made out to ‘A Mine Free World Foundation’ and please write ‘Small Business Support’ in the memo field.

MAIL TO:

A Mine Free World Foundation
906 Fung Place,
Kitchener, On, Canada
N2A 4M3

Many Thanks Everyone!

Phnom Penh Monsoon Video

Just got out of Kandal Province in Cambodia which has been under over one-meter high floodwaters for over 3 days. It is the worst flooding my friend Vanthon has seen in his 50 year lifetime.
I have never experienced such rain and the after affects of the severe flooding. It is quite an experience to sit helplessly and watch hour-after-hour for the flooodwaters to recede.
After three days, I've watched everything go into the water that you have no choice but to walk in.
No electricity. No drainage. No functioning toilets. No way to safely wash.
I now have small insight into what long-term flood victims must go through.

$15,000 For Cambodian Landmine-Affected Families From Canadian Landmine Foundation

A Mine Free World Foundation would like to thank the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) http://www.clearlandmines.com/ for its recent approval of a grant of $15,000 that will go a long way to help landmine-affected families in Battambang province, Cambodia.



Plans are underway to provide a number of the 50 identified families in Koas Krala district (see previous blog entry) with small self-sustainable businesses and educational support for their children.


Through the support of this grant along with funding from the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, up to 30 of these families will be provided with rural small businesses such as bicycle repairs, vegetable farming, noodle-making, sugar cane drink stalls, clock & watch repairs, chicken farming, barber and hairdressing shops – just to name a few.


Amongst the 50 of these families, 14 children will receive bicycles, two sets of school uniforms, school supplies and fees and breakfast daily for 2 years.


Another 8 children from these families will receive bicycles from the support of generous individual donors of A Mine Free World Foundation.


A trip to Battambang is planned for the first part of November to distribute this support to these identified landmine affected families.


Through the Rotary Wheels for Learning   http://rotarywheelsforlearning.blogspot.com/ program of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, donations are currently being sought for 75 bicycles for children of these families and other impoverished children in this rural area.


I arrived in Phnom Penh 3 days ago to begin 6 months of volunteer work here. Local volunteers Un Vanthon and family and myself have been busy getting plans in place for next weekend’s Rotary Wheels for Learning bicycle distribution of 75 bicycles for rural children in Trapeang Tasome village in Takeo district.


Buy A Silk Scarf for $20 – Support Dental Hygiene for Rural Children!


Our Team will be making numerous trips to Battambang and Takeo districts this winter and accompanying us on some of these trips will be Cambodian Dentist Dr. Khom Pisal.

Please visit: http://dentalhygieneforcambodianchildren.blogspot.com/ .

Your purchase of a pure silk Cambodian scarf can provide dental hygiene education, toothbrushes and toothpaste for countless rural children and their families.


Help Support A Mine Free World Foundation’s work for rural landmine-affected children and their families. Your donations can go a long way to help these rural families out of their life of poverty.

To Donate, send your cheque to:


A Mine Free World Foundation


906 Fung Place,


Kitchener, On, Canada


N2A 4M3

A Mine Free World Foundation/Rotary Club of Etobicoke Sponsored Meal Plan in Trapeng Tasome Village,

Click on this photo to view full picasa web album, or click on the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/schoolsforcambodia/AMineFreeWorldFoundationRotaryClubOfEtobicokeSponsoredMealPlanInTrapengTasomeVillage#

Approximately 75 children (sometimes more!) are receiving a warm meal a day for 4 months at
Big Love School #2 in a rural village in Takeo province, Cambodia. Rice, vegetables and meat are eagerly gobbled down by
children who don't aways have a nutritous meal at their poor homes. It's the rainy season now, and this warm meal will give
them the strength to ward off disease and to study at school.


Thanks to A Mine Free World Foundation Board Member Un Vanthon and local teacher Ban Ven for all their work to implement
this successful program.


The Meal Plan is funded by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, District 7070.


ROTARY WHEELS FOR LEARNING


To help support bicycles for the children at the two Big Love Schools, please see:

http://rotarywheelsforlearning.blogspot.com/


Rotary Wheels for Learning is an international program of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, Ontario.

Your donation of ANY amount is tax-receiptable in Canada.
Give a rural child much-needed transportation for Education!

Our target is to provide 75 children at these schools with bicycles this October.

Project Battambang - Educational/Vocational Support for Rural Landmine Survivors & Their Families

A long-term project to assist 50 identified impoverished landmine-affected families living in the villages surrounding Koas Krala in Battambang province -
one of the most heavily mined areas in Cambodia. A Mine Free World Foundation (AMFWF), with initial funds provided by the Rotary Club of Etobicoke,
will provide small business enterprises for these families as well as educational support and supplies for their children's needs.
Lisa McCoy, Pauline Johns and Un Vanthon of AMFWF will be making their way into this area in November 2010 to implement this project.

View full picasa web album with information on each project recipient and their families at this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/schoolsforcambodia/ProjectBattambangEducationalVocationalSupportForRuralLandmineSurvivorsTheirFamilies

Day-to-day life is an endless struggle for families eking out a meager existence in the rural areas of developing countries. Of tantamount difficulty, is to manage this existence amongst a myriad of landmines below your feet – That is what families in rural Cambodia face, and will continue to face for many years, as Cambodia is one the world’s heaviest mined countries.


Over 4,000,000 million Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and landmines lay hidden beneath the ground in the rural areas of Cambodia, lying in wait for a hapless child playing to step upon.

The following information was found on the Landmine Cluster and Munition Monitor :

http://www.the-monitor.org/index.php/publications/display?url=lm/2008/countries/cambodia.html

‘About 40% of all casualties occurred in just two provinces: Battambang and Banteay Meanchey.’

‘Many governmental and NGO VA services in Cambodia are urban-based and do not fully reach persons with disabilities in rural areas. Although there were substantial improvements in the government’s treatment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, NGOs provided most of the VA during the reporting period, in cooperation with relevant authorities. Mine/ERW survivors remain a significant proportion of the total number of persons with disabilities in Cambodia and are among the poorest of the poor; Cambodia admits that much remains to be done to “ensure that appropriate mechanisms” exist to meet the needs of survivors and other persons with disabilities.’

‘Cambodia has no legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The government continues to prohibit persons with disabilities from being teachers in public schools.[139] However, the draft Law for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities was submitted to the government in December 2006 and approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2008; the law has yet to be approved by the National Assembly.[140] Cambodia signed both the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol on 1 October 2007, but as of 31 July 2008 neither had been ratified.’

A Mine Free World Foundation (AMFWF) is dedicated and determined to reach these disabled families- ‘the poorest of the poor’ - in their rural areas.

Thanks to the support of the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, ‘Project Battambang’ has been launched. AMFWF Board Member and Cambodian Project Coordinator, Un Vanthon has just returned from a ten day mission from Phonm Penh into the rural area of Koas Krala in Battambang province. He went with a small team of volunteers, which included 2 local Koas Krala guides and a member of the Red Cross.

In just this one area, 50 landmine-affected families were found, interviewed and a needs assessment was conducted. These 50 families can be viewed at the above picasa web album link.

Along with Vanthon and local guides, we will make our way back into that area in November to assess and provide the best self-sustainable help for these families. Many can be helped by just providing them with a small business - $100 can provide a chicken business, $125 a sewing business, $75 a small food business – the list is endless.

Their children can be provided with scholarship support or perhaps a bicycle, school bag and uniforms.

It will take time to assess the best needs and solutions for each family. Time that we happily give to see the end result for these families – a way out of poverty – a way to education.

NAMES OF LANDMINE SURVIVORS AND THEIR NEEDS AS SHOWN IN THE ABOVE PICASA WEB ALBUM LINK:


Hean hon "Moung District, A civil now, 57 year old
" "Was a army in 1979. have no right leg
Fought in 15 01,1991" "wife: Yim Mert 55 year old, 3
children" want to be fix the bicycle

Aeng Chun "Prey Parpal village, Kah kralor district,
a civil now, 45 Year old" "Was a army in 1982, Check the area
and stepped on mine and lost leg in
K.S Province" "Wife: Ngan pisey 42 year old, 2
son" want to be fix the bicycle

Leam Chunly "Prey Parpal village, Kah kralor district.
A civil now, 52 year old" "Was a army in 1772, Fought on 29 04
1984, in Mokol bory district, Lost two leg" "Wife: Ann yern 33 year old, 4
children " Want to be fix the clock

Heang saret "Kah Kralor village, Koh kralor district
49 year old, a civil now" "Was a army in 1979, in Beylin and
Lost right leg in september 1998" "wife: Yang Sopous 41, 5 children,
2 daughter and 3 son " "Now is a fix of Tv & radio,
want to have fund"

Khom Khang "Spean village, Kah kralor commune,
Koh kralor district, 68 year old, a cilvil" "Was a army in 1964, have accident in
8 1998 " "Wife: Mon Ann 61 year old, no
children" Want to raise animals

Kog koum "Kah kralor village, Koh kralor commune
Koh kralor district, 16 year old" "Cause by played with mine in 2004,
Lost right arm" "Father: Jonh Kog, 48. Mother:
Jonh mon 53. 7 sibling "

Ngern Kouy "Kah kralor village, Koh kralor commune
Koh kralor district, 41 year old" "Was a army in 1975, Lost eye in 1988
" "Wife: Phal rert 43, 3 daughter
" "A famer now, and want to be
a seller"

Rerng sovann "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district
45 year old, a civil" "Was a army in 1979 in Soroung village
Lost left leg in 1991" "Wife: Choum Seak, 43. 3
children" "want to do the agriculture,
grow mashroom"

Plet Hing "Female, 48. a widower
Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district" "Stepped on mine and lost right leg in
Tatok village" 2 daughter "want to sell water of
sugarcane"

Choun nget "Male, 52 year old. Chay village Tebhady
commune, Koh kralor district." "Was a army in 1982 and lost right leg
in 1982" "Wife: Neng samin, 55. 1
daughter"

Ho vearn "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
79 year old" "Was a army, and lost right leg in1992
cause by stepped on mine" Wife: Yart chout, 69. 1 daughter want to be a seller

Harge saret "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
48 year old" "Was a army 1979 and lost one leg in
01 07, 1995" Wife: Vey Chot, 51. 6 children Want to raise animals

Tep kosal "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
48 year old, " " disability body in 1998 in Toul methes
Village" "Wife: Ren sopone, 33. 4
children ( study)" want to do the agriculture

Mouv Cheat "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
55 year old, female" "Lose eye, when have war,
Cause by mine in1988" Wife: Sem eearn. 7 children

Rien Youm "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
32 year old" Lost twos Leg Live with mother 68 year old want to be a cut hair

Phech one "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
48 year old" Was a army, and lost two leg "Wife: Ket nong. 4 daughter
(study)" "now is a carpenter. And
need some meterial"

Sourn Yoen "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
79 year old" "Lost left leg in 1972 before Pol Pot
regime" Wife: Harm rain, 80. No children want to have fund

Kege Kouy "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
48 year old" Lost left leg in 1996 "Wife: dead. Mother, 98 year old
4 children" Want to raise animals

Keg Man "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
55 year old " Lost leg in 1982, in Sok San Area "Wife: Vern Von, 45. 5 children
( 1 is study)" want to be a seller

Vit Thoun "Koun Prom village Tebhady commune,
Koh kralor district. 47 year old" "Was a army and Lost right leg in 1992
in Boung Reang" "Wife: Koge kog, 44. 5 children
(3 is study)" "a cut hair now. Want to have
material of cut hair"

Rim Choum "Tebhady commune, Koh kralor district,
53 year old" "Was a army and lost left leg 31 12,
1982 in Kah kralor" "Wife: Peou Puge, 50. 6 children
(3 is study)" want to do agriculture

Kouy Vuth "Kontout village, tebhady commune, 49
year old" "Was a army and lost right leg in1986
in Koh kralor village" "Wife: Douk seoum, 59. 1
daughter"

Chok Chup "Kontout village, tebhady commune,
78 year old" Broken hip, cause by bullet in 1979 No wife raise animals

Son Sang "Kontout village, tebhady commune, 46
year old" Lost left leg in 1999 in Somlot. Wife: Choat Poug, 37. 1 son want to raise animals

Kheng herng "Kontout village, tebhady commune, Koh
Kralor district. 84 year old" "Lost right leg, deaf cause by mine in
Kah kralor district in 1983" Wife: Yill Loum, 65. 2 children raise animals and seller

Ney Cham "Toul baloung village, Koh kralor
commune. 48 year old" "Was a army in Beylin province, lost
right leg in 1989" Wife: Chea Touh, 48. 3 children Want to learn to fix Moto

Hum Chreug "Toul baloung village, Koh kralor
commune. 54 year old" "Was a army and lost left leg in 06 06,
1986 in Beylin province" "Wife: Ma sophone, 56. 1
daughter ( study)" Want to learn to fix Moto

Meum Haeng "Bong Preah village, Preah phous
commune, 40 year old" "was a army in 1991 at Tabon, and
disability body" Wife: Ngerm Ngar, 36. 4 chidren "want to make cake, or raise
animals or make wine"

Pun Bin "Toul baloung village, Koh kralor district
43 year old" was a army and lost left eye in 1986 "Wife: Kae savann, 31. 6 children
( 5 is study)" raise animal Seller

Het Heuy "Takour village, Preah phous commune,
Koh kralor district, 48 year old" "was a army and lost eyes in Beylin
in 12 03, 1989" "Wife: Hern Rous, 51. 3 children
1 is study" want to raise animals

Nil noy "Such harb village, Preah pous
commune, koh kralor district, 46 y" "Was a army and lost right leg in 1988
in Tebhady district" "Wife: Touy rom, 45. 6 children
(3 is study)" Seller: Gasoline, fix moto

Khev sareun "Such harb village, Preah pous
commune, koh kralor district, 64 y" "Lost left leg cause by dig land in Koh
kralor district in 12 04, 2003" "Wife: Hong Chern, 53. 1
daughter." raise animals do the farming

Phev ponlok "Boung Chenas village, Koh kralor
commune, 42 year old" "Lost left hand by mine in 1984 in
Somlot District" "Wife: Leang Sokha, 32. 3
children" want to be a seller

Hun Therm "Krang Svart village, Koh kralor
commune. 54 year old" Was a army and Lost left leg in 1985 Wife: Pok bong 56. no children raise animals do the faming

Hearm Ngon "Krang Svart Village, Chenal Moune
commune, Koh kralor District, 47
year old" "Was a army and Lost right leg in
Banon" "Wife: Chearl Khvean, 51. 7
children" raise animals

Keo Phel "Krang Svart Village, Chenal Moune
commune, Koh kralor District, 48
year old" "Was a army and lost right leg in
Komping Pouy" "Wife: Moum Nat, 41. 5 children.
(No study)" "Want to have bicycle to take
vegetable to sell ( No land to
live)"

Sern Chey "Krang Svart Village, Chenal Moune
commune, Koh kralor District, 53
year old" "Lost left leg, cause by Mine in 1997
in Chenal Moune, when he was cut tree " "Wife: Chen Hern, 49 year old.
9 children( 2 is study)" raise animals

Terng yeark "Krang Svart Village, Chenal Moune
commune, Koh kralor District, 56
year old" Lost left leg in 1991 No wife: 2 children raise animals

Meas dos "Banteay Char village, Koh kralor district
45 year old
" "Lost left leg in 1995 in Kompot Phonm
Voer" "Wife: Heang Chanthea, 38. 4
children (study)" raise animals

Arn Nann "Rersey Preah village, Koh kralor district
35 year old" "Was a army, Lost eye, cause by mine
in Marlay district" "Wife: Kom Kern, 38. 4 children
(study)" Sell fish, and need fund

Soun Sout "Prey Sern village, Koh kralor District,
47 year old" "Was a army and lost left leg in 1980,
in Sok San camp" "Wife: Reat Begn, 33. 9 children
( 3 is study)" "Want to fix Bicycle and
motor or raise animal "

Yaan sarert "Prey Sern village, Koh kralor District,
44 year old" "Lost left arm in 1988 cause by mine
" No wife. 6 children. (5 is study) "raise animal and support
children to school"

Cheang sareoun "Prey Sern village, Koh kralor District,
52 year old" "Was a army in 1978 and lost left eye
in 1988 in Porvil." "Wife: Keo Phern, 47. 1 children
(study)" raise animals

Choum Sovaan Prey Sern village, Koh kralor District, 20 year old Lost left leg in 2004 in Sompeou Lon "Mother: mern Touk 52, Father:
Sreir Choum, 53. 8 sibling" "Want to fix Bicycle and
motor or raise animal "

Haerm Buntheoun "Prey Sern village, Kok Kralor district,
50 year old" Lost Leg raise animal

Koun khan "Prey chok village, Preah Pous
commune, 54 year old" "Was a army, Lost twos Leg in 2001 in
Poypet " "Wife: Park Veang, 46 children
3 children (study)" raise animals

Heang Sareoun "Koy Veang village, Preah pous
commune, Koh kralor district,
55 year old" Lost right arm in 1987 "Wife: Srash Moush, 55. 4
children ( 3 is study)" raise animal & agiculture

Kak Kob "Sorong village Koh kralor District,
38 year old" Lost left leg in 1996 in Krawine Wife: Kom Touh, 21. 3 children raise animal and fix bicycle

Lauy chart "Sorong village Koh kralor District,
75 year old " Lost left leg in 1993 "Wife: Yom Hugn, 66. no
children" want to do agriculture

Cheang In "Samkhey village, Koh krolar district
46 Year old" Lost right leg in 1985 "Wife: Lon Chout, 50. 4 choildren
" raise animals & agriculture

Consider helping or sponsoring one of the above families!


Your donation - any amount will help toward this big undertaking - can be sent to:

A Mine Free World Foundation
906 Fung Place,
Kitchener, ON, N2A 4M3


In Memo Field, please write:

‘Project Battambang’
Many Thanks for your Support,
Maria van Santen, Pauline Johns, Lisa McCoy
A Mine Free World Foundation

Etobicoke Rotary Club Sponsors Children from Landmine-Affected Families in Rural Cambodia

A Mine Free World Foundation (AMFWF), www.aminefreeworld.org , would like to thank the Rotary Club Of Etobicoke, District 7070, for their generous educational/vocational support for rural landmine-affected families in Cambodia. Their total donation of $5,000 ($2,500 earlier this year and another $2,500 this past week) for landmine survivors, and another donation of $2,781 for a Four-Month Meal Plan for 76  children in Cambodia will provide much-needed support that rural familes in Cambodia cannot afford. Three more children received Bicycles, School Uniforms and Supplies this past week.

The Rotary Club of Etobicoke has now supported 5 children on the outskirts of Phnom Penh with bicycles, uniforms, books, school bags and supplies. They are also supporting 2 sisters from a landmine-affected family in Siem Reap - Theary, age 17 and Sampous Jouen, age 7who are living and learning under the care of AMFWF Khmer Team Member Chea Socheat and family in a house provided by AMFWF board member Pauline Johns.  Thank you Khemra for your help too!

The Rotary Club of Etobicoke is supporting Theary and Sampous with meals, clothes, bicycles and school supplies.  They have provided Theary with a sewing machine and supplies, and a professional sewing course at a local seamstress shop which Theary is enjoying immensely!

You too can provide a sewing machine business for a rural woman in Cambodia for a donation of $125 to AMFWF.

Of Special Note to Rotarians - On August 23rd, Chris Snyder of the Rotary Club of Toronto will be the special guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Meeting.  He's participated in and led  'Sweat Equity' trips into many developing countries.  He'll be showing a DVD on this past winter's trip of 20 Rotarian's and friends to Cambodia and will tell you about a return trip in the making for the fall of 2011.

Chris is also on the board of the Canadian Landmine Foundation, and will speak a little about the work this organization does.   The meeting begins at noon at the Regatta Restaurant down at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst.

Many thanks again to the ladies of Daphne's Drop In at the Women's Resource Center in Bracebridge, Ontario for providing such a business to a rural woman.  I'll be happily giving out that donation personally when I head to Cambodia the beginning of October.

A BIG PERSONAL THANK YOU to Jay and Linda Harrison of Gravenhurst, Ontario who surprised me this past week by donating $1,010 to pay for my airfare to Cambodia!  They had just finished a work project for Don and Mimi Gillies of Gravenhurst and had decided to donate their work efforts towards my airfare.

My on-the-ground transportation in Cambodia will be my sturdy new STRIDA bicycle donated by Steve Inniss at Saved By Bikes. Check out his blog at: http://savedbybikes.com/blog/ .

Being a self-funded volunteer, I appreciate and am thankful for the support I receive.

Director Om Chamnap of AMFWF supported school - Banyan Learning Tree - on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, is shown in 2 of the picasa web albums giving the donations to children living in 3 surrounding villages. Your Donation of $85 can supply a child with these needed items for school. Contact schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com for information on how you can support the child of a landmine survivor in Cambodia through A Mine Free World Foundation.

To view all three picasa web albums of Etobicoke Rotary sponsored students please see:

http://picasaweb.google.com/schoolsforcambodia/EtobicokeRotaryClubSponsoredChildrenFromLandmineAffectedFamiliesInRuralCambodia#

http://picasaweb.google.com/schoolsforcambodia/RotaryHelpForLandmineAffectedStudentsInCambodia#

http://picasaweb.google.com/schoolsforcambodia/EtobicokeRotaryClubSponsoredStudents#

More updates on the Rotary-sponsored Meal Plan In the Takeo village of Trapeang Tum Tbong in my next blog posting.  AMFWF Team Member Un Vanthon is on his way there now to implement the project with local teacher Ban Ven.

A big AMFWF Etobicoke Rotary sponsored project is on the horizon for Battambang Province - the most heavily mined area in Cambodia.  This province has the most landmine casulties in Cambodia and the greatest need for educational/vocational support for landmine survivors and their families.  The project will be implemented in November when Pauline Johns arrives in Cambodia to volunteer with me.  Un Vanthon is laying the groundwork for this project now.

October is fast approaching and I am looking for donations of  good used LAPTOPS, DIGITAL CAMERAS and READING GLASSES.

To donate, please contact me at: schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com

Thank you Everyone!

Lisa McCoy - Executive Director, AMFWF
Maria van Santen -  President, AMFWF

Garage Sale Funds Making a Difference in Cambodia

It’s been a month since we held the Giant Garage Sale at the Curling Club here in Gravenhurst, Ontario which raised $4,740 for children in Cambodia through A Mine Free World Foundation (AMFWF).



These funds have been sent to Cambodia and are slowly making improvements for the education of children there.


US$3,500 was sent to the Trailblazer Foundation to conduct a 100-Bicycle Distribution Project for children requiring this necessary transportation to get to the ‘Muskoka School’ in Siem Reap province. The Trailblazer Foundation, www.thetrailblazerfoundation.org , is the US registered charity that spearheaded the building of the Muskoka School. They conduct numerous school building and water projects throughout the area.


They will be slowly disbursing the 100 bicycles to children who have to walk miles, or cannot get to the Muskoka School and surrounding schools. They’ll be sending along photos and a list of all the children who get this valuable means to get to school.


It’s the rainy season over there now. Some roads are impassable during this time of the year, so getting the bicycles to the children may take a while. Incidentally, schools are closed during July and August because it rains so hard.


But, there are some schools that stay open year-round there. These are the small ‘free-education’ schools. They are usually supported by outside organizations and depend on their funding to operate, since there is inadequate government support for any schools in Cambodia, as in most developing countries.


Free education schools provide Khmer and English literacy education, math and other subjects free of charge to any child, any age, who wants to learn. It does not matter if they attend a government school or not, and many can’t attend the government schools. Some children, especially in the rural areas, are needed to work the farm or the family business. Some can’t afford the few pennies it costs to attend most government schools. But here, at these ‘free-education’ schools, a child can attend one, or several of the usually one-hour long classes that are offered throughout the day.


Earlier this year, my dear friend Pauline Johns from Australia, put the funds in place to register such a ‘free-education’ school and organization in Cambodia – just on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.


It is run by Director Om Chamnap, a qualified teacher who has background experience in operating a non-government organization (NGO). Over 50 children are attending the one-room school – Banyan Learning Tree.


A Mine Free World Foundation sent US$435 to Banyan Learning Tree School for desperately-needed school-desks, notebooks, pens, pencils and rulers. – plus 3 signs that will help visitors, volunteers and prospective students find the school! More funds are needed for some English/Khmer books, and other supplies for this new school. If you can help out, please contact me at: schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com


There are other ways you can help this school – if you are in Phnom Penh, drop by and sit in with one of the classes. Help the children learn to read English. Or, volunteer on a longer basis. Groups are also welcome to visit. There is a huge sign on the highway to Takeo now indicating precisely where the school is. If you telephone tuk-tuk driver Vanthon in Phnom Penh, he will take you right to the school: 012 906 793.


To volunteer or visit you can contact me or Director Om Chamnap. I will be in Cambodia from the beginning October to the beginning of April.

Banyan Learning Tree School


House #70, Street Chamcardong, Kvar Village,


Sangkat Dangkor, Phnom Penh, Cambodia


Phone: (+055) 012 590 009 Email: chamnap.kethya@gmail.com





Another ‘free-education’ school which received AMFWF Garage Sale funding is ‘Big Love School’ in the rural Takeo village of Trapeang Tum Tbong. They received US$250 for much-needed school supplies there. This rural village will be the main station for Pauline and I this winter. Pauline has rented a house where we will live and conduct many of our projects and volunteer at the school. A big Thank You to Vanthon for finding us this house. We hope to get a one-room clinic operating in this house, as the impoverished people in this area lack the money for basic medical attention or the transportation money required to get to a local free clinic.


There’s lots more news to tell and photos to share, but I’ll leave that for my next posting.


In the meantime, there are some items that are on the NEEDS LIST for Cambodia, that I would like to take over with me the beginning of October. Please contact me if you can donate any of the items below in good-used or new condition:


DIGITAL CAMERAS


LAPTOPS operating on Windows


READING GLASSES


Many Thanks,


Lisa McCoy

$4,740 RAISED AT GIANT GARAGE SALE FOR CAMBODIAN CHILDREN

$4,740 RAISED AT GIANT GARAGE SALE

Many thanks to all those who helped raise this monumental amount at our 5th Annual Giant Garage Sale in aid of needy rural children in Cambodia. Our goal to raise US$3,500 for 100 bicycles for the ‘Muskoka School’ in Siem Reap province was far exceeded thanks to the hard work and generosity of Muskokans far and wide.


A big thank you goes to the Gravenhurst Curling Club for allowing us to hold our July 10th & 11th sale in their arena – which we filled with four garages worth of donated items. Sincere thanks to fellow Cambodia travelers Jay and Linda Harrison, who helped coordinate the event. Our dedicated volunteer’s energy levels were replenished thanks to delicious sandwiches provided by Blondie’s Restaurant and Catering. Bill & Dora Rathbun kept us going with fresh perked coffee all weekend.

Thanks to Friday trucking and muscle power provided by Jay & Linda Harrison, Enno Hoekstra, Pat Bongers, Leslie Chamberlain, Steve Hayhurst, Andy McCoy and our crew of movers. Thanks to all who manned the sale over the weekend and helped to clean up. A special thanks to all those from the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst for their volunteer efforts.

Dan Blix Ad Services provided the graphic design for all our posters and handouts. Many thanks to Muskoka area publications for their support and promotion of the sale. Thanks also goes to Dan for designing the bright new header on this blog site.

Because of your donations and efforts, rural children in Cambodia who do not have the means by which to attend the ‘Muskoka School’ there, or have to walk kilometers to attend, will be provided with a bicycle. This is a collaborative project of ‘A Mine Free World Foundation’ in Canada and ‘The Trailblazer Foundation’ in the US. Excess funds will go to provide school desks and supplies for two small rural schools and educational support for needy children. You can follow the progress of these projects at: http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com/

On Monday, July 12th, I visited one of my fovorite group of ladies in Bracebridge at 'Daphne's Drop In' to give them a presentation of my past winter's volunteer efforts. Last year, these wonderful women donated $150 for food for flood victims in Cambodia after Typoon Ketsana left many homeless and in great need there.

This year, they donated $125 for a sewing machine and supplies for a rural Cambodian woman to have her own clothesmaking and mending business.  One of the women also donated a good used laptop that is desperately needed by teachers and students there.

My good friend, Maria Duncalf, organizies Daphne's Drop In, which is a fun weekly drop in for ALL women - every Monday, from 9:30 - 12:00 at the Women's Resource Centre in Bracebridge. For more info, contact: Daphne@muskoka.com

Speaking of laptops - I head back to Cambodia the beginning of October and am in need of more good used LAPTOPS to take with me - also some used educational CD-ROMS.  Contact me at 705-687-8538 or schoolsforcambodia@gmail.com if you can help out with this need.

Having fun riding my new STRIDA bicycle - getting it warmed up for Cambodia action - check out Steve Inniss'  Saved By Bikes blog at:  http://savedbybikes.com/blog/.


Lisa McCoy,

Executive Director

A Mine Free World Foundation