October, 2009
On the 2nd weekend of October, Mr. and Mrs. Samith organized an information event and invited 30 extremely poor families of the surroundings to the center in order to inform them about the following issues:
- All children should go go school as education it is the only possibility to ensure long-term support for the family.
- Environmental responsibility start with basic things as how to collect rubbish and get rid-off it by other ways than throwing it in the lake or elseware.
- SCAO wants to encourage mutual help and support in the neighbourhood.
- Promoting and informing about the gratis English and Sewing project offered by SCAO.
- Vision and mission of SCAO.
At the end of the speech held by Mr. Samith, he his wife, the kids and volunteers helped to hand-out 5kg rice, soja sauce, fish sauce and noddles to each family.
Li May goes to school and is very enthusiastic about it. She wears school uniform of size xxs.
Hom got a sponsorship by a German woman for the 1st semester of his studies and the Phnom Penh Agriculture University. His enrollment will take place soon.
The library project is lead by the dutch/chinese volunteer Ginney Liu, resident in Phnom Penh. A large book shelf was puchased, the existing books categorized. The kids at the center are now more encouraged to use the books as they are always visible and reachable. Also volunteers have started with reading sessions.
We got one more student for the sewing project.
Unfortunately heavy flooding in the area has reached the Center and the school ground. Water rises daily and the level is higher than last year's highest. Rains will continue until mid of November. This week we will have to stop the English and Sewing projects. Even the paved way from the village to the center is heavily flooded, most children can't access the school anymore. The public school is also 80 cm flooded and will remain closed for a longer period. The water stinks and is full of dead fish. Mr. Samith built a wall to protect the inner center from the water but there is not much hope that this measure will prevent the flooding of the kitchen, etc. of the Center. Only access to the center since last Thursday is by boat or by walking along the wall. Although Mr. Samith looks positively into the coming weeks hoping that the rains will stop and despite of the fun the children have in the first days of this exiciting situation, I suppose the worst part and especially serious health problems for the children are still for coming.
One volunteer is remaining at the center. Tourist obviously cannot access anymore. Baby Long already has painful skin infections.
Mr. Struve and a friend have offered our flats for giving shelter for the younger kids and Mrs. Samith. At mid of this week Mr. Samith will evaluate if he takes this posibility.
SCAO has to and will go through this, hopefully without serious effects on the children's health.
July, 2009
We are building a library at the Center: We request all visitors and volunteers to bring books to SCAO.
June, 2009
S.C.A.O. now has a new website! The Web Success Team fully donated it's time to build and manage the new SCAO site.