Trapeang Thum

As we have now rented a house in Trapeang Thum (see http://camparisincambodia.blogspot.com) it will be possible to spend longer periods of time in this area without the travelling back to Takeo every night.

Map and Nyet's house is falling apart and the family have had to find shelter elsewhere,  so the first project is to build something new for her family.  This will be done by the village men and constructed from bamboo and wood.

Cambodians have large families, there is a desperate need for family planning education as they have more children than they can afford to support.  The men in the villages find it very difficult to find work and often need to travel to the city for short-term employment.  Alcohol is a big problem also as the men are sitting around idly all day.

Remember Srey Huoy (see Preay Pheal Village). I am so excited she has responded so well to her treatment, after the eye operation she can now ride a bicycle and go to the market for her mother.  Such an amazing difference and hopefully her literacy will now improve, but learning is very difficult for her.

Takeo Province

Due to the generosity of Julie and Charlie Myatt from Queensland,  we have been able to  construct two new wells in the Takeo district.  The well in Prey Pheal Village will be used by many families, there is a serious lack of water, this is a particularly dry area of Cambodia.    I was happy to do  this in memory of Phal, who died last month, it has made her family very happy.

The second well is in the Village of Takem where we have constructed a house for Chan's family.  Chan is 17 and he has 4 siblings, his mother is unwell and also has some mental instability and the grandmother, Mauy, who has always kept the family together, is very frail.  They were all living in one room that did not keep the weather out - they now have a new house and all are much happier.  Mauy keeps her coffin stored in the room they all live in waiting for the day she will need it.

We are looking for some small business we can train Chan to do, as he is the only one who can bring in money for the family.  Bicycle repairs is a  good business, with a small compressor and some parts it can bring in some income.  Looking at the costs to set this up.

Oung Phan is 83 years old, she lives alone and her house is falling down.  We have her in hospital at the moment having treatment and are now repairing her house.  Looks like I'm now in the house building business - new projects keep finding me.

Prey Pheal Village

Visited Map and Nyet in their village yesterday.  Cannot believe the size of the new baby, how do these babies get to be so chubby when there's such a lack of food for the families - amazing!    We delivered clothes donated by Ella and Charlie (my grandchildren).  The girls were very happy but the boys don't seem to care whether they wear any clothes at all.  

We have plans to put a well in their village - this part of Cambodia is extremely dry and they have a desperate  need for clean water.  Vanthon gave out supplies of soap and shampoo with instructions what to do with them  "this is 'lifeboy' you wash your body'.  

Huoy has been back to the eye clinic for treatment - she has been swimming and the eye needed to be kept dry after the operation.  The state of the water they swim in it's a wonder she has any sight at all.  The doctor is very surprised how the one eye has improved, but this will be as far as we can go with improving the sight - her next step is rehabilitation to improve her ability to live a normal life.  It's a great improvement    

compared to what she was like when I met her.  

Phork Phal

I have been writing about Phal from my first posting and am sad to say she  became seriously ill on Monday night and died within 24 hours.  The continuing saga with her blood tests, though so difficult to deal with at the time, was obviously happening for a reason.  We never did get to start Phal's treatment, but this is the way it was meant to be. 

Vanthon was there for her at the end and a wonderful support for the family.

Hospitals in Cambodia

The trials of working in Cambodia are expanding each day.   

Phal's blood test has been 'lost' so we are waiting until April 27 before they can take another.  I cannot understand why we wait so long but this is the way things are done in this country.  We will now wait until May 11 for the test result as this cannot be done in Cambodia and needs to be sent to Bangkok.  This will mean six weeks to get one blood test result and we are dealing with a girl who has Leukemia!  I leave for Australia on 28th and still do not know if or when treatment can commence, so  it  looks like I will be back here sooner then planned. 

When I go to these hospitals I always have my co-worker Vanthon  with me, but even having him there to translate, it is still difficult for us to understand the process.  On Thursday this week we booked Srey Huoy, the blind girl, into a hospital to have her eyes examined under anesthetic.  We were sent off to five different sections of the hospital before we found a person who understood our request.  Huoy is still waiting there with her mum to have this procedure carried out.

Vanthon and I talked today about the need to always remind ourselves of the things achieved and not become overwhelmed by what is still not completed.  There are many many people here doing wonderful things for Cambodia - it is very inspiring.

from Siem Reap

I have been in Siem Reap for a few days working on my projects here.  Tomorrow will go back to Phnom Penh to celebrate the 3days of Khmer New Year with Vanthon, Navey and family.

Vanthon and I will travel to the villages after the new year to check on the children and Ban Ven's school.  This work could not be done without Vanthon's help - he will check on the villages each month while I am  away.  His heart is larger  than his tiny body!

Phal's blood test has been sent to Bangkok, so we now wait patiently for the result on the 20th - hopefully we can commence her treatment before I travel home on 28th.  So much time is spent waiting for tests and results - the practice of patience is required full-time (as many of you are aware - not my strong point).

from Takeo

Loy will need 2 operations for his eye, so I will leave this until next year as the family have quite enough to deal with at the moment.  Vanthon and I have bought them all home with their new baby.  Looking at their house I am astounded at the living conditions for a family of six.    The house is one room large enough for a sleeping platform and this is where everyone sleeps. During the day the 'living room' consists of a sitting platform under an awning at the front - this is quite usual for a rural house but the first time I've seen such lack of hygiene.   

These families have never had any education they live in squalor as they have never been shown how to keep themselves and their homes clean and healthy.  Vanthon, with his big heart, will spend a few days here each month  teaching them sanitation.  Many  children have sores on their bodies that can be cleared up with a good soapy wash.

The difference with Srey Huoy's family is very noticeable, the mother does a  very good job of keeping her house and her children as clean as is possible in their extremely poor living conditions.

Huoy is finding her new raybans helpful, they aid her to see a little during the day.  Unfortunately the doctor thinks she may have a more serious problem so we will take her to Phnom Penh for a mental assessment.  Her brother, Vouern, has glasses to straighten his eye - his problem will be easily fixed, and he's looking very cool in his blue glasses..