Giving Back: Places: Bringing Safe Water to Kids in Cambodia

Bringing Safe Water to Kids in Cambodia

From Jenni Lipa, New York

“This is a belated report after my heartwarming visit to Cambodia in July.

Together with your generous donations, we made our target and have proudly built 115 Water Wells in the rural area around Siem Reap. Each well supports an extended family and their neighbors, providing much needed clean water to over 100 people. A great use of $220 per well, however, they need to have another 500 wells built in the area.

It was the most amazing feeling traveling along the country roads and seeing so many of our water wells changing lives of many. We visited four schools and gave away 2,000 books and writing supplies as well as sponsored some of the poorest children’s education.

I had my heart torn out by an orphanage that houses 70 children in ages ranging from four years old to twenty years old. Rattan, the director, grew up in an orphanage, and he is determined to provide shelter for the children. Most of the children sleep on the tiled floor and some of them sleep on an iron frame-bed (8 children to a bed). They make an income from selling some of their artwork; however, there seems always to be a deficit of $300-$400 a month, just for food supplies.   Upon my return from Cambodia, fresh with enthusiasm, we are in the process of building more wells, and giving aid to some local schools that badly need supplies and salaries for teachers as well as more English teachers and helping out the Little Angel City orphanage. We have sent 60 pounds of clothing parcels for the children.

Amazing Angkor Tours has received the official Charity License and the group is now being called the Cambodian Child’s Dream Organization (CCDO). The website www.cambodianchildrensdream.org will soon be available.

We realize that in this global financial crisis, money is tight. However, we are grateful for every donation which is certainly stretched to the utmost.

If you are able to send any amount at all, please do so: Cambodia Wells, Attn: Jenni Lipa, 240 East 85th St #2A, New York, NY 10028”