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Cambodian Village Fund
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We're going to Cambodia in January
We will be going to "our" village for three days in January '08. Chanra's mom will meet us there. We have over $1,500 to purchase food, clothing and other supplies for the village. Chanra and her mom will pay for a big festival and dinner to which all the residents of Prey Tauch will be invited. We're excited about meeting our friends in the village. We will take lots of photos and video which we will post on this website when we return. |
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How the Cambodian Village Fund Started:
To celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, we started the Cambodian Village Fund to buy bicycles and basic necessities for the village of Prey Tauch (near Battambang), Cambodia. The idea was born when Chanra Chheum, our Cambodian friend, told us that only $40 buys a bike. We decided to give a bike to the village as our 40th anniversary present to each other. When our friends learned of our idea, they wanted to contribute as well and before we knew it, the Village Fund had grown to over $3,200. |
Chanra and Nancy at our 40th Anniversary Party |
Watch the Video
Click here to watch the video from Prey Tauch, Cambodia, and see how the donations were distributed. (Broadband only)
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Phase I - October, 2006
Chanra’s sister, who lives in the village, compiled a list of the most needy villagers. Chanra’s mother traveled to the village in October with $1,000 in cash (from our fund) tucked into her bra. In Cambodia, she bought bikes and essentials for these ten people and their families. The recipients were young and most of them orphaned. Not only did Chanra’s mother buy the goods, she also organized a festival for the entire village (and for several other surrounding villages). |
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List of items given to each person:
a brand new bike
50-lb bag of rice
50-lb bag of sugar
30 packets of noodles
6 bottles of soy sauce
6 bottles of fish sauce
garlic
MSG
a blanket
a mosquito net
a sorong
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She prepared a meal for over 500 people. Chanra’s mother is one amazing woman. She worked very hard to stretch our funds. We only wish we could have been there to help.
Each recipient wrote a thank you note which Chanra translated. Following is what we learned about them from their thank you notes.
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| Kan Man, 21, is a college student. His parents could not afford to take care of him so he lives with Chanra's sister where he does chores, including taking care of their pigs. |
Mon Gentun, orphaned. She is a 9th grader. She is the youngest with 4 brothers and 2 sisters. She lives with her oldest sister. They have no rice field or cows and no way to make a living. She wished us long life, prosperity and no enemies.
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Sorn, orphaned. He is a 9th grader and very poor. He lives with an older sibling. He is very grateful for the gifts, but has nothing to give back. In return, he promises to study hard and become a good person and a model citizen in the village. |
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| Nun Vandad, orphaned. He is very thankful for the very big gift because now he can go to school. |
Mau Thyda, 18, orphaned. She is an “A” student in the 8th grade, but cannot go to school full time. She is living with an auntie who is very sick. There is no money for school. |
Purt Kontia is an A student and is very poor. She is happy to have the bicycle, which she will ride to school. |
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| Wait Nom, 17, is in the 7th grade and a “D” student. |
Hang Kontia has no parents and is very happy to receive the gifts. She plans to ride the bike to school. |
Vandy’s mother and father wrote the thank you letter and were very grateful for the gifts. His family can one meal per day, so he goes to bed hungry.
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Jake Ron, 12, is very poor. His father left the family and his mother was killed by lightning. He lives with his older sister (15) and brother (17). He fishes for a living and exchanges the fish for rice. He cried when he got the wonderful presents. (Millie, Bill and Nancy’s neighbor, will send extra money to help this little guy.) |
Chanra’s mother gives presents to Jake Ron at the village celebration.
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| Chanra’s mother with the children in the village. When we go to the village, we’ll budget extra to buy an ice cream for each kid -- That would mean the world to them. |
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Phase 2 - January 2008
In January 2008 we traveled to Cambodia to distribute school uniforms (shirts and flip-flops) to each of the 720 children attending the Prey Tauch school. We will be posting details, photos and video of our visit on our website soon. |
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Would You Like to Help?
We welcome your support in helping us make a difference in this world. Your entire tax-deductable donation will go to the Cambodian village. None of your donation will be used for any of our expenses or travel--that's part of our contribution. (If you donate by PayPal, PayPal will deduct a small percentage.)
The Cambodian Village Fund is recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt organization. Donations can be deducted on your income tax. You can make a donation by sending a check payable to:
Cambodian Village Fund
In care of Bill and Nancy Bamberger
4376 Argos Dr.
San Diego, CA 92116-2330
Or you can donate using PayPal by clicking on the button, below. Note: You do NOT need a PayPal account; you can put your donation on your credit card.
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