Cambodia Update Nov. 2009

Greeting’s from Cambodia! 

Hello Project Enlighten supporters, I wanted to give you all a quick update on what has been transpiring since I

arrived in Cambodia almost one week ago today. I hit the road running so to speak, over 20 Rotarian’s from

Toronto, Canada had arrived to work side by side with local villagers to start construction on two buildings on

our Bankong Technical College Project.

We are so thankful for

the partnership with

Toronto Rotary, this

has been a very

successful venture. A

big thank you to Lisa

McCoy, Ronnie

Yimsut, Yarann ,

Saeng and our scholarship recipients Naret, Khmera

and Channy and many others, who have been

working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this

happen. Thank you! 

As in any project in a third world country, obstacles

are sure to be present, we are not immune. There

have been delay’s in receiving our permits, but we

have forged forward with Toronto Rotary to focus on

other PE projects in the interim. Rotarians have been

volunteering at PE sponsored Volunteer

Development Children’s Association school.

Working to organize the library, teaching English

and drawing up plans to build a Teachers conference

room, plus fixing plumbing issues and building book

cases. Rotary has also been visiting and teaching at

the Cambodian Landmine Museum.

I was fortunate to be able to bring over several boxes

of books that were handed out to Mr. Togh and the

children at VDCA. This is such a priceless gift for

the children. Thank you so much Kristina and Thu

for these cherished books! If anyone has more books

they would like us to bring to our students in

Cambodia, Laos or the Burmese Refugee Camps

please send us an email and we can work out the

details! Simple gift with high reward! 

This will be the first of many updates as we have so

much to share with you all. News on our Scholarship

students and

coordinator, BTC,

and a new

opportunity

developing in Laos! 

As always we cannot

do what we do

without your valued

donations.  Even $10 buys bricks for our schools and

school supplies. Together we can make a difference! 

More coming...... 

Khmer Travels

Well, the Project Enlighten gang is back in Cambodia and working very hard!
The Bakong Technical College site is the main focus this month, we have a group of Canadian Rotarians  doing a Sweat Equity project with us, please check out their Blog at:

http://sweatequityd7070.blogspot.com/


Asad made it safe and sound to Cambodia, last Friday with the warmest of welcomes from Ronnie, Yarann, Saeng, Lisa, Bill and Jill Morse and of course Sao. He was greeted with a ice cold Angkor Beer. It was excepted with humbled gratitude!! He got just a few hours of sleep before rising quiet early to take a trip to the Floating Village with Ronnie and 20 plus Rotarians. His travels have gone smooth but there is so much to do on this trip...and one great adventure has been greeted with another, at day break each day. We hope to hear more from Siem Reap and have photos posted soon for you all.


Please stay tuned!

Love and respect,
Olivia, on behalf of a very busy Asad : )

17 die as river ferry sinks

Prayers go out, from Project Enlighten, to the families in Cambodia who have been affected by this tragedy.
- P.E. Family

Sunday, October 11, 2009

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- An overloaded river ferry capsized on its way to a Buddhist ceremony in Cambodia, killing 17 passengers in a tributary of the Mekong River, an official said Sunday.

Kham Phoeun, governor of Kratie province, said the boat was crammed with 30 passengers when it capsized in midstream in northeastern Kratie province, said Police Maj. Leng Sarum. He said 13 passengers were rescued after the accident, which happened while the boat was headed to a ceremony at a Buddhist temple Saturday night.

"There was no storm or heavy rain when the boat sank. The accident happened because it was overloaded with passengers," the officer said, speaking by telephone near the site of the incident.

He said the bodies of 17 dead, which included 14 women and two children under the age 5, were being given to relatives.

Late last month, Typhoon Ketsana swept into central Cambodia and toppled dozens of rickety homes, killing at least 18 people and injuring some 100 others.

Saturday's accident happened about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of the capital Phnom Penh.

BAKONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (BTC)

A Socially, Culturally, And
Environmentally Empowering Project

www.bakongtechcollege.org/joomla/

Up to eighty percent of the Cambodian population
lives and works in the rural areas of Cambodia. 
This segment of the population lives far, far below
the established poverty line and lacks the most
basic of resources, such as access to quality
education and economic prosperity.  

The heart and soul of BTC is education and
economic empowerment of local communities,
specifically targeting rural women through a
“self-help and self-sustainability” concept. BTC’s
primary mission is to change the “status quo”
and alter the course of the poorest of the poor
live and livelihood through quality education
backed with an innovative “trickle up” process.

Quality education is essential in developing
economies and sustainable land management
practices.  Working with local and international
partners, BTC shall educate and employ women
and men throughout the Bakong District to help
build self-sustaining villages.  BTC programs shall
work with local villages to develop innovative
farming techniques, establish viable eco-tourism
projects, which are equitable and sustainable for
local economies, and protect the environment-
including social, cultural, and natural.  Secondary
education opportunities shall be available to help
build a new generation of responsible and caring
community leaders and educators.

Economic opportunities are growing in the
cultural and ecotourism fields.  Angkor Wat
temple, a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, is just
one of many popular tourist destinations in
Cambodia. The Tonle Sap Lake Biosphere 
Reserve and other wildlife habitat reserves
provide exciting eco-tourism opportunities.  
BTC has strong connections to the local area. 
Leading BTC board/project members are native
Cambodians whose respective families have lived
in the area for generations.  Most of the property
for the project has already been purchased.
Long-term commitment has been invested in
community development and growth. 

BTC shall start small, working with funding
partners and the local villagers to complete the
building and infrastructure of the BTC campus. As
project planned phases are completed, the
programs will expand, accordingly, to better
serve the needs of Bakong District and providing
a sustainable “education model” that can be
adopted and replicated throughout the country. 

BTC includes the following key components:
• A diverse BTC School Board to guide the
planning, design, and development.
• Five experienced Academic Advisors (Ph-d
in various educational fields) to guide the
BTC academic program.
• Developing an ecotourism “Center of
Excellence” to spread best practices of
small enterprises and encourage their use
and replication. 
• An extensive technical curriculum in
conservation, green design, ecotourism,
hospitality, small business administration,
foreign languages, and computer literacy. 
• One year or two year study programs with
concurrent enrollment of 300 students.
• Scholarships, grants, student loans, and
work-study experience as a big part of
this innovative program.

Please contact us for more details.
www.bakongtechcollege.org/joomla/
BTC Is Building A “Sustainable” Legacy!

About the Project Enlighten Logo

Many of our supporters have asked us about our logo and the meaning behind the colors and design. The logo itself is primarily circular, with four circular rings: green, orange, brown and the center, golden. The Golden center of the logo, albeit not the most prominent feature, blooms a delicate and hearty Lotus flower. There are four ringlets of lotus petals surrounding the heart of the lotus flower. The left side of the sphere is adorned with a four-tiered green bamboo shoot, with two sets of leaves leaning from the side. The font style and colors were carefully chosen to reflect the powerful nature of selfless giving and the heart of humanity.

We wanted to have colors that gave an organic feel while promoting happiness, health, peace and posterity. The color green is associated with growth, nature and the environment. The large ringlet of green encourages the reciprocation of growth and life. The bold color orange brings energy to the intricacy of our program. It is another color associated with nature and even more so, with fire. Orange is a vibrant, stimulating and social color with a connotation relating to fertility, energy and balance. Brown is known for its connection to Earth and nature, which is an essential element within Project Enlighten. We incorporate nature friendly practices in everything we do. Our goal is to maximize our efficiency while creating as little impact on the environment as possible. In promoting self sustaining programs, we encourage the people and communities we work with to focus on the same concept. Gold is a color of enrichment and enlightenment, which goes hand in hand with our organization. Harvested from earthen soil, gold holds great value in almost every culture. Just as our organization, gold is associated with enlightenment. Both come from very humble beginnings but when value and beauty are exposed, they are able to attain great feats. We see the future of Project Enlighten growing with great strength and beauty.

Bamboo is a symbol for longevity, strength and grace. It promotes good health, harmony and a peaceful life. The inherent nature of the plant allows for it to readily bend without breaking easily. We see Project Enlighten in a similar light to this hearty plant, bamboo. Our ability to grow and be flexible as new needs are identified is so very important. The straight stem of bamboo symbolizes the path towards enlightenment, the segments of the stem being the steps along the way, signifying a climb up the ladder of success. With each year that passes, we gain experience and knowledge that will continue to make us a better organization. Bamboo is symbolic of prosperity and encourages success in business ventures. Clusters of green sprouts and leaves give light to growth and tenacity. Its mysterious, unique appearance, bamboo is thought to be a sacred plant and essential in the creation of positive environmental energy, both indoors and out. It is believed that bamboo, which has been treated and cultivated under natural growing conditions, has greater power and energy. Bamboo evokes success, peace, harmony, and is considered lucky.

The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the "primeval mud of materialism," through the waters of experience, and into the golden sunshine of enlightenment. Though there are other water plants that bloom above the water, it is only the lotus, which, owing to the strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface. Many of the countries we work in, mirror the path of the lotus in regards to growth, they have strong stems and the passion to move upward. The path to the sunlight and a life of enlightenment is a struggle worth great measure. Project Enlighten’s goal is to help these people and communities rise well above the line of water, to heights beyond what they see as attainable. One of the greatest rewards we have already experienced has been watching our Project Enlighten family grow and learn to dream larger than life itself.

Our organization has a great connection with Earth and humanity. Our great aspiration is to hold true to the values of which our foundation has been built upon and encourage others to do the same. We see the people of the world coming together to help one another, no matter what differences we may all have.

Garage Sale.

$3,900 Raised for Cambodian and Burmese Refugee Children!



A HUGE Thanks to all of those from far and wide who made the fourth annual ‘Muskoka School Kids Giant Garage Sale’ such a resounding success!



Thanks to the generosity of those who donated items, volunteered their time, trucks and muscles and made financial contributions at the sale; Jay and Linda Harrison and Carl and I are happy to report that we have met all our goals, and more!



From the sale proceeds, we will be able to purchase the 500 flip-flops and school uniforms for the children at the newly completed ‘Muskoka School’, now in use in rural Siem Reap province in Cambodia! Theses clothes may be the only good set of new clothes that these children have ever had! http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com



$205 was raised in ‘Embracelets’ sold at the sale. This project sponsors Cambodian students girls to attend English school in Cambodia at $7/month through the sale of bracelets that they make themselves. The purchase of one bracelet provides a month of school! http://embraceletsforbooks.blogspot.com



Through the generosity of a private donor who arrived at the sale and contributed $1,000, we can now provide 20 bicycles for rural students in Cambodia who have no way to get to school. http://thebikebankproject.blogspot.com



Also, $400 from sale proceeds will be given towards computer training courses and educational supplies for Burmese refugee students on the Thai-Burma border. http://projectenlightenburma.blogspot.com



Thank you to ‘Muskoka Party Rentals’ of Bracebridge for their use of tents, Father Joe Moran and St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church for their loan of tables, and to superwoman and owner of ‘New Stuff’, Gravenhurst, Mary Woodall for her efforts and contributions!



Many thanks to the following volunteers and contributors who made a big difference in the lives of many children in South East Asia:



Bill and Dora Rathbun, Dan and Linda Blix, Denise Falko, Sue Gibson and her trailer, the Rotary Clubs of Muskoka and Orillia, Marlyn Goodwin, Dr. Nina Cole of Toronto, Dan Crawley of Washago, Ditchburn House, Pam Dunlop, Sue Stockdale, Steve and Eva McCoy for site use, Bill Kinghorn, David Bryce, Kim Barlow, Inge Fritz, Steve Thomas, Andy and Georgie McCoy, Mike and Darlene, Sue and Jon Gurr of Moonview Gallery in Bala, Frank and Penny Prazak, Barb Trimble and to the countless others who contributed in one way or another.



Thanks again Muskoka for your enthusiasm and big hearts!



Watch for our ‘Muskoka Talent Showcase’ Fundraiser this fall!



Lisa McCoy

Asad on Soksabai.com

Not too long ago Asad took some time out to share a little bit about Project Enlighten. An article was recently posted on the following site:

http://soksabai.com/pg/pages/view/9131/

Please enjoy!