Field Reports
Let’s get some kids on their way to school
Labor Day is coming right up. Yep, once again it’s that special time of year in America. Time for our kids to head back to school. I still carry fond memories of those “back-to-school” shopping trips with Mom and then beginning the adventure of a fresh new year at school. Now imagine this. Imagine no shopping trip. Imagine that you
Ten Big Mistakes
The Ten Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Donate To A Charity. As our work with the SE Asia Foundation continues to mature, I’m often asked about how one can know if their charitable donations are doing all the good they expect. Usually, I just answer such inquiries with a top-of-the-head response. But recently a friend wanted to delve more deeply into that
Will You Help Us Close The Gap?
Finally, after more than two years I was once again able to travel back to Cambodia and Thailand to work with our trusted, grass-roots partner organizations there. Needless to say, I was beyond delighted to be back on the ground and in the countryside again. What I saw was encouraging. Every single one of our more than 25 partners survived
The Story of My Rock
Today I want to tell you a story. It’s a story about a rock. Yep. A rock. Please bear with me. Many years ago, way back in 2005, Pat and I had our first-ever experience visiting an orphanage in Southeast Asia. Needless to say, we were stunned by the massive needs we saw. Shortly after that came my birthday —
It’s time to …
Normally I don’t write a newsletter in January. But this year I just couldn’t help myself. I simply had to do it. Why? Because I’m compelled to celebrate the amazing things YOU – YOU know who YOU are – did to provide so many blessings to literally hundreds – even thousands – of marginalized families and their kids in Cambodia.
An Abundance of Opportunity for You to Make a Big Difference
Last week I got a call from Ray, a long-time friend and supporter. This year Ray and his wife, Edith, want to send help to needy families instead of giving gifts to their own family members and friends. Lovely notion, I think. Ray asked for my ideas about how he might do this. Working with our highly trusted organizations in
A Message From Our Founder, Bill Taylor
November seems to be a time when our thoughts turn to gratitude and to Thanksgiving. I am no exception, and find myself very grateful these days. Why do I say that? Well, I get to live in the USA – still a pretty awesome place notwithstanding all our current struggles. And we finally seem to be getting the upper hand
Here’s YOUR opportunity to help those most in need
The COVID pandemic continues. Who would have thought at the beginning of 2020 that it would still be going full force nearly two years later? Sure, with the vaccines we now have in the US things are “better”, but still not “good”. Where we work in Cambodia, however, it is neither better nor good. For villagers losing their jobs due
Who in their right mind would give a tractor to a Monk?
I know. I know. Strange notion isn’t it? I get that. Who in their right mind would give a tractor to a monk? Or a dump truck? Or a rice-harvesting machine? I confess. We did all those things – and more. Several times. We did that for monks. We also did that for secular community groups supporting preschools and libraries.
The Amazing Result When Nonprofit Organizations Work Together – A Case Study in Cambodia
It all began with a workshop on Leadership. That was back in 2017 — when leaders from about 25 different NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) – all focused on the education and wellbeing of children and women – assembled at a Siem Reap hotel for that training session. It was a good session, well received. No surprises since we have successfully
Helping Abandoned Children
Here in Cambodia, “orphanages” are often viewed in a well-deserved, unfavorable manner. In way too many cases, so-called “orphanages” are simply scams run for the benefit of the sponsor, not
Special Care for Special Kids with Special Needs
Today I want to talk about about kids with developmental issues … kids with learning disabilities … kids with special needs. They show up in all cultures and all countries.
These Kids Crave Education
All too often when I was growing up school seemed like such a drudge. With most of my friends feeling the same way, that only reinforced my attitude. Why did
A Safe Haven for Marginalized Women
In Cambodia it’s not unusual for impoverished women to find themselves in difficult situations. Often, it’s financial. Sometimes it’s a bad marriage. Sometimes it’s domestic violence. Often it is a
Only 23 More to Go!
A few days ago, I wrote about the new toilet block we provided for a village school in Cambodia. That was certainly good news for the kids and teachers there.
Toilets Change Lives For Kids
Let’s talk about toilets. Here in America, and in most of the western world, we take toilets for granted. That’s not the case elsewhere on the planet – especially at
PreSchool is a Great Head Start for the Kids
Time and time again, research demonstrates that kids attending preschool thrive when entering Grade 1. Just recently our wonderful NGO Partner, the Grace House Community Center, took that step and
The Importance of Bicycles
Today I want to talk about bicycles. Here in America bicycles are readily available and often taken for granted. But, in many of the villages where I work in Cambodia
Take a Look at This Exciting New IT Lab YOU Created
We’ve partnered with the Anjali House in Siem Reap, Cambodia for over ten years now. They do a wonderful job of providing some creative education for more than 200 kids
Computers Open Up Education
I’m delighted to share with you another edition of our Voices From the Field. This one is from another of our wonderful NGO partners in Cambodia – the Kamboo Project
