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
Let’s Be The Ones To Finish This Great Project
In late October 2016, along with my two northern Thailand Rotary colleagues, Carol and George, I visited the Sisters of Providence for the first time. Located in the northern town
Programs in Need of Sponsors at the Life & Hope Association
I had an extensive visit with Life & Hope Association yesterday. L&HA has two main programs. PAGE: Program for Advancing Girls Education and Sewing. PAGE: Under this program the Monks,
Join us and help support three essential programs run by this fine organization in a very rural, poor location in Cambodia
CEDF – OpCam is a Cambodian charity registered with the Ministry of the Interior in agreement with the Social Affairs Department. Opportunity Cambodia, an Australian NGO*, partners with CEDF –
Sponsor a Year for a Child’s Education at Good Shepherd Sisters, in Nongkhai Thailand
We are seeking for several sponsors for 25 school girls available at the Good Shepherd Sisters in Nongkhai. Here’s some information about the program, in the words of the Sponsorship
A Visit to the Palel Myintta Orphanage
Last week we once again visited Palel Myintta. You may remember this as the small child-care facility for about 20 HIV positive kids either orphaned by the disease or abandoned
A Story of a Very Industrious Monk
I’m delighted to share with you the story of one of the finest Monks I’ve ever met. This man is named Ashin War Thithta. He is the Head Monk, called
Coaching the Future Leaders of Myanmar
Along with my colleague, Peter Scontrino, I’ve just finished four full days coaching the future leaders of Myanmar on leadership and management skills. How, you ask, did that come about?
Village Meeting About Organic Farming at Rak Phan Din
My good friend and fellow Rotarian, Carol Acosta, asked me to help with a meeting so that the people in a local Hmong village called Rak Phan Din could explore
San Leung Village Visit
Today we visited Lahu village of San Leung, about 40 miles south of Lashio, Myanmar. There we met with the Village Leader (a nice fellow called U-Tone-See) his village committee,
Hpa-an Education Foundation
This evening we met with the Hpa-an Education Foundation, including the current Chairman, a dedicated man called U Khin Shein. This is a group of 300 local citizens dedicated to
