Field Reports

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

Some Thoughts About Myanmar
I love working in Myanmar. Without a doubt the most difficult place for me to work, but also the most satisfying. Why? Let’s see if I can briefly summarize this.The need for help in Myanmar is immense. Just think about it for a moment. Here is a country — finally emerging from sixty years of rule by a heavy handed,

Report for the Baan Mae Ta Maew IT Training Program Project
Written by Carol Acosta, President of the Maechan, Thailand Rotary Club Submitted by Bill Taylor, International Service Chair, Rotary Club of Edmonds Daybreakers The dedication for Mae Ta Maew was held on Friday, Feb. 19th, 2021. It turned out to be an all-day event. Originally we had a group to go to the school but, because some had to attend

Report for the Ban Wiang Sa Water Purification Project
Written by Carol Acosta, President of the Maechan, Thailand Rotary Club Submitted by Bill Taylor, International Service Chair, Rotary Club of Edmonds Daybreakers All work was completed at Wiang Sa and the dedication held on Wednesday, February 17th. We wanted the kids to be present for the dedication and, as it turned out, many of our club members were able

Look What YOU Did
Look what YOU have done. Seriously. Take a look at what YOU have done in the last six months. Not me. Not the SE Asia Foundation. It’s what YOU have done. Without YOUR generous donations none of this would have happened. For that, we are most grateful. This has been a challenging time – to say the least. COVID has


Impact
Impact really matters. We pay attention to impact. We focus on impact. We work to achieve as much impact as possible.In this newsletter today, I’ll share a few stories about the impact we are making and the changes we are bringing about in the lives of the many villagers we serve. Bill Taylor, Founder “It has made a huge impact

Gratitude
In these pandemic times it’s easy to get caught up in the maze of coping and forget how much we have to be thankful for. Bill Taylor, Founder I want you to know how grateful I am for you, and your interest and support. In the U.S. and Canada we have national holidays to reflect on such things; appropriately, both

Voices From the Field
Normally we use our newsletters to tell you stories about the good work you are funding and how that changes the lives of those we serve. This newsletter is a bit different. Today we bring you some voices from the field. These voices are from a group called PEPY – Empowering Youth, one of the many fine organizations we support

Who Says Kid’s Can’t Be Mentors?
I’ve always pictured “mentors” as older, wiser people who gave me guidance and coaching during my career. (As I write this, several names and faces for which I am eternally

Transportation Can Be Transformational
The NGOs and schools we partner with in Cambodia are there to serve marginalized kids and their families. Many of those kids are short on the basics . . . basics

Changing Lives at the Crossroads
A couple of months ago I wrote about the time I went to prison in Cambodia. Perhaps you’ll remember. Now there’s more to that story I want to tell you about today. My

Education Breaks the Cycle of Poverty
One of my current NGO Partners is Anjali House in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Locally based and Cambodian led, they are truly making a difference in their local community. Here’s what

The Joy of Clean Water
Most of us take clean water for granted. I certainly do. Thirsty? Just head for the nearest faucet. Turn it on. Clean water appears. Easy as that! But what would

The Day I Went To Prison In Cambodia
Imagine this. Imagine small children in prison. Really. That’s what I saw when I visited the Siem Reap provincial prison along with Se Chhin the Deputy Director of my NGO

Avoiding the Risks of Early Marriage
Early marriage … sometimes for girls as young as 15 or 16 (or even younger) is a clear-cut pathway into continuing poverty. The pressures of tradition and the need to

Shelter Can Be Life Changing
It gets incredibly hot in Cambodia. And when the rainy season arrives, the rainfall is intense. For kids who play outside, these weather extremes can cause problems throughout the year. That

The Importance of Soap
Hygiene is a crucial issue Today I want to talk about soap . . . yes, soap . . . something we all take for granted. But what would life be

Listening to the Kids
One of my favorite NGO Partners in Cambodia is Anjali House. The leader there is Nadi. Nadi has a challenging job for sure. Just imagine caring for and educating more than 200