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Welcome to the New Hope Community Centre and the Village of Mondul 3, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
our cause... 'to restore hope and dignity to the very poor and desperate peoples of Mondul 3 Village'.
If anything sums up the ethos of the New Hope Community Centre it is 'opportunity through education',
which is why the founder Sot Suo (better known as Kemsour) is so passionate about providing free education to the
residents of Mondul 3 village in which he lives.
Mondul 3 village was originally the home of the Cambodian Army. The Army was relocated and the land sold off by the
Government cheaply to local people. The founder of New Hope purchased his home in Mondul 3 and soon after recognised
the desperate need for change in this community.
Many children in the village are now left with only one parent or none at all, or with only a grandparent to raise them.
Many of their fathers were killed or disabled whilst serving in the army or died of illness and disease.
The most prevalent illnesses are chronic malnutrition, HIV, Hepatitis, Typhoid, Tuberculosis and Dengue Fever.
In fact with disease here being so common it is now mandatory before marriage and before giving birth to have full
blood tests completed and recorded.
Many children are surviving on rice water and salt, supplemented by the frogs and ants they are able to collect.
Some babies have existed purely on the water from boiled rice, as their starving mothers are unable to supply breast milk.
It is very common for mothers to try to give away their children to anyone they believe can provide them with a better life.
There are many pockets of Army families living in grass huts on Government land in this Village.
Fathers are still serving in the Army, earning approximately US$25 per month and supporting a family of 6 - 8 people.
Mothers remain at home to care for the children and try to supplement their income by collecting rubbish or sticks to sell.
Many do not have clean water or protection from the weather as their homes desperately need re-roofing or replacing.
There is no public school in the vicinity of the village for the children. They cannot afford transport to other schools,
they have no money for books or uniforms and many are needed at home to mind younger siblings while their parent or older
sibling attends work.
To add to this problem many girls from rural areas are requested by their families to leave their homes and move to the
town of Siem Reap in the hope of finding a job with adequate income to support themselves and send money back to their
family.
These girls have no formal education, English language or vocational skills. Unfortunately many fall victim to the sex
trade, this being their only means of survival. Up to 400 girls live in this small village as entertainers or prostitutes.
Many of the girls are now left with babies and young children of their own to raise and have no choice but to raise
them in this same environment. They earn approximately US$30 per month for their services and send most of this home to
their families. These girls can have no future vision and approximately half will die of disease at a very premature age.
"Kemsour and Kerry sincerely thank Globalteer and the wonderful volunteers and donors that have made our Community Centre
possible."
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Mr Perry & the
people of Holland
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Tania and Rem:
The Green Gecko
Project
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Rotary Australia
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