In view that our programs have a common primary focus on school children, our existing services involving dental care, English and computer classes have been curtailed by the suspension of schools in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is no let up in efforts by the teams in Australia and Cambodia. We are continually evaluating our performance to improve our delivery and the scope of our services. In line with this, we are introducing new initiatives and adding new programs including extending our assistance to the local community which include the families of the school children which have been particularly affected by the pandemic.
If you are wondering how to make your life more meaningful and for others, read what one of our supporters have to say about giving.
In addition to letting you know what we have been working on in the last quarter, we have added a
new section at the end of this newsletter to showcase life in Cambodia and the beauty of places in
and around Kampot, the little town where our partner organisation, BLCP operates from.
So be sure to read this newsletter to the end.
WATER
In our endeavour to improve the quality of drinking water for school children, we have reviewed the continued use of concrete water tanks and have concluded with the identification of new water tanks made by Pioneer Pty Limited, a company based in Perth, Australia. The plan switch over is due to this new type of water tanks being more robust and that water is in stored in an antibacterial liner. We have recently placed an order for twenty Pioneer water tanks. These tanks are expected to be shipped to Cambodia in September 2020 with installation to commence in stages thereafter. Ten of these tanks are generously donated by LUFF Foundation with the balance ten remaining to be sponsored.
Existing Concrete Water Tank (above, left) and New Pioneer Water Tank (above, right)
EDUCATION
We are taking the opportunity to upskill our teachers in their English proficiency and teaching methods. We have had a phonics expert conducting a workshop for a select group of our teachers.
We also paid for an English native teacher of an international school in Cambodia to improve the teaching skills of our forty teachers in a three day course. We are striving to improve the delivery of our English classes and are now introducing a new syllabus which has been reviewed by a retired Australian English teacher, Lyn Quilty who voluntarily contributed her time and efforts.
Phonics class to teachers in progress
FAMILY ASSIST
This a new program newly launched in June 2020 to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Job losses especially amongst factory workers have been significant resulting in an increase in the number of families pushed into poverty. This is a community program primarily sponsored by LUFF Foundation. Food and other provisions including medicine packed into hampers were prepared and distributed by BLCP after verification for eligibility by its staff. Each month commencing from June 2020, the supplies will be distributed to over 100 families. Upon completion of the program in the next six months, we hope to have provided assistance to about 600 families or more than 3,000 members of the village community.
Family with boys holding books included in the handout
A happy man with his wife
A blind person amongst the recipients
Some villages are too remote and only accessible by motorbike.
OPERATIONS
Here at YourAid we act as the facilitator for caring contributors who want to do good and linking up with our partner organisation in Cambodia, BLCP which is the implementor of your projects. The management team at YourAid comprising a Strategy Manager and an Operations Manager has a strong oversight over the complete operations of BLCP including monitoring expenditures and
project planning. There are biweekly meetings between the Country Manager of BLCP with the management team and dedicated board members of YourAid. In addition to policies and guidelines established by YourAid, processes are in place to ensure efficiency and accountability.
The founder of YourAid, the late Paget Sayers was instrumental in the establishment of BLCP which is a not-for- profit organisation registered with the Cambodian Government. BLCP does not undertake any other programs for any other parties and its activities are dedicated specifically to projects approved by YourAid. The financials of BLCP are audited by one of the largest international accounting firms, KPMG with the audit outcome reviewed by YourAid. We are letting you know all these so that you can always be rest assured that every dollar of your funds are properly spent and the value we place on your generous contributions.
GIVING
We receive contributions from many caring individuals and organisations each year. The latest major donor we have is LUFF Foundation which came forward with the Family Assist Program and Water Tank Donation. The Model School initiative is a new approach which we are adopting to ensure the holistic development of selected schools in Cambodia and LUFF Foundation is playing a pivotal role in providing both funding and inputs on the development. Our overheads and other organisational costs are fully borne by dedicated founder donors who understood the importance of donors seeing every dollar or 100% of their contributions going towards the programs.
There are donors who give annually like Club Karuna led by Lean which sponsors the on-going running costs of the mobile library that has a readership of over 2,000 children a month.
Deep appreciation also goes to the caring people named at the end of the newsletter.
Lean and her husband, Alex leading the way with Club Karuna’s gift of a Tuk Tuk Library
Eager children sitting outdoors reading books from the mobile library
WHY GIVE
We asked a regular donor Barry why he was always giving and this is what he had to say
It is my responsibility. I have two hands. One is to receive and the other is to give.
Not everything in life is a business transaction. It makes life more meaningful.
It is also for a selfish reason. I feel happy when I see the joy on faces who receive.
I am actually gaining something. I am learning to be generous and not to hold on to things too tightly. I know that by learning to let go, I will suffer less.
GRATITUDE
Donors for Club Karuna
Valsala Kurusingal
Bang Leng Tan
KK Lee
Angie Ng
Jim Teoh
Tom K Ho
Alex and Lean Lee
Denis Jenkins
Chris Kho
Melissa Yau
Sue Toohey
Bee Poh Yeoh
AAA Asset Investment via
Dorothy Jackson
A DAY OF LIFE IN CAMBODIA
A crab seller retrieving rattan crab cages at Kep’s beachside seafood market during sunset. The cages are kept in the sea to retain the freshness of the live crabs. Kep is about a half hour car ride from Kampot and is known for its beaches and seafood.
