The Sharing Foundation Reaches out to Cambodian Villages
Roteang Village
Since 2000, the Sharing Foundation’s work has been centered in the village of Roteang where TSF built our Children’s Center which is now home to over 70 children and 20 staff members. In addition, TSF has long provided English language learning as an after school program there and run a farm for unskilled laborers that includes a literacy school for over 125 of their children. The village has benefited from our immunization projects, extensive school building projects, road repairs, our computer program and other community involvement. Here, too, TSF oversees a small sewing center used for making uniforms and crafts.
Most of TSF’s sponsored high school students, who typically become sponsored university students, come from the Roteang Village area.
Trusted Cambodian Partners
Over the years, the Sharing Foundation has expanded its services based on need and opportunity. The need is easy to find, but the opportunity is more elusive. We believe the key to expanding into new areas is finding the right local partner. To this end, we largely rely on school principals whom we have met and, in the case of Kampong Speu childrens home, the Director. The Sharing Foundation requires partners to be honest and child-centric in their goals.
Four Other Villages
Beng Krom, Lvea Sor, Prek Char and Sambour are a ferry ride across the Mekong River and not always accessible during the rainy season. In those impoverished communities, TSF found children and schools in great need, as well as capable leaders whom we can trust and respect.
Immunizations, Clean Water, Bathrooms, Libraries, Uniforms, Buildings, English
In Roteang, as well as those four other villages, TSF has provided immunizations for all of the school children and furnished libraries at the schools, including tables, chairs, shelves, books and literacy support. TSF has built and, in some cases rebuilt, well-utilized playgrounds. In nearly all of the communities, TSF has installed water tanks so clean drinking water is available; built or repaired bathrooms for the schools; and provided uniforms, put together at our sewing center, so that the children can attend school.
TSF has built school buildings in Roteang Village, and refurbished classrooms in Beng Krom. The after-school English program, begun in Roteang in 2002, is now available and thriving in Beng Krom, completely taught by Cambodian teachers.
Kampong Speu Children’s Home
One of our longest and most effective partners is Pol Sok Ly, the Director of Kampong Speu Children’s Home, a government-run orphanage. The population there is similar to our Roteang Children’s Center , so we have much in common. Since TSF began, it has built a dining room there, so the children have a place to eat, refurbished buildings, built a playground, provided lots of clothing, substantial financial support for food and fuel, tanks for clean water and, as for so many other children, immunizations to protect them from disease. TSF has also been proud to provide university sponsorships to some of their shining stars.
What’s Ahead
TSF has consistently served the children in Cambodia for nearly 20 years. The focus remains on continuing that level of support and to carefully expanding our village outreach, with the appropriate partners, to care for the many children who remain in need.
