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| Cambodian Dream Journal July '11 |
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One of the biggest rewards of being involved in volunteering is the wonderful people one meets along the way. People that have a big heart, similar values and a lot we can talk about. My life has been enriched by getting to know other members of the board of Friends of CCDO, the volunteers, the donors, the strangers who strike up a conversation and get excited about our work. I have also been connecting to many other people doing similar work in all parts of the world. They are just regular people like you and me, that decided they will do something small or maybe a tad bit bigger, on their own, not depending on big governmental organizations.
In the next town over I got to know a retired lawyer, Budd, who is building schools for girls in Afganistan. Down the road from me are Richard and Kathy, a couple who work with Ugandan basket weavers. I befriended a young college graduate who went to teach at the international school in Rangoon and started a foundation helping Buddhist monasteries educate more children and their families start farming projects with micro loans. The American entrepreneurial spirit goes beyond the start of new business ventures. It translates into innovative thinking when it comes to humanitarian aid as well. And Americans, as private citizens, are the most generous donors of all the developed nations.
When traveling abroad I often hear the complaint that America is the bully of the world. But I also know that Americans are friends of the world, in particular the best and kindest friends to the needy and downtrodden. Thank you for being one of those!
Best Regards,
Your Editor,
Ksenija Olmer
Director of Development
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Note from the President
Just to jolt you out of the summer doldrums, as promised, some exciting news: we have expanded our work to Europe and now have a "Friends of CCDO, UK" Branch that has been started in England by Margaret Jarman, our long time supporter. It already has some healthy funds that have been deposited with promises of more to come.
There are other branches in Europe in the pipeline, so stay tuned!
Believing in synergy, Friends of CCDO, Inc has teamed up with Tomorrowskidz.org, a grassroots New York based operation that is being run by Michael Boritz. Their emphasis is taking care of needy kids in Cambodia, by sponsoring them, providing education and giving them housing and food. Their goal is moving towards having a permanent Living Center in Siem Reap, that is run entirely by Tomorrowskidz.org.
Warmest Regards, Jenni Lipa President |
Event Announcement
We are highlighting a film that will appear in the 34th Asian American International Film Festival. The screening will take place in New York at the Chelsea Clearview Cinemas at 23rd St & 8th Ave on Aug 14th at 2:30pm.
You will have the opportunity to meet the film director as well as Jenni Lipa, Founder of Friends of CCDO.
RESIDENT ALIENS
Ross Tuttle | 52min | USA | English
After calling the US home for decades, former Cambodian refugees are deported for criminal offences back to Cambodia, a motherland now foreign to them. This documentary follows three returnees as they struggle to survive with few language and job skills, and find redemption in their new lives.
The cost of the tickets are $13 per person
Project Highlight AMPIL CLINIC 
Pregnancy and childbirth are a dangerous undertaking for Cambodian women, especially if they live in rural areas. More than half of the pregnant women are anemic due to poor nutrition and because of the lack of access to contraceptives, the birth rates are high with babies spaced too close together for the mother to regain her strength.
According to Ministry of Health, 90 percent of Cambodian childbirths occur in the home, where the sanitary conditions are far from ideal. What is worse is the lack of trained midwives to attend to birthing women; only 39 percent of them give birth with a skilled health care worker. Friends of CCDO is proud to sponsor a small woman's facility, the Ampil Clinic, that serves eight villages. The clinic has three rooms, a medical doctor and two male nurses and two female midwives. An important member of the staff is a cleaner who keeps the clinic gleamingly clean. They see an average of 130 women a week. To entice women to have their babies in the safe, clean environment of the clinic, we are giving the mother and their newborns clothing and medicine. We welcome approximately 8-10 new babies a month.
We have also stepped up distribution of free birth control pills through the clinic from 54 women to 105 women. This is a huge step in the control of too many births. The women feel that by spacing their children wisely and having a safe and clean environment for the birth, they will lose fewer children. Along with improved nutrition and clean village initiative the life expectancy is better and so they don't feel the need to have so many children.
Stefanie Reitschuh, a volunteer medical student from Germany, recently spent two weeks helping out at the clinic and was thrilled at the opportunity to be able to contribute to well-being of rural Cambodian mothers and babies. 
Stephanie with CCDO country director and clinic staff |
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Remember: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things that make a difference in the world!
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