In order to oversee and improve our programs, Scott Nichols, Kathleen Hart-Zavoli and Cathy MacNeal are traveling to Cambodia this week. During their visit, they will meet with the Directors of Kompong Speu and Cham Chao orphanages, school administrators, representatives from other child assistance programs and our staff in Cambodia. Most importantly, they will visit with the children who have benefited from these programs and assess their progress and needs. Scott, Kathleen and Cathy are especially looking forward to visiting Prum Rim, Um Vanndeth and Sok Nearday, who are attending University in Phnom Penh. They will also visit Vorn ChamRoeun, who is in automotive repair school.

Please note that this trip is being funded personally by our Board members and some contributions to Cambodia Tomorrow earmarked specifically for Board travel. None of the funds from sponsorship or our recent fundraising campaign are being used for this trip.

We learned a few days ago that Naly, the Director of Cham Chao Orphanage, is in the process of closing the orphanage. We’re grateful that members of our Board are traveling to Cambodia this week to learn more about Naly’s plans and determine the future of the pre-school we started last year. We will send updates to all of our sponsors about their child as soon as our Board members return to the U.S.

We were very saddened to hear that the orphanage may close. Many of our Board members, volunteers, sponsors, donors and supporters adopted children who lived at Cham Chao, so this news is deeply personal. Kathleen Hart-Zavoli, Elizabeth Gullam and the Cham Chao committee poured their hearts into improving the lives of the children living there and, with the help of the Cham Chao committee, accomplished remarkable things at the orphanage.

When we first evaluated Cham Chao we found that many of the children were in poor health, malnourished and that they were under stimulated. After a few months of regular medical care and caregiver training, the health of the children improved remarkably. In May 2003, we started sending the children to preschool, to give them a stimulating environment in which they could learn and thrive and eventually started the Future Hope School to improve the educational environment for the children. We are thrilled that many of the children have been adopted in recent weeks by European families. In our hearts we know that with your generous support our work helped to save the lives of these children.