November 2009
Welcome to our first official CFI newsletter. We are happy to share our stories with you and to keep you informed of the progress of our programs here in Cambodia. Please feel free to share these newsletters with anyone and everyone you think will be interested. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to keeping you informed. -Andrew & Jenny
newsletter

CFI receives 501(c)(3) status in America!

We are excited to announce that we are now registered in the United States as an official 501(c)(3) organization. This means that all contributions are tax-deductible and it will be easier for you to support our work in Cambodia!

Phally plays soccer in Laos

IN MAY 2009 Phally, 15, was chosen to join Cambodia's first U-16 national women's soccer team. Phally, pictured center, is one of our students and has been playing on our girls' team for eight months. When the national team was assembled, the girls had only three weeks to practice together in Phnom Penh before their trip to Laos. The Laotian team, which had been playing together for 2 years won 2-1; nonetheless Phally and her teammates were very excited about their first trip abroad. Phally returned to her village of Hai San a local hero who has earned the respect of all those who 8 months ago said girls couldn't play sports.

A safe and loving home

Four siblings' lives have been changed forever
IN MARCH 2009 Children’s Future International opened a children’s home due to the desperate situation of four siblings.

Pictured from left, Chong, Srey, Rithy and Channa (aged 4-14) come from one one of the poorest families in Hai San village. In the two years we have been working there, Jenny has built a strong relationship with them and we have repeatedly tried supporting them within the family unit.

Unfortunately, their parents were not supportive of our efforts and the children remained without adequate nutrition, housing, schooling or healthcare - it was clear that Channa and his siblings were in desperate need of a safe home. When we offered to take care of the children the parents immediately accepted. Since March they have been living in our temporary children’s home, where they are being cared for by Sitha, their housemother and one of our former students. For the first time in their lives they have enough to eat and get to study every day with Genev and Sitha, who teach the older three children Khmer, English and Math. They entered public school for the first time in October, and having never been in school before, they’re working hard now to catch up. Their new home attracts many village children to come and play, and they are finally being accepted by their peers. Witnessing the change in these children has been incredible. In just five months they have turned into confident, happy children eager to learn. 

CFI's new community center!

WE HAVE FINALLY found a facility for a new community center in our target area and hope to start operating from it soon.

To improve the quality and reach of our programs we are registering Children’s Future International as an international NGO (non-governmental organization) here in Cambodia. Differing visions for the future led us to the decision to end our affiliation with the local NGO that we had been working with the past two years.

Since April, we have been searching for the ideal location to set up our new community center for children. After many weeks of dusty motorbike trips we found a facility in a beautiful but severely underserved area outside of Battambang City. We are currently negotiating lease terms and hope to break ground on the new facility in the coming weeks.

The center will be the base from which our programs operate. It will house non-formal classes, allowing poor children to study English, Khmer literacy, computer skills, art, sports, etc. In addition to the free schooling, we will directly support poor families and children through family sponsorship- and school meal programs. Our aim is to help children enter and stay in school by ensuring that all their basic needs are met and that they live in a safe environment. For orphans or children that can't be safely supported within their family, our center will provide a children's home.

support us
Children’s Future International is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Employer Identification Number: 26-1761651

BY MAIL Make checks payable to Children’s Future International and send to:
Children’s Future International
22 Hartley Rd.
Great Neck, NY 11023
United States

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Thank you so much for your support!
Click here to make a donation!
www.childrensfutureinternational.org
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