We've now taken the final step to focus our mission entirely on building latrines in Cambodia. You'll see at the top of this newsletter that our logo has been adjusted to reflect this. We've kept some of the original design just as a reminder of where we came from. You'll see this new Latrines For Life logo from now on. I think it works very well.

So, as of just last month our lending program has ended with all our most recent clients paying back their loans in full.

We started in 2010, and since that time have issued 169 loans to 130 women. The loan principal issued over that time was $21,600 with a payback rate of 95%. We've given the women the help they needed, and now they are off to better lives running successful businesses.

I'm proud of what our small organization has accomplished, and equally proud of the women for following through with repayment at such a high rate. It's gratifying to know that we've helped so many women with that initial funding so desperately needed to start a business. So many have benefited, improving the lives for their families in significant ways.

As we take stock of our accomplishments it's clear that we've made a difference. But there is so much to do, so many other issues that cry out for attention. In my four trips to Cambodia visiting our clients and staff I've become keenly aware of the poor sanitation that exists, especially in the rural areas. The board of directors of our small non-profit organization have recognized it too, and decided some time ago to improve the situation by building latrines for poor families. Now our program is fully supporting sanitation with Latrines For Life. It's something the board feels very passionate about. We're solidly into this new effort.

Many of you have seen the results we've achieved in this area over the past two years. Donations have come from many individuals. Especially successful was this past year's Holiday giving season, which I'm sure we'll be able to repeat or exceed this coming November.

We've done well for the poor country of Cambodia, but want to do more. I sincerely hope that many of you will continue with me and the board to expand the sanitation program into the future.

Please consider giving this new direction a push now. 

Click here to make a donation.

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   Latrines For Life

Good sanitation is essential for health and well being, but it's not the norm in rural Cambodia. Old habits of poor hygiene, of using open fields in elimination of body waste, are still wide spread. The result is the contamination of streams and soils, the spread of disease, high rates of infant and young child mortality, and heavy caseloads of diarrhea and other infections. It's this critical issue to which we are now turning our full attention. As we improve the health of one family after another the whole community benefits by living among neighbors that have a higher level of sanitation.

So far we've been building the latrines in  the rural community of Kos Khel - on an occasional basis as funds are available.
Below the photos to the left you can click to see detailed reports on five recently completed latrines funded by the Solana Beach ECO Rotary Club. There's information about Cambodia and a map showing the location of the community. also in the reports you'll see comments from the recipient families. Heart warming to say the least.

The cost for one latrine is $225. If you would like to assist in this area simply click the link below to reach our donate page. Mention "latrine sponsorship" in the "comments" section below the credit card information. You can do a one-time donation for the full amount, or do a monthly payment plan, as some donors have done. It will make a world of difference for a poor family.

Please donate here.

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And, don't forget, there's an easy way to have Amazon donate a little extra cash to our cause. Look to the left and see the detail of how it's done. Amazon makes the donation with Amazon dollars, not yours. It's smart, quick and so easy to do.

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