Angkor Orphanage
Angkor Orphanage is located in Siem Reap, a popular tourist center, and is home to approximately 45 children ranging in age from newborn to 16 years. Children at the orphanage are taught the art of traditional Cambodian dance, and a dance troupe of boys and girls from Angkor stages performances at the orphanage for visiting tourists. These performances are an important source of income for the orphanage. Last fall, Mr. Muong Ty, the orphanage director, requested assistance from TSF to fund a number of improvements to the buildings and grounds at Angkor. Following several meetings between Mr. Ty (as he prefers to be called) and Dr. Hendrie, TSF agreed to fund the following projects, all of which have either been completed or are nearing completion.
- A mosquito-infested pond on the orphanage property was drained and filled to reduce the risk of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases to the children.
- Improvements were made to the stage area where the Angkor dance troupe practices and performs to make it safer for the children and more comfortable for visiting audiences.
- An unoccupied building on the orphanage grounds is being renovated to make it suitable for use as a dormitory for the children. The two-story structure was in a badly run down condition and in need of substantial rehab of both the interior and exterior to make it habitable. Improvements being funded by TSF include repairs to the ceilings and walls, cleaning and repainting the building inside and out, and some structural repairs. TSF is also paying for the installation of bathroom facilities on the ground floor. These facilities will replace an ablutions building located elsewhere on the property and provide convenience and improved sanitation for the children.
The total cost of the various projects at Angkor is budgeted at US$6,065, of which approximately US$2,000 will be spent on the bathroom facilities. The children will occupy the building as soon as the rehab work is complete with the babies and young children occupying the upstairs and the older children the ground floor.