September,
2000
Kampong
Speau Orphanage
(as of September, 2000)
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| Boys' dorm | New celing and fan in room of boys' dorm |
Kampong Speu Orphanage, which is located approximately 30 km west of Phnom Penh, is home to between 40 and 45 school-age children. Because these children are older, they are not available for adoption. This spring, TSF committed to funding a rehab of the boys' dormitory building on the orphanage grounds. That work has now been completed. Interior ceilings and walls were repaired or replaced where necessary, fans installed, and the building painted inside and out. It is now bright and clean.
TSF has now funded major rehabs of three buildings at Kampong Speu within the past year: the school building/main meeting hall, the girls' dormitory, and the boys' dormitory. In addition, TSF has used a targeted donation to purchase sports equipment for the children including soccer balls, badminton sets, and a ping-pong table.
The 10 kW diesel motor-generator set that TSF purchased last fall for use at Chom Chao Orphanage has been relocated to Kampong Speu. The reason for the transfer is that Chom Chao is now connected to the commercial power grid and consequently has no further need for the generator. Kampong Speu, on the other hand, had no source of electric power whatsoever even though the buildings are wired for electricity. The generator will be used to provide power for lights and fans in the school room/main meeting hall, the girls' dormitory, and the boys' dormitory.
Like the Nutrition Center in Phnom Penh, Kampong Speu is also dealing with a difficult financial situation and, as it turns out, for exactly the same reason. ASPECA had been providing a portion of Kampong Speu's monthly income but has now reduced its level of support to the orphanage thus creating a budget shortfall of US$270/month out of a total monthly budget of approximately US$1,000. Following the reduction in support by ASPECA, Ms. Pol Sok Ly, orphanage director at Kampong Speu, appealed to TSF for financial assistance. Dr. Hendrie met with Ms. Pol during her most recent visit in-country, and, as a result of that meeting, TSF made a payment of US$810 to Kampong Speu to cover three months of the budget shortfall. While it is generally the policy of TSF not to assume responsibility for budget line items at any of the various orphanages, it was clear to Dr. Hendrie that the financial situation at Kampong Speu is, like that at the NC, very serious, and that the children will suffer if help is not forthcoming.
Another subject discussed by Ms. Pol and Dr. Hendrie at their most recent meeting was the need for a new kitchen and dining room facility at Kampong Speu. The current kitchen is a wooden barn with a dirt floor, and all of the cooking is done over open wood fires. Meal preparation is difficult under the best of circumstances, and it is impossible to keep the area sanitary. TSF will address this request in greater depth when construction of Roteang Orphanage is finished.