The first night all the babies slept really well, but the nannies couldn't sleep because they were so excited!

The new Roteang orphanage opened December 14, 2000 with the transfer of 16 children from Cham Chao. Since then another 3 have been added and things seem to be getting underway very smoothly. The nannies are extremely enthisiastic about the new place, and it is clear that the level of care has improved radically.

It is really great to have a clean, separate place to make baby bottles and baby food, and they all love the bathing room and just had to give their new charges a bath immediately!

Each baby has a new crib, and 2 blankets, and some crib toys and every nanny got a new mat, pillow, blanket and towel.

The Sharing Foundation has hired a cook and asst. cook, and the meals for nannies have leaped in quality and quantity. As Roteang starts up, we are outfitting the orphanage, and donations will be critical to getting things up and going and for ongoing costs of food, nanny care, fuel, water, and other basics.

There is a separate formula room where bottles will be mixed and food prepared.

The orphanage is under a new non-governmental organization called Cambodian Orphan Services. Dr. Ly Srey Vyna will be director and president, and David Boardman, a board member from Oakland, Maine, and the father of three Cambodian children, will be vice president.

The Sharing Foundation is paying the salary of Dr. Ly, at least for the first year. No other officers will receive compensation. All matters at the orphanage pertaining to health, safety, hygiene and standards of care will be subject to TSF review.

The whole place is incredible -- everything non-skid tiled and beautiful, with large separate rooms for about eight to ten children each, and every room with a sink and running water.

The view of the front door on opening day as children and nannies move into the building.
	Workers put the new "spirit house" in place on moving day.
The kitchen building, attached to the main building by an elevated walkway, is complete too; it features an 8-by-10 foot elevated platform where workers can cut vegetables, instead of doing it on the floor, as is customary.

The cooking and food preparation surfaces are tiled, and there is a hooded multi-burner propane stove. There is space for staff eating, and a varmint-proof room for storing rice and dry goods. The entire building is screened.

Further along the elevated walkway is a large, screened wooden building for nanny vocational training, nanny rest-time, and possible overflow of children. This in turn is connected by the walkway to a building housing bathrooms and showers. Sinks outside the building, toward the main orphanage complex, will encourage hand washing. It was our good fortune that the floodwater stopped about six inches from getting in the buildings.