Untitled Page

Hello all------

We hope all are fairing well into the New Year, 2010, the year of the Tiger 4708 by Chinese calendar. I wonder if this will be a good year for golf. The economy doesn’t look like it has improved that much but we can fantasize what it could be like. Summer was good here but this winter has been grueling with record lows in the US Midwest and snow accumulating in the UK. It makes you want to be in Cambodia where they put on sweaters when the temperature drops to 70 F.

Thank you so much for everyone’s continued support of the Fund. It is hard to believe but we are into our 5^th year. Time does fly. The girls at Anakut Laor continue into young adulthood and the other charities have come to know us and appreciate all we do. We have developed a lasting relationship with Operation Smile, Bright Smile Dental Clinic and Al Ears hearing clinic.

Two of the directors Alice and Chris managed to make it over to Cambodia within the last six months. Clive is more or less a permanent resident there. Drop in and see him if any of you make it over to Phnom Penh. We have also started using the translation services of Hou Manin. Many times situations arise were Clive needs to go to AL and sort out some operational issue for the French and Manin has been invaluable in helping to resolve these issues. She has become attached to the girls and they all seem to love and respect her. Chris helped arrange a fun event for the girls at AL and Alice was busy searching out charities, doing Operation Smile work in Laos and Cambodia, and getting her speech therapy clinic up and running.

If anyone gets a chance, take a look at the web site-www.theafc.org. The French group that manages AL sent us a video clip of Anakut Laor and we were able to load it into the web site. It has sound and is fun to watch. If it does not open at first check to see if it is being blocked or there is an add-on you need.

There have been no new additions to the AL house in the last six months. I understand from Clive that the girls are utilizing the cooking stoves and becoming quite the chefs, at least for basic meals. I still don’t know if they gotten a chance to sample their culinary creations.

They are making good use of the moto and tuk-tuk; They all wear helmets and no accidents to report. Cambodia has, like other countries, identified a source of revenue for the government-vehicle registration. The government is now requiring all motor vehicles to be registered and licensed. We are in the process of getting that sorted out and up to code.

The needs of Anakut Laor, beyond the normal operations, seem to be low a this point. The AFC directors over there came up with the idea to introduce them to normal life activities for girls-a day of shopping at the mall and experience “Lucky Burger.” This is the local version of McDonalds. As you can imagine, it was a huge success. The girls each got to buy an outfit and experience the tasty Lucky Burger. All under the watchful eye of Alice, Manin, Clive and Chris…I think some of the girls were not all that impressed with Lucky Burger but they can say “been there done that”.

Looks like some more dental work needs to be done for a couple of the girls and our friends at Bright Smile have offered to help out again.

OPERATION SMILE

Operation Smile was there for its Fall mission, fresh from its first ever mission to Laos. Again Alice was in the thick of it all in both countries and the fund continued its tradition of providing funds for the Cambodian mission. Kids, young and old, babies and some young adults benefited from these life changing surgeries. Pat yourself on the back that we could continue to help there.

CHARITY MISSIONS

The fund continues to look for charities that meet our mission and goals.

M’LOP TAPANG was the new organization that Alice discovered in Sihanoukville, down by the coast. We had given them some money to build a water tower so they would have clean drinking water. I guess they had already gotten money for the water tower and used the money we donated to build some really nice covered learning shelters.

As the holiday season approached, Clive wanted to spread some Christmas cheer. Even though the girls are basically Buddhist, Clive wanted them to experience the Christmas holiday. He and Manin arranged for a nice Christmas pizza and gifts to the girls and home mothers. I don’t know if they really grasp what Christmas is about but they certainly enjoyed the gifts and dinners provided by Clive and Manin.

Alice and Chris will be back in country in January and will continue to look for charities that are not well funded and meet our mission goals.

Again we want to thank you all for your continued support. We know times are tough financially and any support and donations is much appreciated. Bob and Joyce Jones are planning a trip over to Cambodia in March and will visit the girls with Clive and Manin. Enjoy!!!

We would like to thank the following individuals and corporations for their generous donations for 2009 and their continued support:

Ben Jones
Tina Jones
Christian Lovell
Jen and Hawkeye Fix
Apexcylinders of the UK
Elaine and Pauline in the UK
Bob and Joyce Jones
Michael and Ginney Stebbins
Mark Abatangelo
Roger and Elizabeth Hilleary
Bill Walker
Lary and Cheryl Freeman
Bank of Ireland
Rob and Irene Cooper
Irving Johnson
Kelly Manners
Mike Brugger
Ms. Morris of the UK
Rene Nash
Marie Nash
Gary and Cathy Levin

Sincerely,
Alice, Chris, Clive, Diane, Roger
Assistance Fund of Cambodia
TAFC777@yahoo.com <mailto:TAFC777@yahoo.com>
www.theafc.org