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After the flood, it became apparent that the second house on the site, completed just 2 yrs ago, was not going to be a viable place for the orphanage. A new Anakut Laor building was found and the girls and staff have moved into it. It is located closer to town and is not prone to flooding. It meets the girls’ needs and they are getting used to calling it home. A clinic has also been set up in one of the rooms to meet the health needs of the girls. Your money will be instrumental in supplying and maintaining the clinic along with employing specialist care when needed.

Hi everyone and welcome to the latest newsletter about what has been going on with your fund. Hope everyone in the UK and US are finally thawing out after one heck of a winter. Northern California is getting another 5-10ft (2-3m) of snow. So winter is still here for us.

A lot has happened during the last half of 2010...................... :-)

Will start off with the goings on at Anakut Laor. This summer was one of the wettest of wet seasons on record. Many parts of Phnom Penh flooded from the deluge of water that came down the Mekong and its many tributaries. Unfortunately Anakut Laor did not escape. The first floors of the orphanage’s two houses were under water for many weeks, the underground waste pipes overflowed and as you can see from the pictures, it was devastating and much was lost or had to be destroyed. On the positive side, all the girls and staff came out of it ok. There were some transient illnesses but thankfully nothing long-lasting. Can you imagine trying to live through that? Big kudos goes to the staff and all involved in taking care of things and protecting the girls.

As if the flooding was not enough, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that one of the girls passed away this year. She was a good kid and it is always hard to lose a child. The affect on all of the girls and staff was painful to witness She developed bacterial meningitis, which is a disease that hits victims fast and hard and patients can die within 24 hours of its onset. Some of you might have heard of kids catching this in local high schools. Below is a picture of her when she went on the Angkor Wat field trip. Please say a prayer for her. She will be missed.

The girls continue to want to move into the 21st century by becoming computer literate. The fund bought a couple of computers and hired a tutor to coach the children. Computer time has now become a fast track and popular pastime for all the children . . . and some of the staff! Their current learning curve includes Word, Excel and things they can use in their daily lives. There is no internet connection, so the downside of the worldwide web in the home is not a problem.

Adventures were also part of the last six months. The girls and staff were invited to one of the nicest Khmer restaurants in Phnom Penh and a delicious dining experience was had by all. They also took in a show of traditional Khmer dancing and got to meet the performers.

Three of our directors, Mark, Clive and Chris, along with the house mothers and a French intern, took the girls on several day trips to the coastal town of Kampot and the waterfalls at Kirirom National Park. There they got to see more of their country, play in the river, paddle and jump into the ocean and most of all celebrate Chris turning 50. This was a perfect way for him to move into the next half century surrounded by his friends and children that are like his own. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS from all of us!

In conclusion, at Anakut Laor one area the fund is going to look into is researching and ensuring all the girls are up to date in their vaccinations. In our society we sometimes take this for granted, but in third world countries vaccines are expensive and often overlooked. We want our girls to have the best chance to ward off any bugs that are out there that might cause them harm, such as hepatitis A, B, typhoid, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and cervical cancer to name just a few. We will keep you posted on our progress.

Operation Smile Cambodia (OSC) continues its efforts to fix cleft lips and palates for disadvantaged children. This year OSC went to the province and city of Kratchie for the first time. This is an area where in the past the children had to travel for many hours to reach the OpSmile clinic in Phnom Penh. A total of 65 children were treated. Thanks to Alice, our fund was there to support the mission.

The fund was also active again in supporting the All Ears Clinic by providing funds for its outreach clinics and staff training. Glyn Vaughan is not content to treat patients only in Cambodia, he is also looking to expand his services to other countries such as Laos. Two areas he has added recently are:

"A primary ear care service for people suffering from leprosy was launched this year with All Ears Cambodia working in partnership with the Kien Khlang leprosy rehabilitation unit in Kandal province. Of those afflicted by leprosy many have chronic middle ear infections, a consequence of the affects of poverty rather than the primary disease, but leprous neuropathy can involve the cochlear nerve causing deafness."

"A similar service for children with HIV and those orphaned by Aids (Anakut Laor) has been strengthened and is run from the main clinic in Phnom Penh. Otitis media is a major secondary infection in children with HIV, where the aggressive management of recurrent or chronic discharge is required."

Thank you Glyn for all your help with the AL girls.

With three of our directors now living semi-permanently in Cambodia, meetings are currently taking place with other worthwhile projects and organizations to see if we cannot spread your generosity more wildly across Cambodia. Current targeted areas include Siem Reap, the country’s poorest province despite it being a world tourist draw, and Stung Treng, where an outreach clinic could be established.

We’ll keep you posted.

                                                                                                THANK YOU!!!!

Donors during the past six months.

Bob and Joyce Jones
     Michael and Ginny Stebbins
          Lary and Cheryl Freeman
               Hilleary-Mock Family
                    John Gilmour Sr.
                         John Gilmour
                              Mark Abatangelo
                                   Helen Roberts
                                        Roger and Elizabeth Hilleary
Roger and Tracey Bailey
     Nick and Tina Jones
          Mr. & Mrs. Clarke
               Michael Brugger
                    Olivia and Henry 0f Bristol
                          Nash

Your Directors

Alice, Chris, Clive, Diane, Mark and Roger
The Assistance Fund of Cambodia
www.theAFC.org
Tafc777@yahoo.com