Awareness Cambodia
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Awareness Cambodia is a non-profit incorporated charity organisation pioneered by Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
dentist Dr Gary Hewett in 1995. What began as one brave man's vision for change has since long outgrown its humble origins. Awareness Cambodia's vision is now shared by over 40 staff overseeing 80 once-orphaned Khmer children, now family members of the inaugural Sunshine House.
Mission Statement : "People with Christian values empowering people in Cambodia through education, health and the establishment of infrastructure".
History
In 1995, Dr Gary Hewett OAM and Dr Neil Hewett, a medical doctor, volunteered their services for a 2 week medical mission along the MekongMekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
River
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. During this trip Gary was moved by the tragedy and need in the nation, and hence founded Awareness Cambodia.
The original mission of Awareness Cambodia was to establish medical support teams to assist the nation's struggling health system. From 1996 onwards, short term teams would visit on a regular basis. However, in 1999, a team member reported on the numerous children orphaned as a result of AIDS. They explained that often the child was left to live on the streets because their extended family's feared contracting AIDS, and hence wouldn't care for them. At this time, 50% of the Khmer
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
population were 25 years of age and under, making this a significant problem. This led to the establishment of Sunshine House.
Why Cambodia?
Cambodia is recovering from 4 years of civil war, in which Pol PotPol Pot
Saloth Sar , better known as Pol Pot, , was a Cambodian Maoist revolutionary who led the Khmer Rouge from 1963 until his death in 1998. From 1976 to 1979, he served as the Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea....
became ruler and Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of, then called, Democratic Kampuchea
Democratic Kampuchea
The Khmer Rouge period refers to the rule of Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen, Khieu Samphan and the Khmer Rouge Communist party over Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge renamed as Democratic Kampuchea....
from 1976-1979. This regime resulted in the loss of 25% of the nation's entire population.
For more than a decade, Cambodia has been hit by the HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
. Some estimate 30,000 new orphans are produced every year. These children are often left without parents, adequate food,
shelter, clothing, health care, education or finances.
Organisational Structure
Awareness Cambodia's International headquarters are located in Perth, Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. From this office sponsorship is overseen, as well as fundraising and the day to day running of the organisation.
In Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
, a second office is located as a base of operations. The Cambodian National Director, Administrator and Liaison Officer reside in Phnom Penh while the Sunshine House and House of Progress Coordinators are situated in Kompng Speu. The expatriate staff work with indigenous Khmer and with other community organisations in delivering aid to priority areas. All local aid workers are fluent in Khmer.
How is Awareness Cambodia Funded?
Awareness Cambodia activities are primarily funded from donations and are maintained through the support of volunteers. Due to the voluntary nature of Awareness Cambodia's ex-patriate staff, 95% of the monies donated will go directly to on-the-ground programmes.The child sponsorship program supports Sunshine House and House of Progress. 100% of money donated to child sponsorship contributes directly to the running of these projects.
Awareness Cambodia also relies on donations as a secondary source of funds. Groups and businesses have funded numerous building programs at Sunshine House and continue to get behind Awareness Cambodia's other project initiatives.
Sunshine House
Sunshine House is a project of Awareness Cambodia. In 2000, land was purchased in Kampong Speu, and the first buildings were erected to make a home for children orphaned due to the ravages of AIDS.Sunshine House is essentially complete and encompasses about 20 buildings, including a multifunction building where English, music, sewing and Khmer dance are taught.
In June 2002 a fully functional Eco Farm was developed adjacent to Sunshine House. All facets of the farm are aimed at being environmentally friendly, recyclable and self-sustaining. In time it is also planned as an income source for Sunshine House.
Medium Term Vision
Over the next 5 years Awareness Cambodia is looking to transform Sunshine House from its current “small village” status into a larger community called “The Awareness Cambodia Community” in Kampong Speu.Other projects include:
- House of Progress - provides accommodation for young adults as they transition from Sunshine House into the community or continue their high school education.
- Operation Nightingale - Medical Clinics offering educational materials, pharmaceuticals and very low cost medical access for the 6 villages surrounding Kompong Speu town.
- Internet Cafe - assists in the funding of House of Progress and is a vital communication tool for local villagers.
Individual projects within the community such as Sunshine House retain their name, but now form part of the larger umbrella development, known as “The Awareness Cambodia Community”. Awareness Cambodia has also stated that priority will be given to expanding their environmentally friendly approach in all existing projects through initiatives such as solar power, methane collection, and sustainable water use.