Koh Rumdual Island Project

Koh Rumdual, formerly called Koh Kho (Death Island), is a small piece of land in the middle of the Tonle Sap river, about 20 km from Phnom Penh in Kandal province. This was once part of the infamous “Killing Fields”, which is why the inhabitants changed the name to Rumdual, a beautiful white flower found in Cambodia.

Years ago, this island was chosen for a widow’s colony and supported by an NGO. But the story is that they ran out of funds to cover the budget and so left nearly one hundred families stranded here. Some were handicapped, others blind, and others too poor to make a move, and others widows having many children but no husband. So all decided to stay there, surviving from what the island produced: seasonal fruits, tree leaf soup, frogs and lizards that they would hunt and grill for their meals. Needless to say, their diet was very unhealthy and their health condition worse.

Houses, in serious state of disrepair due to lack of funds, allow the rain and insects free reign, their numerous children often suffering from the elements. Blind, handicapped, some suffering from leprosy, others from multiple sclerosis & confined to wheelchairs, some widows with 7 or 8 children.
All had made their homes on this island and determined not to be wanderers again. So they stayed and tried to live there as best as they could but life was tough for them.

An adage inspired us: “Pity says: ‘How sad,’ and walks away. Compassion does something about it!”

We first created awareness of this sad situation amongst the Phnom Penh business community, and then set out to collect food, clothing, and cleaning agents address their urgent needs. Part of our effort focused on teaching these poor folks the basics of cleanliness, hygiene, nutrition, and simple morals.

Mr. Sokkha and his family from Takmao were first to invite us to come and assist them in helping this needy community. So we worked side by side helping the poor people of the island. Once they were fed and saw that we cared, they listened to our exhortations on community living and social behavior, of love and sharing. They came to us more and more numerous and had a desire to learn. So we taught them!

Through our Cornerstone Project volunteer program, we have volunteers from the USA, Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, England, etc. who were moved to help and/or sponsor needed items for these poor families. Some bought ducklings so they could be given to the families to raise. Some gave them funds directly to help them get out of temporary difficulties. Some spent days buying building materials and fixing their huts, teaching and playing with their children.

The SMU team from Singapore was instrumental in helping us fix and rebuild 10 devastated huts, shelters of big families. You can see the difference before and after their coming! (They filmed their experience on the island, which you can view on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=IHdYJI8uZmQ )

Having done all this, we feel we have only scratched the surface and there is a lot more to do!

Water Pumps
The island is dry as a cracker 6 months of the year and flooded the other 6 months. There is no way to cultivate anything during the dry season unless they can bring water from the river to water their plants and grow vegetables.

In order to help them make a living for themselves and not have to depend on others all the time, we hope to supply them with water pumps. One water pump is priced at 150 US$ and would help 10 families plant a self-sustaining garden.

What more can we do?

Start a school for the children
Some islanders are 14 or 15 years old and have never attended school, and so are totally illiterate! Without a basic education, they will have no hopes to find a job anywhere, and thus will grow to be bums, beggars or criminals.

We have selected 2 teachers and a cook already and have 30 children ready to start classes. All we lack is the sponsorship of the teachers’ salaries! By Cambodian standards this is only 50 US$ monthly per teacher.

We also want to buy a small piece of land and build a school building. The land price is US$ 3000 and to build a 2 classroom building for 80 pupils another US$ 8000 more. Total needed to build the school: US$ 11,000.

Can you help with at least some of this amount?

Island Children’s Sponsorship Program
You can also help the children by directly sponsoring their studies.

US$15 per month per child will cover all their basic needs: food, drink, clothing, toiletries & medical check ups. Select a child below and tell us for how long you wish to sponsor him or her. We, the Cornerstone Project managers, will be directly involved and will personally oversee the use of your money.

Needing help urgently: Jun Heang, Pan Kosal, & Pan Jun. Their mother became widow when her husband died of AIDS recently, leaving her with 8 young children and no job. Extremely poor also are the Leng’s family of 6, the Phat’s family of 8. Rou Han’s family.

You can donate online, using the link below, mentioning Cornerstone Project A04 Cambodia/ Child sponsorship Koh Rumdual Island.
(And write us immediately at fccp@online.com.kh to inform us of your gift and the name of the child you wish to sponsor. We will answer you and give you regular update on the progress of your chosen child.)

Email: fcf@familycare.org
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