Call for Medical Supplies | Angkor Hospital for Children

August 26, 2008

E-mail from Vey Lav

Dear Leah,

I am fine thanks and you? Thank you so much for your kind message and all your helps related to our basic need in education and health. I am so glad that you could possibly do these hard works for our children. They are now staying with hope because of ongoing support.

Yes, sending the materials to Cambodia is costing to much from the U.S. and taking long time to deliver as well, I agree with you, we need somebody who can take care of those books along with their journey to Cambodia. I will find out if someone travels to Cambodia and kind enough to fill those in the free the space. It would be nice if someone can work this out on this long way.

I have spoken with Rithy about your medical scrubs. He said that his hospital need them and any types of medical supplies from U.S. and Europe. They are happy to have your supplies and other equipment for the Angkor Hospital for Children.

Did you know that MILLIONS of children have been sent to the hospital to be treated in one year? Despite the hospital does not cost anything but some families still CAN'T afford to come from their isolated village and the hospital need to figure out this such difficult task. Do can not stand and open our eyes to see them with such horrible tragedy and keep them staying in this condition.

Besides offering the English lessons we also motivate them to take care of their health every day. They strongly need very good care from their families too.

All very best,

Vey

Alleviating Cambodian Suffering | Dependencies on Foreign Aid

August 25, 2008

E-mail from Vey Lav

Dear Leah,

Thank you so much for your kind message. I am so glad to hear from you. Please do not rush on this, I know, it is hard to work out on many things in one time.

I also received another letter from Jacquie, a founder of Elma Cambodia from the United Kingdom this morming. She interested about your help donate books to our school, I definitely need to give her your contact address but you have already sent a letter to her, so I do not have to do it. She is going to write to say thanks for all your help, your hard work on our projects.

We also plan to build other connecting rooms close to the existing Elma School, according to the increasing numbers of students in coming years. By the end of next month we will have other new classrooms.

We would like to enlarge other Elma to different areas according to the need of students who really to learn English in the term of families are so poor enough to pay for their education. We would like to help raise up their living through education which is not drying out in the whole life.

The most important goal is to help Cambodians as much as we can, our Buddhist and country citizens want peace, require good life, and education. We the people and Elma in this generation should take action to compete all their first need to benefit their living and reach their final aspiration.

Did you know that more than half Cambodian children are not educated in public schools and less than 1% have opportunity to attend English classes in the village? This is the government burdens some and Elma too. Cambodian children are very hungry for education.

In this case only Elma can work out in this matter and resolve our deep concern. We are terribly sorry that Cambodians have lived in the horrible time and lost the opportunity in education. In the last 20 years no one considered about this important path.

Cambodians got killed and died from starvation, hunger, disease, poisonous foods and our works. Further more they died in the minefields. The survivals are now so poor, the poverty is still last for years till now.

We the people in this generation can work out to resolve the problem, please put your effort on and do not give up. Their hopes and expectation on better lives is our task.

I will speak with Rithy, a friend at Angkor Hospital for Children about your medical supply.

All with best regards and wishes,

Vey

Photos of Cambodian Children at the Elma School

August 25, 2008

E-mail from Jacqueline Lawrence

Dear Leah,

THANK YOU so much for the photographs. (www.leahlau.com/cambodianchildren)
They are amazing....and very well timed as we are putting together a website about the Elma Foundation.

Thank you also for the book donation initiative. My cousin is going to teach at the Elma School in September and will take some books over.

All very best wishes and good luck for your future projects.

Jacqueline Lawrence
Chief Executive, Elma Foundation.

The Mother Lode of Book Donations | Louise Roberts, the Angel of Antioch

I was lucky—stars shining on me lucky—to meet Louise Roberts, mother, philanthropist and all-around kind soul. For years, Louise has been collecting children's books and clothes to donate to third-world countries. When I met with Louise, she donated upward of 300–400 children's books and dozens of children's outfits.

Her staggering generosity and kindness truly turned the Cambodian Children's Book Project from almost a figment of my imagination to a living, breathing, and transformative part of my and so many other people's lives.

Indispensable thanks to Sandeep Bhatt and Sujata Mody for lending me their car—again.

Rick Arruzza's "Sparky's Adventures" Children's Books

August 8, 2008

Hi, Vey!

How are you? Thank you so much for letting me know that the first box of books arrived for the children. I am so relieved! It's such a long way for the box to travel. I was getting worried that it might not make it. I hope that the children enjoy them! Please let me know if they have any favorites.

Also, please thank Rithy Yam for his help in delivering the books to you. It is very kind of him.

My friend, Rick, mailed a large envelope with 10 books in it, so I hope that arrives safely, as well. He writes books about a dog named Sparky. (http://www.sparkyswalk.com) They're very charming.

All my best,

Leah