Water and Word

Dear Friends,

We have built many water projects on both land-based schools and last year we installed one on the new floating school that K.I.D.S. built on the Tonle Sap Lake. Back in December, we went to visit a very unique school on the shores of the lake that bridges both the dry and the wet seasons, following the annual flood cycle, by being built on concrete stilts. In the dry season, the kids ride bikes and walk to school,

and in the annual flood season, the students arrive by boat.

Sadly, like most schools, they also lacked clean drinking water. There were a few challenges to overcome due to the "amphibious" nature of the school, but we are happy to announce that we have completed it and the project is now up and running, supplying clean drinking water to over 1,000 children at Kompong Pleuk high school and a nearby primary school. We put in two stations to access the water, one at ground level for the dry season, and the other up on the classroom level of the school.


Thank you to the Peter Gilgan Foundation in Canada for partnering with K.I.D.S. to bring this much-needed access to healthy clean drinking water to these children.

While we were there planning the water project, the high school principal started talking about the lack of opportunity for the children to access computers and the challenges they will face to higher education because of that. We came home, looked at our budgets and, thanks to K.I.D.S. donors, we are happy to say that we installed 15 computers, a projector, screen and laptop for the IT teacher to teach the senior high-school students computer skills.
It was a very, very happy occasion for this isolated and challenged school to dedicate both a clean drinking water project and a computer lab on the same day.

The students typed you this message:

"Thank you so much K.I.D.S. donors". 

They are off to a good start, thanks to you!!!

All the best to you and yours,

Rick and Adrianne

ECS and IT

Hello Everyone,
We hope all is well with you and yours.

We recently visited the Stung Treng Women's Development Centre (SWDC), supported by K.I.D.S. for over a decade. As many of you know this great program trains women, who face difficult lives, by teaching them the skills and abilities to learn how to weave silk. In turn they are paid a decent wage, have paid holidays as well as paid maternity leave, which is rare here in Cambodia.


Thanks to K.I.D.S. donors, we are able to provide a very progressive early childhood education program (ECE) for 60 children at SWDC, giving them a healthy, safe, and happy place to learn. All of this in one of the poorest and most isolated areas in the country.

In addition, the children are fed twice a day through our nutritious food program, and are taught about hygiene, including access to toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap. Thanks to Kim Dara Chan, the director, for his vision and never-ending commitment to improving the lives of women, children and families and thanks to the great staff who change children's lives by creating an excellent learning environment.

K.I.D.S. also provides youth and young adults with a free computer training program. Students can take computer training after or before school and adults can attend after work, giving them greater opportunities to find better employment and further their chances for advancing their education.

We know from experience that your combined generosity makes a difference! Education for children who would otherwise would be playing in the dirt, with little to eat and lack of hygiene and other young people that could only dream that they would have the opportunity to learn computer skills......together we are giving them a healthy head start and a better future!!!

Until Next Time,
Adrianne and Rick