QUESTION: “What links these pictures together?”
ANSWER: Support Cambodia
“Better Together” is not a new slogan but, in this case, a very relevant one. As a very small charity, we’re always keen to work in partnership/have links with other organisations, particularly those with a connection to Cambodia but also charities and community groups working locally in East Anglia. For the last couple of years Support Cambodia has been co-operating with Ely Catholic Parish assisting them in their ongoing support for the community and school at Prek Toal on the Tonle Sap Lake. Now, our Trustees are delighted to announce our latest partnership: with Big C, an incredible Norfolk-based charity dedicated to supporting those affected by cancer and helping thousands of people every year.
Support Cambodia are partnering with Big C in a joint initiative which will mutually benefit both charities. One of the issues faced by many people undergoing chemotherapy is hair loss and the increased need to protect themselves from the sun. Big C centres offer a choice of headwear for this purpose and now that choice also includes the Support Cambodia headscarves designed and handmade by Betty Millena’s Dressmaking Group in Piaksnaeng!! Trustees Maria Brown and Katie Maidment visited the women’s group in January 2025 (pictured below).
The unique design of these headscarves uses a single piece of traditional cotton material which comes in four colours. The cloth is folded to cover the head from the brow to the nape of the neck. A single piece of elastic pulls the ends of the cloth together completing the hat and giving a close fit. Further protection is given by tying the fabric ends together.
The headscarves will initially be on sale at the Big C Centres at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and Norwich City, priced at £4.50. All proceeds go to Support Cambodia with 20% of each sale going back directly to those who made them. The headscarves, also useful for sun protection while gardening or on the beach, are available directly from Support Cambodia at the same price [£4.50] with an extra option to make a small donation to Big C. For more about Big C click here.
Other examples of partnership in action are: our long-standing support for the work of the Battambang Prefecture without whose collaboration our charity would find the delivery of projects very much harder: Jesuit Service Cambodia whom we have supported for a number of years, primarily with wheelchairs and Karuna Battambang Organisation [KBO] with whom we have done a number of projects over the last 10 years e.g.: in 2024, Baby Milk for HIV mums and this year, funding English classes for two nurses at the Pet Yiey Chee Health Centre. And, of course, the majority of our projects in Pailin Province over the last 10 years could not have been achieved without the goodwill, patience and huge practical assistance of the Daughters of Charity sisters based in Pailin.
In the UK, co-operation with Rotary Clubs in Aylsham and Swaffham and a very welcome recent connection to the Marist Fathers UK has been invaluable. More links like this would be very welcome. Regular communication between Support Cambodia and our links/partners is essential. Sharing knowledge, experience, contacts [and where appropriate, funding] can only be to the advantage of everyone….particularly the poor of Cambodia.
Why links are so important
Co-operation enables the efforts of all interested people of good will to be maximized and avoids both duplication of funding and of “treading on each others toes”. On that basis, our Trustees are very keen to consider links or partnering with other charities, organisations or parishes to everyone’s mutual benefit.
We invite anyone interested in discussing such an arrangement to please get in touch with Support Cambodia via the Contact Us page. Thank you.
STOP PRESS…..STOP PRESS…….STOP PRESS
Important announcement about Mannington Charity Day
Please scroll down for details
NEWS FROM CAMBODIA
Water from the Support Cambodia well at Sneung [funded in 2024 by a private donor from Swaffham] is now drinkable!! Thanks to the persistence of Father Carlos and the $900 filter paid for by the charity. Mission finally accomplished…and we are delighted!
Two vocational training projects, both sponsored by Swaffham Rotary Club are proceeding apace: nurses Nakry [below left] and Srey Noch [below right] at Pet Yiey Chee Health Center, have started their English classes in Battambang and Brak Pisey is now halfway through her 6 month training at Mutitaa Textile Social Enterprise, also in Battambang.
Pisey’s story: Pisey (pictured above) is 35 years old and from Battambang Province. In 2015 she went to Phnom Penh to study tailoring but owing to her disability, had been unable to find a job. A friend recommended she applied to Mutitaa, one of the few factories who provide opportunities for people with disabilities. Pisey was accepted and works in the mending department which requires great precision to follow the rigorous quality control needed for these high-end garments. She writes, ”I would like to express my gratitude to Battambang Textile Association for people with disabilities for providing me with a job and the opportunity to support myself.”
Mixed news of ‘our’ six Engineering students at Don Bosco Technical School: Second years Som and Sayith have passed their theory and practical exams [Congratulations!] but will be unable to continue to final graduation in August. Why? They have both been accepted to join the Cambodian army and are to report immediately for duty.
Hopefully their two years technical training will not be wasted and both students are very grateful for the support we have been able to give them.
Som writes, “I would like to thanks you all for helping me ever since with my studies and for other material provisions for me and my family……..I am sorry to inform you that I stopped my vocational training because I passed the exam for entrance into the army service and I am already called to report. I hope that you do not get angry at me and blame me…….And thank you very much for the love you have for me.”
And from Sayet: “I am sorry that I currently stopped my vocational course because I passed the exam for entrance into the army service and I am already called to report for the training. I would like to once again thank you and ask pardon for quitting my studies/training but I am hopeful that my vocational training will be useful in my future work and I will be able to support my family.”
We wish them every success and look forward to hearing how they progress. We hope the remaining second years, Sok Meng and Chavorn, will persevere to graduation despite having to contend with transport and accommodation problems. Student life is harder than many of us might think, especially for a young person from a disadvantaged background in a developing country. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for them and for Seng Hoan and Channy just completing their first year of study.
Finally, some really good news: Teng Phearom, our very first Vocational Training student who graduated from Don Bosco Technical School last year, is now back working in Pailin Province and is engaged to be married in December!! We wish Phearom and Sothea every happiness.
Sister Norma has written with news from Pailin: following the vandalism identified earlier this year the repairs at Soun Ampou Primary School are now complete with the motor repaired, new circuit breaker installed, the connections encased in PVC tubing and all covered in cement! Sister’s staff also repainted the two toilets and the hand wash – huge thanks to them for doing this. So now this very poor school finally has what we originally intended: a year-round water supply for personal and common use and for growing vegetables.
The Sewing Room: is still in use with Ms Chan Thy continuing to teach interested students. In the longer term, Sister Norma wishes to revive the Sewing Room as an income-generating project but this will take some planning and investment especially as the machines need to be serviced/repaired/brought up to standard. No plans as yet – we’ll keep you informed.
PROJECT NEWS IN BRIEF
Repairs to the playground equipment at Rohal Primary School are waiting for an improvement in the weather…..thanks to Aylsham Rotary Club, the new classroom at Sneung has its bespoke furniture…..JSC Sisophon have received 12 wheelchairs for PoD’s [Persons of Disability]…funding for Betty’s Dressmakers and nutritional support for families and babies under two continues as usual…and after 10 years absence, Sunday Rice Soup for 120 children and vulnerable adults has resumed at Tampoung. Our funding for this will only last till August. Would anyone like to help fund the next 6 months…..??
FROM THE TRUSTEES
The charity’s AGM was held on 10th April, attended by 22 people with 46 apologies including 7 from Cambodia and 7 Sponsors. In addition to those projects mentioned above, funding for a number of others was agreed by the Trustees in April. A full list of funded projects plus the provisional Minutes and the Annual Accounts are available to read here. Grateful thanks to several private donors for their help in achieving this level of support, including the Thorn and Crombie families and Bernard and Carol Webb. Thank you all so much for your invaluable help.
At the meeting, Carol Shippey (pictured above) announced that for personal and work reasons, she was stepping down as a Trustee. As one of the only two remaining founder members of Support Cambodia, Carol was thanked for her 10 years of great service to the charity in so many ways and was presented with a Cambodian carving and a very small, red giraffe. [The giraffe is one of the many symbols associated with the Prefecture of Battambang where our charity does its work]. We are delighted Carol will continue to fundraise for the charity so it’s “Okoon charen” but not “choom reap lea” !!
FUNDRAISING & EVENTS
Our summer fundraising in aid of the children of Kompong Kleang (pictured above) got off to an excellent start on 3rd May at the first of two Aylsham Table Top Sales. Fran Ludden and her team did wonders with bric-a-brac, cakes and crafts to raise a terrific total of £478.55 [about $650]. To put it in perspective, this amount will pay for about six months Saturday Rice Soup for 100+ children at Kompong Kleang. Well worth the effort and bolstered on 31st May by a further £181 [about $250] at Upton Village Fete near Brundall, organised by Maria Brown (pictured below left).
Grateful thanks to Fran and Maria for their considerable efforts in setting these events up and to all who came to help. It was especially good to see Anne Jackson at the Upton event – looking good, Anne!
And a particularly welcome piece of news for Kompong Kleang: SUPPORTER Shirley Crombie and her family, who are currently supporting the salaries of the two teachers at St Mary’s School, Kompong Kleang, have very generously offered to continue their support for another 6 months through to January 2026. Thank you Shirley.
On behalf of Father Yacob and all at St. Mary’s School, “okoon, okoon”!! For more information about Kompong Kleang, please visit our news page, here.
COMING SOON…
SATURDAY 9th AUGUST: Aylsham Table Top Sale 9am – 1.00pm. Last chance this summer to purchase Cambodian crafts. Proceeds to Kompong Kleang. Details: KATIE MAIDMENT.
‘THE HUTCH’ at Ivy Cottage, Wickmere, NR11 7ND is open [weather permitting] until 31st August for plants, jam and fresh produce when available.
MANNINGTON CHARITY DAY:
see box below.
MANNINGTON CHARITY DAY originally scheduled for 31st August is CANCELLED
Mannington Hall is now under new ownership and we have only very recently discovered the event is not taking place at all this year. Obviously it’s a big blow for us – this enjoyable [and lucrative] event has been a fixture in our calendar for many years – so we have had to make an alternative arrangement.
Support Cambodia will now have a stall at:
COSTESSEY FETE & FAYRE on SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER
from 10am to 6pm
Venue: NORFOLK SHOWGROUND, Dereham Rd, New Costessey,
Norwich NR5 0TT
The cost of the pitch here is considerably higher than we would normally pay but we think it’s probably worth it for the huge footfall this event should generate.
The Trustees are enormously grateful to an anonymous donor for offering to pay for this.
And….as this is an all-day event, we will need a team of helpers –
a minimum of 6 people.
What we know so far: entry is £3.00.
Car park [approx. 250m from the stall] is free.
ANYONE WILLING TO HELP FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS ON THE DAY….
please contact Katie Maidment as soon as possible. Thank you!
SAVE THE DATE……COME AND SUPPORT US ON 21st SEPTEMBER 2025.
REMINDERS!
- Please continue to ‘share, share, share’ our social media posts on as many platforms as you can – the system depends on sharing in order to reach out to as many as possible. You never know who will see it….and it might encourage a donation or two!
- Once again, huge thanks to our wonderful Sponsors whose support for administration helps us to keep going . The new Sponsorship year begins in October and we are always very happy to add Sponsors to our portfolio, whether business or private individuals. (Please contact Katie before August 1st if you would like to become a Sponsor).
- Talks: we still have only one talk booked for 2026 and in order to promote the charity, we need many more. Please think about approaching your local church, school, community group, U3A, WI etc and ask if they’d like a talk. More details available here or contact Katie on 01263 577784.
- If you have changed your contact details….PLEASE LET US KNOW!!
The charity’s COLLECTION TINS may be found at the following locations:
Aylsham area: Bon Bons, Eclipse Hair Studio &Aldborough Village Shop
Swaffham: Café Lisa
North Walsham: The Tech Geeks
Norwich: The Fat Cat Pub
Brundall: The Cutting Room
Wroxham: The Broads Cafe
Market stalls: Semperart Glass & Peggy Little’s Products
All proceeds from the tins [with no costs taken] go to Projects, not to Administration.
HUGE THANKS TO ALL OUR BUSINESS SUPPORTERS –
PLEASE SUPPORT THEM WHEN YOU CAN!
Contact us:
Call +44(0) 1263 577784
Send a text/SMS to 07759 982011
Email info@supportcambodia.org.uk
Get in Touch Via Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp +44(0) 1603 552419
Support Cambodia
Ivy Cottage
22/23 Regent Street
Wickmere
Norfolk
NR11 7ND
THANK YOU FOR “SUPPORTING CAMBODIA”
