The EED Project

Since 2006, TTA has received generous support from the German organization Evangelischer Entwicklungs Dienst (EED) for the expansion of the meditation center in Chrey, now called the Acts of Compassion Center. In 2006, the construction of new pagoda buildings at Wat Roeung forced TTA to move its operations to a new nearby site. Funds were obtained through individual donations to purchase a small plot of land and to construct three buildings:

            1. An English School for teaching poor and orphaned children English language

            2.  A sewing school for teenage girls and unemployed young women

            3.  A temporary lodging for HIV/AIDS patients traveling to Battambang for ARV treatment

 1.     The English School

Approximately 60 poor children, among whom are many AIDS orphans, attend English language classes each morning, and a similar group attend each afternoon. The classroom has very basic furnishings, such as desks and blackboards, and has a supply of children’s books and homemade charts and pictures. The children are taught by highly dedicated foreign and Khmer volunteers.

Recently, children are being transported from the Center to Pannasastra University of Cambodia in Battambang, where they are given free instruction in computer use. The University has kindly donated the use of their Computer Center, and a professor from the University is donating his time to teach the children on Saturday afternoons.

Finally, Acts of Compassion Center has formed boys’ and girls’ football teams who, using donated transportation and bright orange uniforms, travel into Battambang for matches against teams from other organizations.

2.     The Sewing Center

TTA trains poor young women in sewing skills. Many are school dropouts, and some are HIV+. The Center has 30 sewing machines and caters to some 60 young women. One positive development is that other NGOs around Battambang, which donate school uniforms to needy children, have contracted with the Center to provide school uniforms to hundreds of schoolchildren. Providing these uniforms not only gives the young women sewing experience to improve their skills, but also brings in revenue for the sustainability of the project.

3.     The HIV Transit Center

HIV patients can obtain free anti-retro-viral medication from Battambang hospital. However, poor people from the outlying districts such as Sampeou Loun and Samlot who travel to Battambang for the medicine cannot afford to stay at the hospital. Many of these people arrive at the Acts of Compassion Center, where they can stay for a few days while they receive their treatment. TTA, through the donations of EED, has purchased a small ‘tuk-tuk’ which can transport these patients into Battambang and back. While they stay at the Center, TTA staff members monitor that the patients take their medication properly. Patients who stay at the Center are given water and food and a place to cook basic rice and vegetables.

The transport/accommodation/food services provided at the Center are proving vary popular, as word about the Center spreads to the remote areas of the Province and beyond. The Center is finding it difficult to cope with the rising numbers of HIV/AIDS patients who wish to use the facilities of the Center. The number of transit patients has risen to 190 per month, and this steadily rising number is placing a burden on the Center’s resources.

4.     Training of Monks

The Buddhist religion continues to be a pillar of support to the poor and needy in Cambodia. TTA works with monks who visit villages, and especially families affected by HIV/AIDS, to comfort and support these families. TTA holds monks’ training session so that monks are well-versed in information about HIV/AIDS.  Monks from nearby Wat Roeung regularly visit the Acts of Compassion Center to minister to the HIV/AIDS patients there.

5.     Cooperation with Dewey International University

TTA has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Dewey International University (DIU) in Battambang. Under this MOU, students from DIU travel to the Acts of Compassion Center to assist with the English teaching to the children. They help the children to read children’s books in English, sing songs, and play games with the children of the Center.

6.     Music School for high school dropouts

There are many unemployed high school dropouts in the Chrey area. They risk falling into drug use, gang activities, crime, trafficking, and other undesirable behavior. One income-generating activity for them is a traditional orchestra, capable of playing at wedding and other ceremonies in order to earn some money. At present, ceremonies must hire an orchestra from Battambang, which is very expensive and involves transportation to and from Battambang.  

Funds are needed to purchase the musical instruments and to hire a teacher to come to Chrey on Saturday mornings for practice.

Planned Activities

TTA understands that the children in the English School at the Center, the young women in the Sewing Center, and the transit patients in the HIV Center, all need means to support themselves after they leave the Center. In addition, there are many poor persons in the Chrey area who cannot attend the Center’s activities, but who nevertheless need help in self-support. TTA therefore wishes to pursue further income-generating activities, and is seeking funding for such activities. 

    1. Micro-finance

TTA is taking steps to open a micro-credit program for poor people in Chrey and perhaps in other nearby communities.  Such credit schemes have proven enormously successful in Cambodia and elsewhere in the developing world. The program will target poor women, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS. It may be that the women themselves are HIV+. Or else they have lost husbands or other breadwinners and need to generate income for themselves and their families. 

    2. Cow Bank

Poor farmers often cannot purchase a cow to plow their fields. A cow bank lends a cow to a farmer for a fixed period of time, say, one year, during which it is expected that the cow will have offspring. At the end of the year, the cow and perhaps one calf are returned to the project, while additional calves are kept by the farmer for future use. 

    3. Computer center

At present, children travel to Pannastra University in Battambang for computer training. In the near future, however, the Chrey community expect to have electricity, so that a computer lab will be possible. Money is being solicited to build a computer lab at the Acts of Compassion Center in order to train at-risk teenagers in computer use. 

John Zepp Foundation Scholarships 

The John Zepp Foundation was established in memory of John Zepp, who, before he died, wanted to help poor young people. The scholarship trust fund is an endowment that pays 50% of the university tuition for poor students to gain access to higher education at Dewey International University in Battambang.

At present, 10 students are receiving scholarship funding to study for job-oriented diploma courses. Many of these come from the Chrey catchment area and are partially supported by Tean Thor Association and other local NGOs. The diploma comprises 12 courses, each of which costs US$40, of which the John Zepp Foundation pays $20. That is, the entire diploma costs $480, of which the JZF subsidizes $240. 

However, many of the students from poor families cannot even afford the remaining 50% of tuition not covered by the JZF.  Tean Thor Association invites donors to contribute to the education of these students by providing the remaining 50% of the tuition, that is, a contribution of $240 will support a student for the entire diploma program. Such a contribution, if it comes from the United States, carries a tax exemption through Tean Thor Association, which holds the exemption status.