We continued to support and assist communities in Trorkeat Village, where our program has been so successful, we now plan to use it as a model to broaden our work throughout the Mesang District.

Importantly, CLC Melbourne has now gained tax deductibility status so donating is now an even more attractive proposition!

After last year’s successful Cambodia Experiential Tour, there are now more tours being planned, and we also received a visit from the Director of our partner organisation – Saman Buth from the Children and Life Association.

Read on for more details and thanks again to all those who continue to offer their support.

The tours are interesting, inspirational and simply fantastic. We hope you can join us for one!

See flier for more details

Read about the tour in 2010

Enjoy an evening catching up with old and new friends, wine, dine and dance knowing you are making a difference in changing the lives of children and their families in Cambodia.

Wednesday 20th April 2011, 7pm till 12 midnight. Read more

On-the-Ground Community Development in Cambodia

A panel discussion with special guest Ms Buth Saman, Executive Director, Children and Life Association (CLA), Barbara Jackson Community Links with Cambodia and Sarah Spiller, PhD Candidate, Development and Participation in Cambodia.

This seminar will provide insights into recent advances in on-the-ground community development in Cambodia and CLA’s holistic, child-centred approach focused on assisting the whole family to retain their dignity, earn their own livelihood and avoid the trappings of city life that entices people to sell their children for money.

Tue 8th March 2011 5.30pm-7.30pm

Australian Volunteers International Seminar Room, 71 Argyle Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Melbourne

Download flier for full details (pdf)

Read transcript of Buth Saman’s speech from the event.

We are excited and anticipate a wonderful 2011 with great projects, fascinating experiences and people working together to assist Cambodia to continue to develop as it wishes to do. Thank you for being a partner in our success in 2010, and for all we’ll achieve together in 2011.

Best wishes,
Community Links with Cambodia (CLC Melbourne)

Read about this wonderful and inspirational experience

Louise will ride her classic postie bike 4500km from Brisbane to Darwin, via the desert and the outback and the tropical north this year to raise money for the Trorkeat School Program.

ALL expenses for the marathon trip are covered by Louise and she asks that you, your family, your colleagues, your friends “sponsor” her for the trip.  More details

Ongoing support for the Trorkeat School Program has enabled a further 20 families and another 41 children to join the program in 2010 — doubling the numbers from the initial phase in 2008-09.

This means that a total of 85 children are now gaining a primary school education while parents from 40 families are learning skills to improve their living conditions through food security and income generation programs.

The 20 families who joined in the initial phase in 2008 are now producing their own food and are on their way to improved financial stability (read case study below). These families are sharing their experiences and mentoring families who have recently joined the program.

Thank you for supporting the Trorkeat School Program and enabling more children and families to work together to improve their own lives.

2009 has been a great year for the Trorkeat School Program. We have seen signs of positive change in the lives of children and families in the Trorkeat community. The changes are small and incremental but are sure signs of transformation in the community.

Some of the positive changes are:

• The children supported by the program are attending school more regularly as they no longer have to go to work to help their families survive.
• Families are gaining confidence and skills in growing cash crops in their home vegetable gardens.
• With your help, the Trorkeat Primary School is now much better resourced, which is increasing the standard of education for all children.
• The innovative drawing program initiated by CLC member, Louise Jade has been integrated as a learning tool into CLA Cambodia’s programs.

We wish all our members and supporters a very happy and safe festive season and look forward to sharing good news and joy from Trorkeat in 2010.

Best wishes,
Community Links with Cambodia (CLC Melbourne)

Community Links with Cambodia (CLC Melbourne) is a community group based in Melbourne, working to support children and families in Trorkeat Village, Prey Veng Province, Cambodia.

To help the Trorkeat Village community build a better future, CLC Melbourne is supporting partner organisation, CLA Cambodia, to implement the holistic Trorkeat School Program. The aim of the Trorkeat School Program is to help children, families and community work together to improve their own lives.

Supporters of CLC Melbourne enabled the program to get underway in September 2008.  CLC Melbourne has recently retuned from a visit to Trorkeat. Although only eight months into the program, we observed tangible achievements – vegetable gardens, animal shelters and self help groups, water filters in each of the classrooms and children regularly attending school.  We met with parents and children in the program, as well as village elders and leaders and it is clear there is much commitment to the program and evidence it is building strength within the community. It was heart warming to hear how the program is helping villagers to survive and improve their situation daily.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive quarterly progress updates from the Trorkeat School Program.