Khmer Alliance Foundation

Questions and Answers on the “Adopt a Cambodian Family” Project

As people of God, we proclaim by word and action that Jesus Christ is working in and through us to:

Preach good news to the poor
Proclaim freedom for prisoners
Declare recovery of sight to the blind
Set the burdened and battered free
Announce that this is God’s year to act

What is the Project goal?

To provide financial support for food for one year for twenty desperately poor Cambodian families who lack the means to support themselves.

Why is help needed?

Since 1969, Cambodia has been plagued by many wars which have crippled its economic and social structure. According to the UN Development Program “Human Development Index” in 2006, Cambodia is classified as a “least developed and low-income food-deficient country,” ranking 129th out of 177 countries in the world. 35 % of its people live below the poverty line, and the average income is less than a dollar per day.

How will this be done?

Individuals, families, or groups within this congregation and in the Cambodian and Buddhist communities outside the Church volunteer to “adopt” a specific Cambodian family by contributing $15/month for a period of one to twelve months, as they are able.

How will families be identified for possible “adoption”?

Traditional charitable organizations currently operating in Cambodia, such as the Red Cross, are very closely tied to the current Cambodian government and therefore heavily politicized in practice and policy. They are not reliable sources for referrals of assistance. The most reliable sources include Mr. Mam Sonando, the host of a remarkable, international radio station (SBK at FM95, http://www.sbk.com.kh/ ) dedicated to local and international humanitarian relief efforts on a person-to-person basis, and several Cambodian members of our Church who travel frequently to their native villages, bringing aid to the most needy in the rural areas they know best. Two other international radio stations the Radio Free Asia (RFA) http://www.rfa.org and Voice of America (VOA) http://www.voanews.com are the sources for referral as well.

These will be families of children with no father or male adult figure, the elderly, individuals with severe handicaps or disabling illnesses such as HIV/AIDs or tuberculosis—people often reduced to scavenging on the street and begging for food to survive.

How is the money collected and distributed?

The funds will be administered and delivered to the adopted families every 3 months by the Khmer Alliance Foundation, a non-profit organization of many years standing based in Washington State (see http://www.khmeralliancefoundation.org/). Director Mr. Marith Chang, who helped distribute St. John’s contribution of money for rice during the severe floods in Cambodia several years ago, will oversee this process.

Why St. Johns?

St. John’s has a history with Cambodia dating back to the mid-1980’s when several church members sponsored Cambodian refugees fleeing the horrors of Pol Pot’s regime and the misery of years spent in Thailand’s refugee camps. Cambodians have been an important presence in our parish since then.

What is St. John’s role?

St. John’s will provide an address and a physical space where information about the Project will be provided and future communications from the adopted families will be posted. It will work in partnership through committee with 2 local Cambodian organizations, the Kampuchean Association of Olympia and the Wat Prachum Raingsey Buddhist Association. It will be a model of God’s love and care for the least among us, to bring them hope and restore quality of life.

When will the project begin?

There is no certain date, but of course the hope is for the project to commence as soon as possible to provide the relief to desperately needed. Once the support and partnership of St. John’s, the Kampuchean Association, and the Wat Prachum Ringsey Buddhist Association is affirmed, volunteer participants from this Church and the larger Olympia community will pledge to make their $15 monthly donations for one year. Then appropriate Cambodian family recipients will be identified through the process described above and matched for “adoption.”

What are likely Outcomes?

Certainly, the expectation is that at least 20 families (and perhaps more later) will experience the consequences of a reliable source of daily food: health, strength, physical and emotional stability--and perhaps many other benefits that come from being freed from the terrible threat of starvation and misery.

The benefits for participants at this end are also great: the opportunity to put into practice the life Christ would have us live, gratefully receiving our blessings from God and generously extending them to others to share. The correspondence between Cambodian families and their sponsors here, the exchange of pictures and letters, will create a personal relationship which puts a face on God’s love. The connection between St. John’s and its Cambodian organization partners will strengthen our ties to the larger Cambodian community in our midst and provide opportunities for both organizations and individual members of these organizations to develop greater cross-cultural respect, understanding, and deeper friendships.

What happens at the end of the first year?

This will be the time for assessment and evaluation of the Program. Is it serving the needs it was created to serve? Can its efficiency or effectiveness be improved? What are its strengths and what are its weaknesses? What changes are needed? Is expansion appropriate?

	KHMER ALLIANCE FOUNDATION (KAF)
Home About Us Our Mission KAF Programs News & Events Membership KAF Trust Fund Contact Us	Questions and Answers on the “Adopt a Cambodian Family” Project As people of God, we proclaim by word and action that Jesus Christ is working in and through us to: Preach good news to the poor Proclaim freedom for prisoners Declare recovery of sight to the blind Set the burdened and battered free Announce that this is God’s year to act *What is the Project goal?* To provide financial support for food for one year for twenty desperately poor Cambodian families who lack the means to support themselves. *Why is help needed?* Since 1969, Cambodia has been plagued by many wars which have crippled its economic and social structure. According to the UN Development Program “Human Development Index” in 2006, Cambodia is classified as a “least developed and low-income food-deficient country,” ranking 129th out of 177 countries in the world. 35 % of its people live below the poverty line, and the average income is less than a dollar per day. *How will this be done?* Individuals, families, or groups within this congregation and in the Cambodian and Buddhist communities outside the Church volunteer to “adopt” a specific Cambodian family by contributing $15/month for a period of one to twelve months, as they are able. *How will families be identified for possible “adoption”?* Traditional charitable organizations currently operating in Cambodia, such as the Red Cross, are very closely tied to the current Cambodian government and therefore heavily politicized in practice and policy. They are not reliable sources for referrals of assistance. The most reliable sources include Mr. Mam Sonando, the host of a remarkable, international radio station (SBK at FM95, http://www.sbk.com.kh/ ) dedicated to local and international humanitarian relief efforts on a person-to-person basis, and several Cambodian members of our Church who travel frequently to their native villages, bringing aid to the most needy in the rural areas they know best. Two other international radio stations the Radio Free Asia (RFA) http://www.rfa.org and Voice of America (VOA) http://www.voanews.com are the sources for referral as well. These will be families of children with no father or male adult figure, the elderly, individuals with severe handicaps or disabling illnesses such as HIV/AIDs or tuberculosis—people often reduced to scavenging on the street and begging for food to survive. *How is the money collected and distributed?* The funds will be administered and delivered to the adopted families every 3 months by the Khmer Alliance Foundation, a non-profit organization of many years standing based in Washington State (see http://www.khmeralliancefoundation.org/). Director Mr. Marith Chang, who helped distribute St. John’s contribution of money for rice during the severe floods in Cambodia several years ago, will oversee this process. *Why St. Johns?* St. John’s has a history with Cambodia dating back to the mid-1980’s when several church members sponsored Cambodian refugees fleeing the horrors of Pol Pot’s regime and the misery of years spent in Thailand’s refugee camps. Cambodians have been an important presence in our parish since then. *What is St. John’s role?* St. John’s will provide an address and a physical space where information about the Project will be provided and future communications from the adopted families will be posted. It will work in partnership through committee with 2 local Cambodian organizations, the Kampuchean Association of Olympia and the Wat Prachum Raingsey Buddhist Association. It will be a model of God’s love and care for the least among us, to bring them hope and restore quality of life. *When will the project begin?* There is no certain date, but of course the hope is for the project to commence as soon as possible to provide the relief to desperately needed. Once the support and partnership of St. John’s, the Kampuchean Association, and the Wat Prachum Ringsey Buddhist Association is affirmed, volunteer participants from this Church and the larger Olympia community will pledge to make their $15 monthly donations for one year. Then appropriate Cambodian family recipients will be identified through the process described above and matched for “adoption.” *What are likely Outcomes?* Certainly, the expectation is that at least 20 families (and perhaps more later) will experience the consequences of a reliable source of daily food: health, strength, physical and emotional stability--and perhaps many other benefits that come from being freed from the terrible threat of starvation and misery. The benefits for participants at this end are also great: the opportunity to put into practice the life Christ would have us live, gratefully receiving our blessings from God and generously extending them to others to share. The correspondence between Cambodian families and their sponsors here, the exchange of pictures and letters, will create a personal relationship which puts a face on God’s love. The connection between St. John’s and its Cambodian organization partners will strengthen our ties to the larger Cambodian community in our midst and provide opportunities for both organizations and individual members of these organizations to develop greater cross-cultural respect, understanding, and deeper friendships. *What happens at the end of the first year?* This will be the time for assessment and evaluation of the Program. Is it serving the needs it was created to serve? Can its efficiency or effectiveness be improved? What are its strengths and what are its weaknesses? What changes are needed? Is expansion appropriate?	Advocacy Program Community Assistance Program - Restroom - Water Pump - Salachan Picture - Adopt a Family - Adopt Questions? - Project Poster Scholarship Program

KHMER ALLIANCE FOUNDATION (KAF)