October 15, Phnom Penh

Yesterday found us all reunited after Bob and Maryann got an early flight out of Bangkok. We met with three groups - all doing amazing work in very diverse ways here in Cambodia.

Our meeting with with Room to Read Cambodia was intended to help us understand their approach to providing scholarships for girls. The program started in Cambodia in 2003 and they have given scholarships to over 1300 girls in several provinces. We were impressed with the selection process and support system for the girls and their families.

Next we met with an amazing woman, Naly Pilorge, who directs the work of LICADHO. This organization is all about human rights and provides social and legal support to the people throughout Cambodia. Naly spoke with us about ways in which a small grant from Pangea could make a difference even in this very large organization. She i s a very passionate and wise woman who wants to bring freedoms back to the Cambodian people. Naly has access to very small communities for whom $5,000 would be huge. We left Naly feeling like we want to maintain and build this relationship with her and LICADHO.

In the afternoon we met with Janne Ritskes, founder of Tabitha Cambodia. Another strong leader, Janne has commited her life to helping the very poorest people of Cambodia help themselves through a program based on savings.

I need to go get breakfast now so that we can leave for our visit with Cambodian Social SErvices.

More later.

Sydney

Phnom Penh Arrival

Hello from Phnom Penh. JoAnn and Sydney arrived as scheduled and were taken to our hotel by our driver as arranged for us by Emma. Thanks Emma! He provided a course in current Cambodian political affairs, while checking addresses for our first meeting tomorrow, while talking on the phone, while negotiating amazing Phnom Penh rush our traffic!

We learned a couple of hours later that Bob and Maryann made it from Chiang Mei to Bangkok OK but were delayed in Bangkok for the night. We expect them to arrive before our second meeting tomorrow morning with LICADHO. Everyone is safe so that is the main point and we were able to communicate with our driver to let him know. So all is well.

Tomorrow will be a full day with meetings starting at 8:30 with Room to Read, 10:30 with LICADHO, and 3:00 with Janne Ritske of Tabitha Foundation.

Take care everyone and stay tuned for news on Cambodia tomorrow.

Sydney

Friday night, October 10 - Bangkok

A full day of meetings with lots of Bangkok traffic in between.

We have the common site visit afflication of engaging with each organization and wanting to find a way to fund them all. The Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB) intervenes with documented and undocumented immigrants with legal assistance. They work to educate the Thai population about the situation of immigrants to make them more helpful and understanding, and to educate the immigrant population to help them understand their rights and the requirements of Thai law. They offer training both in the legal issues and skills to help immigrants gain employment - computer skills and language skills. They have set up libraries to disseminate the information which have become community centers where other social services and training can take place. Mr. Myint Wai is Burmese and has a great deal of credibility with both the Thai government and the Burmese population.

Pattanarak has the very holistic mission of improving the living standards of displaced populations. Mr. Seri Thongmak worked for the Thai government in forestry for several years near the Burmese border and became very familiar with the area and its people and problems. Again, he is one with credibility on both sides. His approach is to train others the lessons he has learned over the last 10 years in development and conservation and sustainability. He has learned that people must help themselves. He is inspired by the Mohamed Yunos model and wants people to learn to save and not just rely on loans. The Pangea project if funded would involve a community micro-credit and a community owned store for essentials, such as rice.

Sydney and I will write up our detailed notes and share them with you all when we get back. But, now it is late and we've had just a little bit of Singha beer at a lovely riverfront restaurant along with some remarkable Thai food. Tomorrow will more tourism for Sydney and JoAnn, and on to Chiang Mai for Bob and Maryann.

Hi to everyone at home in Seattle. We are safe and happy and enjoying making wonderful new contacts here in SE Asia...

Maryann

Rendezvous in Bangkok

Maryann and Bob, and JoAnn and Sydney all arrived safely at the Old Bangkok Inn with smooth flying all the way. This morning we will travel out to the office of the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma where we will meet Mr Myint Wai and join him for lunch and then we go to visit Seri Thongmak who directs the Pattanarak Foundation.

You may have read about violence at the Parliament in Bangkok - so just to assure you - the protests are limited to that area and are easy to avoid.

This is just a short note before breakfast on Friday morning Thailand time.

Take care and we will send you all an update on our meetings tomorrow morning at this time.

Sydney

Planning the Journey

Tomorrow we leave Seattle for Bangkok, Cambodia and then on to Nepal.  After months of planning I am anxious to be underway.  My name is Sydney Munger and I will be joined on the Thailand Cambodia leg of this trip by JoAnn Schindler,  and Maryann and Bob Ness.  We will rendezvous in Bangkok where we will have the opportunity to visit with the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma and the Pattanarak Foundation.  Both of these groups work with Burmese immigrants living along the Thai border.  

In Cambodia we will be visiting with programs in Phnom Penh, and Battambang working on issues of human trafficking, women's empowerment, and education for children as well as communities.  

Our Nepal journey begins on October 20th in Kathmandu where I will be joined by Linda Mason, Walt Adam, Pam Elardo and Alice Lancaster.  We will meet with several groups in Kathmandu and for the first three days and then travel to Biratgar, Birganj, and Janakpur before heading home on October 27, 2008.

We intend to post to this blog at the end of each day.   So, sign on frequently and travel along with us.  We will look forward to hearing your comments.