Ceremony for new Police Station

The government built a new police station in Prey Veng Province and LDSC was asked to contribute.
Of course they build a new police station without water, latrine and wash station.  We are working on clean water and sanitation at 26 school in Prey Veng and our construction crews needs protection and free passage to work there.  So we added a well, water pump, latrin and hand wash station to the deal and everyone is happy.  Of course you have to have a ceremony to seal the deal.  I usually speak at these events and start my speech with a joke or something to warm the already melting crowd.  My translator would not relate my joke because he said it would offend them and would land us in the back half of the new police stations jail.  There were over 1000 people here with about 300+ police officers dressed in their finest.  The head of all police in Cambodia was present and spoke for an hour.      I started my speech with" This is the largest group of policemen that I had seen since the donut truck flipped over on highway 80 in down town Sacramento. " If was fun brushing shoulders with the mover and shakers in the police department.  A lot of time it is who you know that keeps you out of trouble and that you can fall back on when you do.  Respect and $s is what make things move here.  The difference between a bribe and a payment is a receipt!!

I asked the police chief why he needed a latrine.  Policemen are big and strong and don't need to go.  He said it was just for EMERGENCIES

Investigating a New Project

We find our project in all kinds of ways.  Because our name has charities in everybody thinks that we have Money to give.  The project requests come from members, priesthood leaders, Minister of Cult and Religion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Provincial Governors, Political leaders, Chief of school districts, District Governors, village chiefs, Mission President, NGOs, you name it.

We try to keep our projects in the member area of strength around the Tonle Sap lake, about 5 hours away.  That way we can monitor the progress of the project.  We are now looking a t project in Prey Veng Province about 2-3 hours way.  There are two school district in 2 separate Districts.  31 schools min one and 66 in the other.  The last time they had any work done was by UNICEF in 2009.

The school districts get $1.75 per student per year towards maintenance and repair of school property.
Something breaks it stays broke.  NO MONEY is the term that is used most often when asked why something is not fixed.  So if a 5 door school with 200 kids in the morning session and 200 kids in the afternoon it get, receive $1.75 x 400 =$700.  That money is usually shorted through the sieve on its way to the school.  In the recent past the school teacher, who make about $108 per month, was being shorted by the school director and or the district school chief and or somewhere higher up before it got to the teacher.  The government now send the pay to the teacher's bank account direct.  That doesn't stop someone from asking for money back to keep you job. Challenging!!

The Prey Veng project request came through Cult and Religion and the Provincial Govenor.  We have spent 2 days looking and charting the first 25 school.  We primary look at clean water and sanitation.
Wells, rain water catchment, water tanks or piped water, latrines and hand wash station.

Checking on a new water project

The rainy season is upon us.  Not enough rain for rice but too much for gardens.

The water come to the top of the steps. 

Hand wash station 35,000 liter water tank with hand wash instructions draw on the side.

Ferry across the river 

Backing onto a ferry. Just before it sank!!

The Hardest Part of a Blogsite

 Is keeping up with it.  Sometimes you get lost in your adventure and let other things go.
Being on a mission in Cambodia has been a wonderful experience.