SPECIAL PROJECTS
Sometimes we identify a need that does not fit neatly into our long term plans. These special projects are opportunities to better understand local needs and evaluate ways to change our focus over time. We still perform the same rigorous vetting and follow through for these efforts.
SOLAR
In 2016 we had a spare solar panel sitting unused from a project in 2008. Our local contact Mr. Sok suggested we could reuse the panel to setup a basic charging and lighting system for a rural family in need. Their only source of light at night was either through burning wood or by using a car battery that required expensive recharging.
We set up the panel with basic LED lights, switches, and a charge controller for the battery. The system was successful after a year of use, so we tried the same approach for two more locations in 2017. The successful deployment and reasonable cost have been beyond expectations. We established this as a primary project focus and are elevating it from a special project in 2018 to a long-term program.
BICYCLES
Village elders and school administrators told us about how hard it can be for kids to get to school. During the rainy season the roads can wash out in a particularly nasty way. The reddish, claylike soil becomes slick. People can't make it around town. Getting to school can be impossible on foot. A bicycle can mean the difference between education or continuing poverty.
This project to donate bicycles addressed a short-term need as roads are improving even in rural areas.
MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS
In 2007 we asked the Angkor Hospital for Children if there was any way we could help. Their organized list of requested items included "surgical instruments" as a category. Through personal connections with an instrument repair company in the US, we were able to provide over 250 general instruments to supplement their inventory. This variety of clamps, retractors, forceps, scissors, and more were a welcome addition.
MOSQUITO NETS
Disease prevention through mosquito net distribution is a familiar and effective charitable cause. The logistics of running a mosquito net program are surprising difficult. Cambodia did not have in-country manufacturers producing quality products adhering to WHO standards until about 2015. Through a one-time donation from a manufacturer in India, Building Cambodia obtained 750 large nets and distributed them throughout villages and via established organizations. We remain committed to finding a logistical solution to reasonably supporting mosquito nets and elevating this to an established program.
HEALTH KITS & FIRST AID SUPPLIES
Personal health and hygiene supplies are closely associated with larger programs. We receive donations from the US that easily travel to Cambodia for distribution to people in need. Primary healthcare is typically not available in rural villages, so first aid supplies and basic training can offer the only immediate treatment options.
