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 | Loung Ung: Activist, Author, Lecturer
"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures."
~ John F. Kennedy |
The Power to Change the World
Monthly featured programs that you can become involved with
July 2010 Featured Program
Name
Veterans International Cambodia Rehabilitation Project
Website
http://www.ic-vic.org/
About
Veterans International in Cambodia (VI/C) opened its Cambodia rehabilitation program with a small clinic in Phnom Penh in 1991. The clinic provided prosthetic services for amputees, primarily injured during the long civil war.
Since then, VI/C’s work has expanded to other parts of Cambodia with the opening of additional centers in Prey Veng and Kratie to provide comprehensive care and services. These centers not only aid amputees, but also individuals with mobility problems caused by polio, cerebral palsy, clubfoot, tuberculosis of the bone and other conditions.
Dear friends,
Over the years, I have returned to Cambodia more than thirty times. These trips have allowed me to reconnect with my sister Chou, my brother Khouy, and many other relatives, and to fall in love again and again with the country, its people, and culture. Cambodia gave me many of my "first loves" in life—family, friendships, music, movies, food, and colors. For these reasons and more, my heart and soul will always belong to Cambodia.
Since 1997, helping Cambodia has also been my professional focus. After my first return trip to Cambodia in 1995, I left my job at the Abused Women's Advocacy Project in Maine and moved to Washington D.C. to work for the Vietnam Veteran's of America Foundation (VVAF). In D.C., I found that though Cambodia was my constant focus, it was not for others. In 1999, I wrote my memoir with hopes that it would help me to raise awareness and funds to help support the various programs that I care about in Cambodia.
Since its publication, many readers have written to share how "First" have touched their hearts. Many readers have also emailed to say how "First" inspired them to take action and asked how they could help. I am so always grateful to read this. Here are a few examples of how they've helped.
- After my visit to her school in Australia, a high school girl wrote to tell me she had organized a concert called "Bombs Be Gone" to raise money to remove mines in Cambodia.
- After they read my book, The Khmer Student Association at the University of Washington held a candle light vigil to remember the lives lost during the Khmer Rouge.
- Then there was Mr.Tom Wright of Cathay Pacific Airways, who helped with getting his airline to fly The Cambodian Disabled Volleyball team to play in The Good Will games in Germany.
Thank you all. I am thrilled that in some small ways, my books have connected these compassionate people to Cambodia.
And so in the spirit of their generosity and givings, I've created this "Power to Change" section to my website. Each month I will feature a program that is doing wonderful work in Cambodia. Please consider helping in anyway you can.
Peace to you all,
Loung Ung
Links to Get Involved
Explore. Learn. Become Motivated.
Here are some links that you may find useful for getting involved in
the campaign against landmines and info on Cambodia. More will be
coming soon.
Documentation of Cambodia
http://www.dccam.org/
Documentation of Cambodian atrocities and history seeking to promote the memory of those who lived through the horror and ensure justice.
Human Translation
http://www.humantranslation.org
A great program run by a great guy, Tobias.
The Cow Bank Project
http://www.projectenlighten.org/cowbank.html
A gift that keeps on giving
A cherished contribution of $300 will provide a breeding cow to an underprivileged family. This gracious support will help improve the family’s economic condition tremendously and continue to give year after year. With each and every calf that is born, the farm will gain a value “equal to this poor family’s annual income!”
Cambodian Assoc. of Illinois
http://www.cambodian-association.org
Visit Illinois' Cambodian American Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial!
PEPY RIDE
http://www.pepyride.org/
"The PEPY Ride organizes volunteer and adventure travel in developing countries and redevelopment areas suffering from natural disasters. The PEPY Ride emphasizes education through action, where participants both learn from and give back to the communities they visit." from PEPY site.
AFESIP
http://www.afesip.org
(Text from AFESIP website)
Welcome to AFESIP CAMBODIA
AFESIP CAMBODIA exists to combat trafficking in women and children for sex slavery; to care for and rehabilitate those rescued from sex slavery; to provide occupational skills and to reintegrate those rescued into the community in a sustainable and innovative manner. AFESIP CAMBODIA also seeks to combat the causes and effects of trafficking and sex slavery through outreach work in AIDS prevention; through advocacy and campaigning; through representation and participation in women’s issues at national, regional and international forums.
Sunrise Children's Village
www.sunrisechildrensvillage.com/
You remember Geraldine Cox from the awarding winning documentary "My Khmer Heart", here is her program. This woman is amazing! Please help her if you can. Peace. Loung
Lavalla School
http://www.catholiccambodia.org/en/ngo/lavalla.php
I'm a huge fan of this NGO. I've visited it many times. They do wonderful work.
Loung
LaValla is designed for them. Children and young people with disabilities can move about the school easily and freely. Its educational program aims to have them complete the six elementary grades in three, no more than four years and to give them the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills beyond the defined curriculum. People with disabilities face difficulties finding suitable employment: whatever LaValla can do to facilitate that, or to encourage greater self reliance, is done.
Cambodian Women Crisis Center
http://www.cwcc.org.kh/
Helping Women Help Themselves.
The Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre (CWCC)is a local Non-Government Organisation (NGO) registered with the Royal Cambodian Government's Ministry of Interior. It's primary purpose is to provide assistance to women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and trafficking.
Its mission is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and work toward creating a society founded on equality, peace, and development that will achieve happiness for all.
http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/
http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/home.html
The CLMMRF facility is more than a museum.
It is also the home of an incredible family that provides education and support for dozens of at-risk, landmine-affected children rescued by the CLMMRF NGO. Many children who are part of this family have suffered overwhelming hardships. The Landmine Museum was created so that it might serve as a place of healing for bodies, hearts and minds. We believe that love, support, and education will help secure a better opportunity for the children that live here.
People Improvement Organization
www.http://peopleimprovement.org/
PIO serves 600 children a day through a variety of programs that include, non-formal education and vocational training. Through our programs we provide some of the most vulnerable women and children in Cambodia with hope for the future.
Saving children from Cambodia's trash heap
Cambodia Tribunal Monitor
http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=21&Itemid=31
Cambodia Tribunal Monitor is a consortium of academic, philanthropic and non-profit organizations committed to providing public access to the tribunal and open discussion throughout the judicial process.
Veterans International Cambodia Rehabilitation Project
http://www.ic-vic.org/
Veterans International Cambodia (VI/C) is a humanitarian organization focused on rehabilitating Cambodians living with disabilities in order to help them to lead active, fulfilling lives. Our goal is to support victims of war and poverty who are often marginalized in their society. We give them the tools to build better lives for themselves and their families, empowering them to become respected members of their communities with equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities.
Grady Grossman School
http://www.gradygrossmanschool.org/index.php
The Grady Grossman School began in Fall of 2000 when photographers George and Kari Grady Grossman decided to donate to American Assistance for Cambodia’s school building project called Put a Roof Over Their Heads.
Loung Ung
© Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
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