Flood Relief Update-Brasat Char Village

The rain eventually stopped falling and Siem Reap Province started to dry out but this wasn't enough to make everything 'business as usual'. The road out to Brasat Char was still only passable on foot or on motorbike- neither of which are great choices for transporting over 300 ceramic water filters.

We therefore made the decision to get involved in road repairs. Working with the village chief we assembled a team of 40 adults, plus one team leader, to help get the road into a condition where a truck could pass along.

Each team member was paid with 7.5kg of rice ( funded by your wonderful donations)for their labouring. This food for work activity had three main benefits-

(1) it provided some income to families who had lost their normal rice harvesting work due to the damage done to the crops,
(2) it means JWOC can now access the village of Brasat Char to continue its Clean Water work and
(3) the road is now safer and easier for all who need to move between the villages for work, school or family.

Below you can see some pictures for the work in action-

Some of the team

Receiving the rice after the day's work.

Working hard under the cloudless sky.

The big gap that the team could only just negotiate on motorbike last week is now gone.

All this work meant that today we were able to get a truck into the village to distribute the first of the water filters.

Due to the increased areas of stagnant water in the village, left by the flooding, the number of mosquitoes has also increased but we knew from our baseline survey of Brasat Char that only 50% of families had enough mosquito nets for all family members to sleep under one. So now as part of our relief and recovery work we are distributing mosquito nets at the same time as the filters to ensure each household has at least one fully intact mosquito net to provide protection against bites and mosquito borne diseases.

Volunteer Phen hands out filters and nets after the villagers' training session.

Villagers pose with their filters and nets- both important items in improving the health of their families.

Thank you everyone who donated to the relief and recovery fund, we couldn't do this without you!

Read our latest update about our computer classes by our Lab Supervisor, Man

Computer classes at JWOC have been started since November 2010. It’s nearly one year now and it runs smoothly by Lab Supervisor. November this year, 2011, we had started three new classes in the course of typing and Microsoft Office Word. All new classes are started and worked very well and all students enjoy their course very much. They feel happy when they have opportunity to join the computer class at JWOC and they were shocked when they can touch computer for the first time. Of course, it is hard for them to practice typing for the first time because everything is new that they’ve never known before. They were trained about typing such as how to use keyboard layout, how to type and computer peripheral devices.

During Pchum Ben festival days, JWOC have had a long holidays and that was a time for staff and students to relax and mostly students of computer classes who are from other provinces went homeland to join the Pchum Ben days with their family. They were very happy with those holidays. On October 1st JWOC open the door and it was time for students to come back from their homeland and continue their lesson as usual. It seems to be fresh that everything has been released from their mind and remembered their lesson. We had played some games in the class to rememorizes the lesson.

Flood Relief Update- Clean water for Brasat Char village

Today was fortunately another mostly dry day, allowing again for water levels to drop. However, although water levels are going down there are still a vast array of problems. The one the Clean Water team had to deal with today was a lack of road...

Reaching the end of the road. A section of the mud road has been washed away.

Having access to clean drinking water is very important for preventing illness, but so far JWOC has been unable to provide our current Clean Water partner village, Brasat Char, with water filters as the road conditions have been too bad to get vehicles into the village. Due to their size and weight it is not possible to deliver the ceramic filters on foot. To make sure villagers have access to clean water while we wait for water levels to drop and road repairs to take place we are providing each household with purification tablets. Being small the tablets can be carried by motorbike to a nearby village and then taken the rest of the way on foot.

Luckily, the team are experienced drivers and motorbikes are smaller than trucks so they could make it across the gap in the road to continue to Kork Maus village after which they continued the journey on foot.

Working with our Project Manager Sokhorn the village chief arranged for people to congregate at meeting places.

Sokhorn explains how to use the purification tablets.

Volunteer Yanath went house to house to distribute to anyone not able to get to the meeting places. Here she explains to a mother how and why to use the tablets.

Volunteer Vutha distributes the packets of tablets at one of the meeting places, each packet has enough to clean 160 liters of water.

The hard working team take a break for lunch, it was to be along day.

The distribution today covered approximately two thirds of the village's 332 families. Another team will go out tomorrow to ensure all families receive the water purification tablets. The tablets are an important temporary measure, however our aim is to get water filters into the village as soon as we can. We will be assessing how to best do this over the coming week.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our Emergency Appeal to allow us to make a difference in communities affected by flooding...

Janet and Allen Johnson * Jane Price * Leonard Novick * Susan Kieswetter * Sheena Cowell * Ronie Reiley * Yukari Kane * Kathy Hornsby * Cara McGourty * Christpoher Colson * Deborah Forsythe * Carolyn Rose * Nancy Miller * Annie Andrighetto * Chad and Heidi Carson * Erin Ricigliano * Collette Foundation * Gillian Scott * Rhonda Conry * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Alex Nebesar * Regina Rubeo * SHARE * Journeys Within Boutique Hotel * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Chris Hurst * Pat Requa * Daren Hamaker * Pamela Mueller * Robert Lynn * M C Day * Patricia Maloy * Brian Feeney * Mary Renton * Becky Ballard * Erin Leider-Pariser * Sandra H Snowe * Michael Werner

Flood Relief Update- Reducing disease risk for children

Yesterday was a busy day!

The children's dry haven at JWOC was bustling with 63 coming for lunch. The team of staff and volunteers worked well together to get everyone fed and watered.

Getting set up for lunch, each child receives rice, a meat and vegetable dish plus soup and water.

Lots of children's lunches means lots of washing up; Sokha has been great in dealing with the extra work.

As well as all the activities at the dry haven, there was also distribution in Veal and Tropeang Ses villages. Here each of the 156 households received a bottle of liquid antiseptic and enough water purification tablets for 200 litres. It was a difficult mission with the villages still flooded and rain still falling.

Volunteer Sokpheak delivers the supplies to a family.

As the team distribute the items they also explain why and how to use them.

Volunteer Reaksmey wades along the 'road' to get to the next house.

Volunteer Thon talking to this father about the importance of using the provided items.

More disease reducing items going out to families that need them.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to make this work possible.

Janet and Allen Johnson * Jane Price * Leonard Novick * Susan Kieswetter * Sheena Cowell * Ronie Reiley * Yukari Kane * Kathy Hornsby * Cara McGourty * Christpoher Colson * Deborah Forsythe * Carolyn Rose * Nancy Miller * Annie Andrighetto * Chad and Heidi Carson * Erin Ricigliano * Collette Foundation * Gillian Scott * Rhonda Conry * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Alex Nebesar * Regina Rubeo * SHARE * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Chris Hurst * Pat Requa * Daren Hamaker * Pamela Mueller * Robert Lynn * M C Day * Patricia Maloy * Brian Feeney * Mary Renton * Becky Ballard * Erin Leider-Pariser * Sandra H Snowe * Journeys Within Boutique Hotel *

Flood Relief Update- Reducing disease risk for children- Veal and Tropean Ses Villages

We are now on day 3 of our emergency response and about to start a new activity- distribution of materials in the two squatters' villages furthest from JWOC.

South Veal village.

A survey yesterday morning of the children attending the dry haven let us know that no one from either Veal or Tropean Ses villages was there. This means that so far JWOC has not been able to reduce the disease risk for the children living in those villages.

Vantha is leading on the response for Veal and Tropean Ses villages.

Vantha, our Office Manager and standing in now as Emergency Relief Team Leader, went to the villages to investigate further. This investigation confirmed that 156 households had yet to receive any help from JWOC or any other organisation. Also the dry haven provided by JWOC is just too far away for the children to attend.

In order to hep reduce the disease risk for children we will provide each of the families with enough purification tablets to make up to 400 liters of water safe to drink plus a bottle of liquid antiseptic to minimize the risk of cuts and sores becoming infected.

Each pack of purification tablets comes with clear instructions in Khmer along with pictures for those who are illiterate, the team will also explain to each household how to use them and answer any questions.

Both villages are still in a state of flooding, but as before the raised beds are remaining dry.

Despite two days with less rain, both villages are still very wet.

Veal village.

Thank you to everyone that has already donated to our Emergency Appeal, your kindness means we can get help to those that need it.

If you would like to donate, please go to this page of our website.

Thanks goes to-

Janet and Allen Johnson * Jane Price * Leonard Novick * Susan Kieswetter * Sheena Cowell * Ronie Reiley * Yukari Kane * Kathy Hornsby * Cara McGourty * Christpoher Colson * Deborah Forsythe * Carolyn Rose * Nancy Miller * Annie Andrighetto * Chad and Heidi Carson * Erin Ricigliano * Collette Foundation * Gillian Scott * Rhonda Conry * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Alex Nebesar * Regina Rubeo * SHARE Institute * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Chris Hurst * Pat Requa * Daren Hamaker * Pamela Mueller * Robert Lynn * M C Day * Patricia Maloy * Journeys Within Boutique Hotel

Flood Relief Update- Reducing disease risk for children

The first part of JWOC's relief response to the flooding in Siem Reap has been about reducing the disease risk for children in the urban communities where we work.

JWOC is fortunately staying dry amongst the floods. Keeping children out of the flood waters, where the risk of disease and injury is high will reduce their risk of contracting water borne disease.

To maximize the impact of the dry haven JWOC will also provide-

- showers, soap and towels- most have no place to wash or dry

- lunch- so children do not need to return through the flood to get lunch, and to make sure they are receiving at least one good meal a day

-clean, safe water for drinking

- basic medical treatment of bites, wounds and sores. Anything more serious will be referred to the Children’s Hospital

- a bottle of povidone-iodine, a liquid antiseptic, to take home

We are now on day two and things are going well. Below are pictures showing each of one of our activities.

Providing a dry, safe haven where children can play and study

In addition to the regular classes and activities in the library, JWOC has organised extra activities to keep the children entertained and out of the dirty flood water.

Volunteer Pat runs a basic yoga class with the children.

This morning a skipping competition proved lots of fun, with the boys out-skipping the girls!

One of the champion girl skippers!

This little boy, seen here playing football, was one we found yesterday swimming in the flood. We're so pleased Vantha persuaded him playing on dry land is better choice.

Providing a place to get clean and dry

We're providing soap, nailbrushes and showers to all children that come, plus towels to get dry with. All the children come from homes without bathrooms so this is a welcome opportunity to get clean.

To take advantage of the sun we set up temporary washing lines for the children to get their clothes dry. The children wore clothes made by the sewing class while they waited.

Providing lunch

Getting ready for lunch. Every child receives rice,stir-fried vegetable with meat and a bowl of soup.

The lunches have the double benefit of keeping children out the water and also making sure they are getting at least one good meal a day. The children need no persuading in eating up their food, every last bit is consumed.

Providing clean, safe water for drinking

The children have three designated 'water times' plus drinking water is available all day. Another NGO has provided one village with water filters but other villages are still in need of access of clean water. We will provide purification tablets this week.

Provide basic medical treatment of wounds

Every child is checked and a liquid antiseptic is applied to any cuts, sores or other wounds. With the bacteria count in the flood water so high keeping wounds as clean as possible is very important.

Staff and volunteers work together to make sure everyone is checked and treated

Provide liquid antiseptic to take home

Each family received one bottle to take home. Before they are distributed Vantha trained the older children how to use it.

A big sister lets us know she has received her bottle of povidone-iodine.

Today the weather is dry and sunny; standing in JWOC it's difficult to imagine we are in an flooding situation. However just a few hundred meters away paths and wells are underwater.

A big thank you to everyone who has helped us make a difference.

Janet and Allen Johnson * Jane Price * Leonard Novick * Susan Kieswetter * Sheena Cowell * Ronie Reiley * Yukari Kane * Kathy Hornsby * Cara McGourty * Christpoher Colson * Deborah Forsythe * Carolyn Rose * Nancy Miller * Annie Andrighetto * Chad and Heidi Carson * Erin Ricigliano * Collette Foundation * Gillian Scott * Rhonda Conry * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Alex Nebesar * Regina Rubeo * Journeys Within Boutique Hotel * Chelsea Drennan McCabe * Chris Hurst

If you would like to donate please use the widget below or go to our website.

Flood Relief Update

Thank you to everyone who has already donated! With your help we started the relief work today, starting with providing a dry, safe haven for children to study and play,reducing their risk of illness or injury.

The day started early with the first children arriving at 7am. While Somath, our Librarian, provided fun and engaging activities in and outside the library Vantha, our Office Manager, and I (Nicola,Managing Director) headed into the squatters' villages to advertise and importantly to check if there had been a change in the conditions. Our main concern was to check whether people had a dry place to sleep. Fortunately although levels had risen a little, the raised beds provided a refuge from the wet.

Having this dry place to play is important in keeping the children healthy.

Vantha distributing information about the children's dry haven. Interest was high and we expect numbers coming to the school to increase tomorrow.

We found so many children playing in the water- water always seems fun.Unfortunately this water is not the place to be playing as it currently doubling as a latrine.

These children have found a mostly dry place to perch, but they were excited to hear they could come to JWOC all day and on Wednesday.

This was one of the worst houses we found, but luckily even here the bed was remaining dry.

We headed back to JWOC slowly, trying to not fall over on the slippery mud or fall down any holes obscured by the water. By the time we were back at the library the numbers of children had increased and it was getting close to lunchtime. The children had all showered and scrubbed with antibacterial soap and cuts, bites and other sores had all been treated.

I will update tomorrow on the activities that have been taking place in the dry haven of JWOC.

Thank you again to everyone that has donated- Janet and Allen Johnson * Jane Price * Leonard Novick * Susan Kieswetter * Sheena Cowell * Ronie Reiley * Yukari Kane * Kathy Hornsby * Cara McGourty * Christpoher Colson * Deborah Forsythe * Carolyn Rose * Nancy Miller * Annie Andrighetto * Chad and Heidi Carson * Erin Ricigliano * Journeys Within Boutique Hotel

Emergency Appeal: Siem Reap Flooding

As you may have heard on the news Southeast Asia is experiencing worse than normal flooding, with the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia suffering particularly badly.

Siem Reap Province, where the majority of JWOC’s work takes place, has been hit with a wave of flooding- damaging homes, ruining crops and destroying roads and other infrastructure.

In the town many businesses are closed along with one of the major universities. For those living off the main roads just getting out of the house means wading through dirty water that in places is well above knee height. In the rural parts of the province villages are becoming cut off as roads are washed away.

Due to its proximity to the river the university has been under water for three weeks.

Despite the floods people try to get on the best they can with normal life.

Many businesses have been forced to close.


The pictures below were taken in our closest community, an urban squatters' village where many of our students and microloan borrowers live. This will be one of the first villages to receive our help.

The village paths are already under water and the rain continues to fall. Heavy rain is expected until the 18th.

Getting around Siem Reap is getting difficult. Some rural roads have disappeared altogether.

For now people can still access the wells, but it is going to become more difficult.

JWOC Founders, Brandon and Andrea, and Office Manager Vantha assess conditions in the village.

People in the communities JWOC works with are so far surviving but it’s an anxious time - water levels are expected to rise again, the risk of water and mosquito borne disease is high and then there’s the clean up and repair to consider once the water does eventually go down.

Although homes are spared the worst for now, it will not take much of a rise in water levels before the flood water enters the living areas. If this happens JWOC will provide shelter at the our school.

The increased disease risk, caused by dirty water and extra mosquitoes, will affect young children particularly.

During this difficult period we are asking you to donate towards our Relief Fund to allow us to help with current emergencies, reduce risk of disease and to give us the ability to contribute to the recovery of the communities that mean so much to us.

To donate please go here. Mark your donation Flood Relief