Bayan Learning Tree Libraries Now Have Library Monitors

The libaries opened the beginning of March and now are open 3 hours per day and are filled with children daily.

Thanks to all our donors who made these novel rural libraries a possibility and a success.

View more photos of the libraries!

Rotary Club of Washago, Ontario Funds a Water Tower and Tank for Brighter Beginnings School in Prokeab Village

Many Thanks to the Rotary Club of Washago & Area-Centennial for funding a water tower and tank for our Banyan Learning Tree School 'Brighter Beginnings' in Prokeab village, Takeo province, Cambodia.

First steps have been taken to build the tower. In a few days, this much-needed project will be completed.

UPDATE: May 5, 2012
This water tower vastly improves hygiene at the schools. Isn't it wonderful! Now it is easier to get the water. Happy to enjoy :-) says Phearom, the Prokeab Site Manager.

UPCOMING EVENT - CAMBODIA FUNDRAISER SEMINAR & BRIDGE GAME
Thursday, June 14 @ 9.30 am

In addition to the building of the one school and library, we also provided much of the furniture, equipment and supplies for these three schools and also supplied one school with electricity! All of these projects happened solely as a result of all the fundraising done at bridge events in Toronto and Chatham, ON. Bridge players have been extremely generous in support of these ventures. Indeed, some people from other parts of Canada and USA contributed also to the cause!

• WHEN: Thursday, June 14 @ 9:30 am
• WHERE: 5 Glen Park Ave: HABONIM SYNAGOGUE
  6 blocks south of Lawrence, ½ block west of Bathurst E

There will be a seminar with Barbara Seagram at 9:30 am, a light lunch served at 11.30 am, with game to follow at 12:30 pm.

We welcome donations of items for a silent auction that you think would be attractive: restaurant vouchers are always welcome, hair dresser vouchers, movie tickets, baseball games, gift certificates. If you know someone or are a frequent patron of a restaurant or store, it would be wonderful if you could solicit a donation for this cause.

UPCOMING EVENT - 7th ANNUAL GIANT GARAGE SALE

Volunteers are needed!

Young and old, to help set up, sell and clean any time throughout the sale

This year's sale will be to raise money for family-size mosquito nets.

For more information, please contact:

Banyan Learning Tree in Phnom Penh Celebrates Inaugeration Ceremony with Patrons Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram

thanks to the funding efforts of Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram and the Toronto Bridge Group

A most EXCITING day was experienced by all.

View photos of the Inaugeration Ceremony, Barbara & volunteer, Naomi, arriving with supplies in the tuktuk and teacher, Phearom, helps Patti hang some wonderful art posters she has brought for the school!

RBC Toronto Global Banking Diversity Committee Raises Funds
to Provide 12 Students with Bicycles

This is the second year their committee has supported children in Cambodia with the means by which to get to school!

These twelve children received their bicycles at the Inaugeration Ceremony of the Banyan Learning Tree School located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

Many thanks to the school's director, Om Chamnap for conducting the distribution.

You can provide a needy child from a landmine-affected family with a bicycle with your donation of $50 to A Mine Free World Foundation www.aminefreeworld.org. Donations can be made by cheque or through our PayPal portal on our site. Contact for more info.

Many Thanks to Hilma Langman of Langman Bookkeeping in Severn Bridge, ON

They received their bicycles at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Banyan Learning Tree School (March 19) on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

First Day @ Happy Gecko School in Bakot

Construction began on this school began in December 2011, with a team of 20 Adult leaders in training from Roundsquare.org from 9 countries and was constructed in 12 days except for some finishing by the local builders. The name 'Happy Gecko' chosen by them. Many thanks to the Roundsquare.org (Adult team) and Patti Lee, Barbara Seagram and their Bridge Groups from Toronto, as well as our other generous donors!

Heak Chhek is a landmine survivor that lives with his wife and 3 children in a very desolate area of Takeo province, Cambodia. He has a withered right leg due to landmine injuries sustained to his spine. Chhek will be one of 5 landmine survivors that will begin a three-month chicken-rearing and agriculture training course at the farm of Ban Ven.

While staying at the farm, the landmine survivors sleep inside the protective mosquito nets! View photos on pages 3/4 of the gallery.

Ban Ven received rural empowerment and agriculture training in Japan and now teaches back in his village: pesticide-free farming, composting, natural fertilizers, and all aspects of chicken-rearing including incubation, vaccinations and feed-mixing.

Heak Chhek's Home to be Rebuilt after Devastating Fire Heak Chhek's house burned to the ground while he was attending the course. Thanks to funds from the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, his home will be rebuilt! View photos of fire damage

While Chhek lives at Ban Ven's farm, his family back home will be supplied with rice. Once Chhek finishes the course, he will bring home his own constructed incubator, chicks and materials to build a coop. He will also have the skills to produce successful crops on his land.

THANK YOU's to the Canadian Landmine Foundation
who are sponsoring this course.

Thanks to EVERYONE who supported these projects that will benefit so many children and provide outreach assistance for landmine-affected families.

Brighter Beginnings Students, Cambodia
First Class, Riding Home on RSIS and Rotary Bicycles
The second class of 50 students leaving the Brighter Beginnings School funded and built by the Cambodia 2011 Roundsquare Student Team. They've enjoyed reading and crafts at the Library here as well, which was funded by Asif and Wendy Ghayoor of Canada. This Banyan Learning Tree (BLT) School and Library is located in Prokeab, Takeo province and is one of three BLT Schools that opened here today! Children are riding home on bicycles sponsored by Rotary Wheels for Learning and the 2011 Roundsquare Student Team.

Opening Day at Banyan Learning Tree School and Library
Prokeab, Cambodia
Tons of activity inside the Calogera and Luke Puma Library at the Banyan Learning Tree Centre in Prokeab, Takeo province. It's opening day, and thanks to the generosity of donors, eager children are enjoying their first read of the wonderful books here! Donors of books, shelves and school supplies include, Roundsquare.org Cambodia 2011 Adult and Student Teams, Rotary Wheels for Learning Cambodia 2012 Team, Robena Kirton of Gravenhurst, Scholastic Ltd. Canada, and Patti Lee, Barbara Seagram and their Bridge Groups from Toronto. Future plans include a computer corner in the library.

Preparing for the First 100 Students
Banyan Learning Tree, Prokeab, Cambodia
It's opening day, and teacher Socheat Chea with student helpers are preparing packages inside the Calogera and Luke Puma Library for the 100 students coming for their first day of school here. Packages incude pencils, sharpener, ruler, exercise book and English coursebook donated by Patti Lee, Barbara Seagram and their Bridge Groups from Toronto and Cambodia 2011 Student and Adult Teams of Roundsquare.org. Donors of books, shelves and more school supplies include, Rotary Wheels for Learning Cambodia 2012 Team, Robena Kirton of Gravenhurst and Scholastic Ltd., Canada. School funded and built by Cambodia 2011 Roundsquare Student Team.

Landmine eradication has a GREAT Canadian history, and Rotary has long been a part of it too. It is simply too important to ignore, as these mines laid years ago are still killing and maiming people.

Click here to view the landmine-affected families (Bo Phoeun, Nob Chan, Chhoeung Chhom, Ngoi Hun, Srey Saart & Le Ma Pan, Meas Nhaov, Neang Nyong, Heng Chhum, Thoun Tong, Ek Kroel and Kut Gnorm) that received support from funds raised at last year's Rotary Club of Etobicoke events

Thanks to the Canadian Landmine Foundation, they were supplied with all the material to rebuild their new home and Jay and Linda Harrison of Gravenhurst, who are supplying a water tank, cow and chickens - a way to make a self-sustainable income and still be able to provide the constant care these children require. They will also receive a bag of rice each month by the CLMF.

View PHOTO GALLERY 1   2   View Videos:   1    2    3

UPDATE: May 5, 2012 Thanks to the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, a cart has been made for the children of this family. It will have a wood platform and cushions, enabling the parents to take children on outings together! The family is also supplied with a monthly bag of rice. UPDATE: March 21, 2012 Thanks to our generous donors, the family now have mats, blankets and mosquito nets. Volunteers Om Chamnap and Mr Deun brought the donated supplies to the family! (VIEW PHOTOS of their new home, cow, water tank and TWO VIDEOS of the visit!) The children can also be seen enjoying the comfort of the new rubber mats.

The first second step has been taken - now we will see if anything can be done CAN SEE HOW the quality of these children's lives have improved without taking apart this loving family. Thanks again to the Rotary Club of Etobicoke for enabling this ground-level mobility device for the children to become a reality! If you would like to help provide these children with medical help, sensory toys, drawing paper and crayons, please contact us.

More homes, educational and occupational support for Landmine-affected Families from The Canadian Landmine Foundation

With these funds we will be able to provide new dry homes for at least 7 landmine-affected families in Koas Krala district, and 5 homes in Sang, Dangkor, Phnom Penh.

So far, in Koas Krala, these funds are also providing landmine families, living in poverty, with 8 chicken-rearing businesses, 3 calves, a sewing business and a bicycle repair program conducted by a landmine survivor who will provide area children with free bicycle repairs twice a month.

UPDATES May 2012 Project Completed - Materials were purchased locally and then delivered to the landmine survivors homes. Family and friends helped to build the new homes. All receive metal roofing - imperative to keeping the family dry in the rainy season. Some families rebuilt a complete new home - some had been given materials necessary for major repairs. February 2012 Cambodian Landmine Survivors Build Their Homes - Canadian Landmine Foundation Landmine-affected families in rural Battambang province and in the areas surrounding the Killing Fields near Phnom Penh are busy rebuilding their homes. This Canadian Landmine Foundation sponsored project is now in its second phase. Some of the families have completed their homes and some are in the process of building. Materials are purchased locally and then delivered to the landmine survivors homes - family and friends help to build the new homes. All receive metal roofing - imperative to keeping the family dry in the rainy season. Most families are rebuilding a complete new home - some have been given materials necessary for major repairs. Project conducted by A Mine Free World Foundation (Canada) and Banyan Learning Tree (Cambodia). Thanks to Om Chamnap, Socheat Chea, Leung Deun and Ben Sida for their extraordinary volunteer efforts. Even thought their house is still in the 'construction process', this family just couldn't wait to move in and already have their bed and everything in there! Thanks to grant funding from the Canadian Landmine Foundation, Rien Youm's new house with metal roof is completed. Youm's house is wheelchair accessible and is separate now from his barbershop, which was also repaired. Many Thanks to Cambodian Red Cross volunteer, Mr. Deun and Banyan Learning Tree's Om Chamnap and A Mine Free World's Pauline Johns for helping this remote Battambang province landmine survivor. Many of the families are using any good timber from their old houses when constructing the new ones. Cambodian Landmine Families Receive Cows and Chickens - CLMF Smiles all around and a Great Day for 10 of 20 landmine-affected families to receive breeding calves, chickens for rearing and new homes sponsored by the Canadian Landmine Foundation. Here, eight landmine survivors receive roosters, hens and a basket to take them back to their village home in Kos Krala district, Battambang province. Hing and Kouy also received breeding calves. Hing - a widow who lost her leg to a landmine, even built her own cow shed. Thanks to Sida and Deun from the Cambodian Red Cross for their volunteer work. Yaan Saret Cheang Sareout Heang Saroun Hearm Buntheoun Het Heuy Hin Ngon Meas Dos Rerng Sovann (wife) Hing Ngern Kouy Family Landmine Survivor Nil Noy and His Bicycle Repair Business - CLMF Nil Noy and his family live in a small rural village in Koh Kralor district, Battambang province Cambodia. In 2010 he received tools with which he started his own bicycle repair shop. He was soon building bicycles from scratch. To enhance his business, a compressor was provided to him through generous donors Jay and Linda Harrison. He has also made bicycles for other children from landmine families. Now for the next step - Noy will provide a free bicycle repair program twice a month for area children who cannot afford to have their bicycles repaired. This program will take place twice a month at a local pagoda. This Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) www.canadianlandmine.org project is conducted by Banyan Learning Tree and A Mine Free World Foundation www.aminefreeworld.com. See You Tube video at: http://youtu.be/JQxYiqiZo3Y Cambodian Landmine Family's New Sewing Business - CLMF Kheng Herng lives in a small village in Battambang province, Cambodia where she will operate her new home seamstress business through grant funding from the Canadian Landmine Foundation (www.canadianlandmine.org). Herng's father lost his leg to a landmine and Herng has a facial disfigurement. She had an old machine which was beyond repair, so a new quality machine and supplies were oght for her. She is also currently taking sewing lessons. To 'give back' for receiving this new machine, table and supplies, she'll be provided with meters of lovely Cambodian traditional cloth with which she will make cloth bags which will be sold in Canada this year. Funds raised will help those from landmine-affected families. Thanks to President Nouv Saroeun of the Battambang Rotary Club for her help in shopping for the fabric. To support a landmine-affected family, please see: Projects conducted by Banyan Learning Tree and A Mine Free World Foundation. 14 Cambodian Students Supported by the Canadian Landmine Foundation Through 2010 grant funding from the Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF), 14 students are receiving two years of educational support in the form of meals, school fees and other educational needs. All 14 students were re-interviewed this year, with grades recorded and needs assessed. Each child receives 50 cents per day towards a meal and four of the older students receive $12/month to pay for their extra 'school fees'. All of these children come from landmine-affected families living in Koh Kralor district, Battambang province, Cambodia. Each of the families' homes were visited - most never having received support before. This year, some of these children's families will receive a cow, chicken-rearing business or will have their house reconstructed. Through grant funding from the Canadian Landmine Foundation, these 11 landmine-affected families in rural Battambang province Cambodia will receive a village chicken-rearing business or a female breeding calf. Chicken-rearing businesses allow the villager to grow free-range chickens that can be sold, one at a time, when the family needs some income for food, clothing or even medical expenses. A female breeding calf, at a cost of $400, represents more than a village family's income for a year. Once grown, the cow can be bred and the resulting calf can be sold, and/or, they can be kept as a rice-field work animal. These families will be receiving their chickens and calves soon now that the home-interview process has been completed. Yaan Saret-Chicken-Rearing. Age 45 with wife and 4 children. Sight injuries due to landmine explosion. Plet Hing-Breeding Calf. Age 49-widow with 2 children. Lost right leg to a landmine. Soun Sout-Breeding Calf. Age 37 with wife and 10 CHILDREN! Lost left leg to a landmine. Cheang Sarout-Chicken-Rearing. Age 56 with one child. Sight injuries due to landmine explosion. Meas Dos-Chicken-Rearing. Age 46 with wife and 4 children. Lost left leg to a landmine. Heang Sareoun-Chicken-Rearing. Age 56 with wife and 4 children. Lost right arm to a landmine. Hearm Buntheoun-Chicken-Rearing. Age 48 with wife and 6 children. Lost right leg to a landmine. Het Heuy-Chicken-Rearing. Age 49 with wife and 2 children. Blindness due to landmine injury. Hin Ngon-Chicken-Rearing. Age 48 with wife and 7 children. Lost right leg to landmine. Also supplied with metal roofing for his hut, a bicycle for their children and school uniforms for 2 daughters. Rerng Sovann-Chicken-Rearing. Age 47 with wife and 3 children. Lost left leg to landmine. Ngern Kouy-Breeding Calf. Age 44 with wife and 5 children. Lost right eye due to landmine explosion. Battambang province is one the most heavily-mined areas of Cambodia, with landmine-affected families living far below the poverty level. This project is conducted by A Mine Free World Foundation and Banyan Learning Tree. Many thanks to both Leung Deun and Ben Sida from Cambodian Red Cross for their assistance in this project.

Your donation of $425.00 (AMFW Foundation House Building Project Home Cost Breakdown [PDF]) can provide one of the many landmine-affected families on our waiting list with a new home.

Many rural villagers only have grass walls and roofs (View video of a recipients home which has qualified for the CLMF House Rebuilding Project), which have been severely damaged during this year's long monsoon season.

Help us provide them with a strong new home with a metal roof.