Banyan Tree OrganizationCurrent and Planned Projects
- We are continuing to sponsor students at university. This includes tuition and books.
- We will continue to install toilets in the villages near our schools for families.
- We will continue to install toilets, wells, handwashing stations at all of our schools, and we are now installing toilets and handwashing stations at a number of nearby government schools.
- We have taught good hygiene and sanitation practices to all of the young girls in our schools and have distributed Days for Girls kits to each of them. We have also extended this program to a large government school. We plan to continue expanding this program to more of the government schools.
- These last two initiatives ensure that the young girls can stay in school, every day of the month.
December 2023
Savin was invited by Chhouk Operational District director, Dr. Ke Rathavuth to receive the Certificate of Appreciation given by Kampot Provincial Health Department to BTO. KPHD also issued eight more Certificates of Appreciation of which BTO built water towers, wells and handwashing stations for.
Also congratulations to Hang Sreyphors, (BTO paid the private classes fees) on passing her grade 12 exams!
October 2022 - Barbara Visits Cambodia
We are now in rural Cambodia where our schools are. 2 in Takeo, 1 in Kampot and 1 in Battambang, in the north. The warmth, the reception and the appreciation by the children is wonderful.
The children are a joy to be with. They are gentle, respectful, appreciative and ask questions of visitors.
One question is not a good one; they ask how old I am! We play games with them, teach them how to brush their teeth, hand out toothbrushes and toothpaste and give them a quick geography lesson on where Canada, USA and Cambodia are, with the inflatable globes that we brought with us.
There are rice fields everywhere but now they mostly hire someone with a machine to reap the crop. No more killing themselves in the heat and no more thrashing.
We are building many toilets and handwashing stations at government schools now. This means that girls do not have to miss school for a week each month.
Our director, Savin and assistant director, Phonn, are wonderful, as are our teachers and librarians.
We also visited one of the health care centres where we built a water tower. Prior to that, they used water from the pond where the animals bathe. The health care centres are for maternity care/delivery and other conditions but it is notable that they have just added on to this one a room to help those who are victims of sexual abuse/rape.
January 2022 - A Very Sad Day
Three Cambodian Deminers Killed in the Field... our heart breaks for the three deminers who lost their life on Monday, January 10th, 2022 doing the difficult and dangerous job of demining.
It is the Cambodian Self Help Demining (CSHD) organization's first fatal accident in its 18-year history.
Please view the story on the Canadian Landmine Foundation (https://canadianlandmine.org) website.
September 2020 - Water Projects
In spite of the pandemic, over the last few months, our Cambodian organization, the Banyan Tree Organization, has been able to work on some construction projects.
Tim Savin, our Director, and Meas Phonn, our Assistant Director, have spearheaded all of the projects: 2 toilets at a primary school, 4 toilets and a handwashing station at a high school, a handwashing station at a third school, and toilets for 4 poor village families.
The three schools mentioned are all government schools near to our own schools and our students go there, as well. We have endeavored to provide the local government schools with good sanitation facilities. This helps to keep the girls in school, at any time of the month.
This could not have been accomplished without the assistance and support of A Vision for Clean Water (AVFCW), a charity headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Our thanks to them and to our donors, who have helped to make a big difference in the lives of many in Cambodia.
November 2018
At Chan Teap (Takeo) students no longer need to wade through the mud to reach the classrooms thanks to the new cement paths. Deputy Director, Phon and Teacher, Kunthea planting the gardens with the students help!
BTO teacher, Theara, enjoys an outdoor class with his students at The Meas Family Homestay. This is a good opportunity for village children to have a class close to home.
September 2018 - Chan Teap School
Cement paths are being laid at Chan Teap! Teacher, Kunthea, and students will be very happy not to be wading through water in the wet season.View LARGER images on FACEBOOK
Feb. 2018 - Rotary Wheels for Learning Team 2018 at BLT school in Ta Prom
Very sincere appreciation to this years RWFL team from all of us at the District level who recognize the importance of service and the kind of work you as a team did. We also want to say a big thank you to your team leaders MaryAnne and Mike and their supporters who also worked for months before the project ensuring all was there when needed.
They have supplied 110 bicycles to our community! View LARGER images on FACEBOOK
Feb. 2018 - Students in the Library in Ta Prom
Students in the library, at our new school in Taprom, with librarian Im Yen. View LARGER images on FACEBOOK
Jan. 2018 - Our NEW School Opens
We are very excited to announce the opening of our new school in Taprom Village, Kampot Province.
Construction is complete and the teachers received the first enrollment of 158 eager students on 22 January.
Nov. 2017 - Family to Receive Toilet
BTO will provide a bathroom/toilet at the home of farmer Soem Thorn, who lives with his wife, khun Sithon and their 5 children in Angtasom, Takev.
A further 9 families in Takeo and Kampot will benefit from this project in the coming weeks.
Oct. 2017 - More Students Heading to University
Some of our students will be going to University next year. They're making good use of Am Pov's weekend computer classes
Sept. 2017 - Construction Begins
Construction for the new fifth school commenced this week in TaProm Village, Kampot Province.
Savin has been teaching some students in his spare time.
They’re very excited to soon have a new classroom and library for their studies.
First Scholarship Student
SreyLin is our first scholarship student.
With thanks to the support from Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram she is able to live in Phnom Penh and study at Pannasatra University.
Sharing the Knowledge
Savin, BTO director, is sharing his knowledge with the teachers.
They have been updating their lesson planning skills - a very important part of their work.
Our focus is to make sure that our students and villagers have:
Safe Water
Access to safe water, a fundamental human need and a basic human right. In some cases, this may be as simple as teaching them the necessity of boiling water.
Hygiene & Sanitation
Access to health care and education aiding in the prevention and transmission of diseases, including: Handwashing Stations / Toilets / Days for Girls Kits.
PHOTO GALLERY
THANK YOU SO MUCH...
To those who attended the Third Annual Fundraising All-day Bridge Event held October 2nd, with North American Bridge Masters Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram, where $7,200 was raised for our schools in Cambodia!
We are so grateful... Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram
To Jerry Smee and Lorna Johnson for their involvment in the Barbara Seagram "Take More Tricks...Improve Your Declarer Play" at the Niagara Falls Bridge Tournament and Fundraiser on November 8th and to the attendees!
We are so grateful... Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram
To EVERYONE who attended the Second Annual Fundraising All-day Bridge Event held September 26, with North American Bridge Masters Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram. We raised $4,257!
We are so grateful... Patti Lee and Barbara Seagram
To event organizers, Linda Harrison and Carolyne Dixon, the ladies of the Gravenhurst Seniors Centre for the lunch enjoyed by the attendees and the attendees from Muskoka, Chatham, Huntsville and beyond who raised over $5,000!