Center for HIV orphans in Kampot

This is my 3rd time I have come to Kampot in order to support the orphanage on the other side of Kampot Bay River.

After my first stay in 2004 I established the SOMNANG foundation in Germany, which now also has a branch in Australia, where Lyn and David Brown in Port Macquarie have successfully raised funds.

I want to mention Gaye Miller from Australia as well, who used all her strength to support the poorest of Cambodia last year and donated a number of bicycles to the orphanage.

There are 36 children from 4 to 18 years at the moment who lost their parents because of HIV. Children with HIV are looked after by the director at other places. These are also supported by Somnang foundation.

What do we spend your donated money for?

monthly rate of 200 USD for rice, which makes 80 % of a Cambodian meal,

teacher for 2 English lessons a day
woman for the library, where toys and books are stored;
she assists children with their homework,

improvement of the buildings like new shower for older girls,
5000 liters water tank, new eating hall, concrete floor between the buildings, which is important during rainy season, when the site gets flooded sometimes.
This year: a new shower room with toilet added to the sick room

a wall around the eating hall

a new computer for teaching, there are part-time lessons

for the older children

repair of the roof of teaching building

grants for training for a job or studies at university.


When we stay in Kampot to check how your money is spent, we entertain the children by teaching them how to paint, to do arts, sing English songs and play games. We take them on excursions e.g. to the beaches at Sihanoukville, to capital Phnom Penh or just on a sunset boat trip along the river. The good students among them and those, who help a lot at the orphanage, are supplied with an extra set of clothes and shoes.

If you want to help us, contact the addresses given below; you will receive detailed information.

Nils Bussert (chairman of Somnang foundation) NilsBussert@yahoo.com

or Somnang@gmx.net for Germany and Europe

Lyn and David Brown: Brownsport@ozemail.com.au for Australia and Southern

Hemisphere

By the way: what does SOMNANG mean? It means luck in Khmer language and was given as a first name by the director of the orphanage to a baby refused by his poor mother and adopted by a German couple.


We are looking forward to getting in contact with you.

Nils Bussert

on behalf of Lyn and David Brown for Somnang Foundation