After having to give up our home at Wat Opot, most of our supporters stopped giving. For health reasons, I returned to the States, believing I could retire, while Dara formed the new NGO, The SAHAKA FOUNDATION, so he could continue working with children being reintegrated into their communities. With limited funds, he was able…
For the past 5 nights, this has been the scene below my bedroom window as literally thousands of people celebrated the extended Khmer New Year. Crowds estimated at 600,000 splashed water and dusted each other with baby powder as they walked down the designated streets. To my knowledge, there were no incidents of violence during…
We have been busy this past few days getting to know better the new SAHAKA children. We started with the kids in Takeo with a luncheon at our favorite restaurant. Many of these kids are from broken homes and so the experience of being together for the first time in a setting that is usually reserved for…
By waynematthysse45@gmail.com / February 3, 2026 Last week, Dara and I took a trip to the Thai-Cambodian border in Pailin, Cambodia. I had been warned that it was dangerous because Thailand had bombed that area and was threatening to do so again. When we got there, we found that the border gate was being repaired, but not because…
This Christmas was special for us because our good friend and supporter, Bonnie G. was here to help us celebrate. We don’t have many opportunities to reunite as a family since the closing of our beloved Wat Opot; however, whenever possible, we arrange these outings so that the “kids” and their children can be together.…
We left Phnom Penh early on Monday morning and arrived at the SAHAKA FOUNDATION’s pre-school in Prey Veng a few hours later. Our goal was to start the long-overdue project to build a kitchen for the school, which had been delayed primarily because of funding. Thanks to an anonymous donor, we decided to get started.…
The SAHAKA FOUNDATION’s (SF) Pre-school in Prey Veng was honored to receive a visit from old friends and former NGO workers in Cambodia, Frida de Boer and Wilco Schijff, accompanied by Mr. Piseth of the COLT organization. They brought with them a generous supply of toys and food for the children, as well as a…
The SAHAKA FOUNDATION staff, with the cooperation of the Community Council of Women and Children (CCWC) and leaders of seven villages in the Dounkeng commune, Komchaymea district, Prey Veng province, allowed me to tag along with them as they assessed the needs of the poorest families in the area. We visited 13 families in the…
Many times, when we go out to the villages to interview new students referred to us by local officials or social service workers, we run into situations we did not expect but that need to be addressed. Yesterday was no exception. While interviewing a grandmother who is caring for her grandson, three displaced families, who…
On Wednesday morning, Dara and his family picked me up, and we headed out to Bati, where we picked up six of our former Watopotian children at their homes. They are the first to be chosen to receive educational support for the coming year. WE took them into the Somrong Yaong Market first to buy…
These pictures, and so many others, were taken by Scott Rotzoll on the 25th of October during the school supply distribution in Prey Veng. Backpacks and notebooks were given to ten children from each of the five surrounding villages. The children were chosen by the village leader according to those who were most needy. Twenty…
This past Saturday (October 18th)we were able to take a group of Watopotians out for dinner at one of Phnom Penh’s popular resturants. Josh and Scott were able to to join us for the occassion, which included six of the seven University students who are receiving full or partial financial assitence with their university fees.…
It is good to be back in Cambodia, reuniting with Watopotian Alumni and making plans for the future of the SAHAKA FOUNDATION. Some come alone from distant provinces just to say hello… Others who are living and working in Phnom Penh bring their partners along with an evening meal, While others living in my neighborhood…
The first meeting in Phnom Penh of three Watopotians who have passed their high school exams and are now interested in furthering their studies. The enrollment process will begin soon, and decisions must be made about where and what to study. Mr. Dara took us on a tour of Phnom Penh, which included a drive…
I returned to Cambodia on the 15th of September, 2025, arriving at the new Techo International Airport on a day they were celebrating the Grand Opening. There were thousands of people there but my entry went smoothly and just minutes after landing I was through customs and back out into the furnace where Dara was waiting. We…
