If you could spare me a few moments, I would like to tell you about a young boy who left a lasting mark on my life. The events took place many years ago, when HIV and AIDS were still widely misunderstood in Cambodia. Effective treatment was not yet available, and fear often overshadowed compassion. Many…
It was my last day in Cambodia, and the air carried that familiar mix of warmth and dust that had become part of my daily rhythm. We spent the morning visiting some of the SAHAKA children, faces I had known through hardship, resilience, and the slow, stubborn work of healing. By afternoon, we found ourselves…
Last weekend, our SAHAKA staff gathered at the awe‑inspiring Angkor Wat, not just for training, but for an experience that would remind us of Cambodia’s deep heritage. While the team explored the temples, I sat with an old friend nearby. My legs no longer carry me across long distances, and the steep admission price for…
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind with Melinda and Kate visiting. Their presence brought us closer to many Wat Opot children and families, reminding me how much I cherish stepping into a grandparent’s role, supporting without leading, watching parents guide their little ones with love. While Dr. Kate was here, a former Watopotian…
With both Melinda and Kate back in Cambodia for a few days, The SAHAKA Foundation, arranged for several reunions with both old and new members. It was a very busy time but well worth the effort. Although we have grown out of the “Watopotian” name, we have not lost our sense of being family. Yes,…
We left Phnom Penh at 6 AM with our university students to avoid morning traffic. Traveling south on familiar roads, we went to Bati and stopped at a popular noodle shop just outside of Wat Opot for breakfast. After breakfast, we continued our travels to Takeo and beyond, until we reached the Wat Serei Oudom…
It is difficult to visit our newest SAHAKA members at home because of the distance between them. We sponsor these luncheons, sometimes at restaurants; however, we’ve found that many attendees prefer rice and sour fish soup and are not interested in even trying new dishes. For that reason, we decided to have our luncheon at…
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…
