2001 to 2024

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the changes at the Wat Opot Children’s Community (WOCC). Due to illness and advanced age, I have had to return to the States and can not be certain that I will be able to return to Cambodia for full-time work. For that reason, I have relinquished my responsibilities and my connection to and with Partners in Compassion-Cambodia (PC). It was therefore decided by the PC Board of Directors that because of a lack of sufficient funding, the residential care of vulnerable children should be phased out and the children presently living there be reintegrated back into the community before May of 2024.

Mr. Dara Phan has offered to continue working with PC until all of the children have been transitioned. The money donated for the support of the children will be used to help in the transitioning process for the next six months during which time Mr. Dara will be doing home visits to support not only the Wat Opot children but also new families referred by Social Services. It is hoped that during that time a new NGO can be started to continue the home visits and possibly open a drop-in center in Phnom Penh. Eventually, Mr. Dara would like to open a new school in the Province. I am hoping I can return to Cambodia to help get these things started.

Partners in Compassion has agreed to take over the daycare and educational programs for the community children. They will also keep the library and computer room open for students to study. The decision to close the Wat Opot residential program was inevitable because of changes in public and governmental opinions about them. It was not the result of bad management or improper use of funds. While we are disappointed, we are not discouraged and will do our best to continue our work with vulnerable children in Cambodia and we are hopeful that we will continue to receive your support.

Wayne Dale Matthysse