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…