Hello from all of us at M’Lop Tapang!
We wanted to say thank you again for support and generosity. Your donations continue to help us make a real difference in the lives of so many vulnerable Cambodian children and families.
There are many families still struggling because of the economic and social impacts of the pandemic. Schools and education programs are still officially closed all over Cambodia due to Covid-19. Some great news is that we have recently been allowed to have a limited number of the most at-risk children come back to our Center for daytime services – medical care, nutritional support, and other social services.
For hundreds of other children that can’t yet return to our centers, our teams are continuing to provide their families with food support to their homes. So far this year our teams have delivered more than 50,000 kg of rice (along with other food items) to local families in the Sihanoukville area. There is a link below to a video we just completed that highlights some of the ways we have been trying to support families.
We are so grateful to have your support and encouragement during these difficult times to ensure that the families who need help the most are receiving it. Thank you!
All the best from everyone here at M’Lop Tapang.
Take care and stay safe,
Roth Chanphalkun (Kun)
Co-Director, M’Lop Tapang
Links:
Hello from lockdown in Cambodia!
You may have heard that Cambodia is in a dire situation right now as Covid-19 cases continue to rise. We were very lucky last year with so few cases, but that has all changed in the last while. When we started 2021 there had only been 374 confirmed cases and 0 deaths. As of May 02, there have now been 14,520 confirmed cases and 103 deaths.
Last week, Sihanoukville became the second city in Cambodia to designate a “red zone,” putting five zones under stringent lockdown measures for 14 days with immediate effect There was no notice so families could not prepare. Only those individuals with government issued special permission cards are allowed to travel in and out of red zones.
A small group of M’Lop Tapang staff (all of whom tested negative for COVID-19) have now received government issued permission cards allowing them to travel and visit families in the community. This team has managed to deliver emergency food supply packages to 178 vulnerable families with children in the last few days and will continue to reach even more families in the upcoming weeks.
Your donations are helping us to do this and we wanted to thank you for that. There are so many Cambodian families struggling right now and we are grateful for your support in making sure that these families and children are getting the emergency supplies they need right now during this crisis.
Take care. Stay safe.
Kun
Hello from Cambodia!
2021 is shaping up to be another challenging year and we just wanted to take a minute to thank you again for your generous donations and encouragement in supporting the work we are doing here at M’Lop Tapang.
Education and training program have been just recently closed again nationwide here following an increase number of COVID-19 cases. Children and youth that would normally attending classes with us are at home with their families. Even with classrooms empty our staff is keeping busy.
Families that we already struggling financially even before the pandemic have been finding it even harder to get by day to day. Food security is most often the most urgent concern. We have a designated number of staff who comprise our ‘Emergency Team’ that has been following up with the most vulnerable families and children in the local area, providing food and other supplies. Since the pandemic began our teams have distributed nearly 40 tons of rice (along with other food and hygiene items).
“When my children were going to school at M’Lop Tapang they ate lunch and breakfast there everyday. Now that they can’t go there we have to cook so much more at home. It costs a lot of money and we don't have very much. I was a construction worker before but now there is no work and I have no job. I’m happy that the M’Lop Tapang team is helping by giving us rice to cook.” Father of five young children.
Thank you again for your support and for joining us to help those most in need right now.
Take care and stay safe.
Roth Chanphalkun (Kun)
Co-Director, M’Lop Tapang
Links:
Hello from M’Lop Tapang,
On behalf of everyone here I wanted to thank you for your kindness and generosity in supporting the work we do here in Sihanoukville.
Families here are really struggling right now. Although we have been very lucky here in Cambodia health wise related to Covid-19 (there have only been about 300 confirmed cases and 0 deaths), the economic impact of the pandemic has had a huge effect in the local community, especially for those already living in poverty. For many already vulnerable families, the greatest challenge is having enough food to feed their children.
“Before covid-19 we had delicious food to eat but now it is not delicious anymore. When we run out of rice, my mother calls the MT hotline to ask for rice support. My mother feels shame when she has to ask for more rice from the MT social worker, but we don't have money to buy rice.” - Sok*, a little 11-year-old boy with two younger sibling told us this and it is a similar story that we are hearing over and over again from other children.
Your donations are helping us to support children like Sok and his family. Since the pandemic began our teams have distributed over 25,000 kg of rice (along with other food stuffs and hygiene supplies) to more than 1,000 local families living in poverty.
We are incredibly thankful for your contributions.Because of people like you, we have been able, and will continue, to help local Cambodian families and children in need during times of crisis.
Take care and say safe,
Kun
Links:
Hello again from Cambodia,
We hope this email finds you safe and well during these challenging times.
During this period of Covid-19 we have all had to adjust our daily lives in some way or another. For the families that M’Lop Tapang works with, most have had to adjust to having less money because of loss of incomes or loss of a job – in a recent survey we conducted 97% of the families interviewed reported a decreased income; 77% reported a greater than 50% decrease in income; and 21% of the families reported now having zero income. The biggest impact of having less money for these families has meant less food for their children.
With your help, M’Lop Tapang is continuing to provide food to families and children in need.
Since Covid-19 began our teams have distributed more than 13 tons of rice (along with canned fish, eggs, and other food items) to local families. Although schools still remain officially closed in Cambodia, with permission from local authorities we are now allowed to bring up to 100 of the most at-risk children to our Education Center for daytime activities (hot meals, medical care, hygiene, recreation).
“Before coming here (M’Lop Tapang Center), I was collecting cans on the beach with my grandmother to sell to the recycle man. I like coming here more than collecting cans. I have breakfast and lunch here and there are a lot of toys to play with and I can jump rope and have fun.” - 10-year-old girl
“I am happy to be back here now because my father is drunk a lot. Sometimes I am afraid at home and when I am here I feel more safe and relaxed. At home I always worry.” - 12 year old girl
“When I come back to M’Lop Tapang my mom does not need to buy us food. Before Covid my mom spent 10,000 Riel ($2.5 USD) to buy us food, but now she can spend only 5,000 Riel ($1.25USD) for a meal. When I come here I can have breakfast and lunch and my mom does not need to spend money for our meals.” - 13 year old boy
Thank you again for your support and generosity. You truly are helping us to make a difference
Stay safe.
Kun
Links:
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