Hot lunches for 500 Cambodian children and youth

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:

• MT Economic Survey (May, 2020)

Hello from M’Lop Tapang,

Just a quick thank you to say how much we appreciate your donations and encouragement in helping us support vulnerable Cambodian children and their families here in Sihanoukville.

Now more than ever, some of these families need M’Lop Tapang’s assistance and your generosity is making sure we are able to do just that.  As like in other parts of the world, many parents here have lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced significantly because of the COVID-19 situation. Your donations are helping us to provide emergency food, hygiene supplies and other items to those local families most in need.  In the last few weeks, with your help, we have distributed emergency supplies to more 450 families. Many of these families we have had to deliver supplies to more than once already and we know this will continue.

Again, thank you so very much for generosity and concern.

All the best.  Take care and stay safe,

Roth Chanphalkun (Kun)

Co-Director, M’Lop Tapang

Links:

• M'Lop Tapang's 2019 Annual Report