BUILDING HOMES IN CAMBODIA
Who are the people?
The Khmer people, who are thought to have migrated from China before 200 B.C., constitute 90 percent of Cambodia’s population, followed by the Chinese and the Vietnamese. Today, the population is remarkably young. Thirty-seven percent of all Cambodians are under age 15. Most live in rural areas, while more than 1 million live in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Many Cambodians work in agriculture, or in fisheries and forestry. In rural areas, parents often arrange marriages for their daughters as early as age 15.
Educational opportunities are limited due to the cost of tuition and school books. Children sometimes even leave school for a few months to help with farming. This can explain why an 11-year-old child may still be in the second or third grade.
What is it like to live there?
Cambodia consists of large plains surrounded by highlands with densely forested mountains. The climate is subtropical, with a dry season from November to May and a rainy season from May to November.
The country continues to recover from 25 years of civil war and the brutal Khmer Rouge communist regime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979. Development is progressing, yet daily life is still difficult for many people.
Health conditions are improving, but one child in seven still dies before age five, many from preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, and malaria.
| Population | 14.0 million |
| Land Mass | 68,154 sq. miles |
| Life Expectancy | 59 years |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 98 / 1,000 |
| Literacy Rate | 74% |
| School Enrollment | 65% |
| Access to Safe Water | 41% |
| Average Annual Income (GNI per capita) | US $380 |
Why did Winners' Foundation get involved?
In the city of Phnom Penh 2000 devastated families were moved 30 miles outside the city to a location without clean water, proper sewage system or housing. Employment for adults and education for the children were taken away because of the remote location which adds to their critical need. The impending rainy season will raise the disease infested water from ankle deep to over 20 inches.
What are we doing and how is it helping?
To date, Winners’ Foundation has built
97 homes along with the Salvation Army who helped build 10 of those homes. There
are currently 30 homes under construction with 903 homes left to be built. Winners' Foundation has also re-graded the land for drainage, installed a water tower, proper sewage and built a community center for education. Most importantly we want to build homes for these families. We want to put a roof over their heads and get them out of the mud. There is much to be done and Winners’ Foundation is right in the middle of making a change in our hurting world.
What can you do?
You can help house a family by supporting the Winner’s Foundation. There are two ways to support this effort. You can join the team by becoming a monthly partner of $25 or more; or you can give a one time gift of $2,500 for every home you’d like to build.