FDCC

Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:44:55 +0000

You can be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the Cambodian Endeavour which will immerse you in the culture, the community and challenges facing Cambodia

What is the Cambodian Endeavour?

It’s a unique experience to develop your leadership capabilities in a challenging environment while using your professional skills to help develop and sustain a social enterprise business model for The Foundation for Developing Communities (FDCC) projects and enable them to become financially stable and self-reliant. This work will directly help some of the poorest families in Prey Veng.

Who does it help?

Your knowledge and passion will provide valuable assistance to the FDCC to their mission to care for orphaned and underprivileged girls in rural Cambodia. FDCC currently has three projects:

• Mekhala Learning Centre – a school that provided English, computer and internet access classes as well as a growing library. The school targets underprivileged children and other members of the community who would not otherwise have access to learning these skills and therefore better jobs in the future

• Mekhala House – a home for 44 underprivileged and orphaned girls that ensure these girls get a proper education and eventually become leaders in their communities

• Mekhala Child Club – run by the Mekhala House girls, this program allows the transfer of knowledge and learnings from the Mekhala House girls to other children in the community and is facilitated by outreach programs run at various schools in the area

How much does it cost and what is my money spent on?

There will be a maximum of 15 people in the group which will give you a personal and unique experience for a one-off tax deductible charity donation of $1,750 per person.

Your donation will help to build /repair much needed infrastructure for the local school and also fund the Mekhala Learning Centre (MLC). MLC provides underprivileged children in the community with additional English, computer and internet classes as well as access to one of the two libraries in the town with current resources. For poor students, MLC provides the only opportunity to learn these important skills which are essential to obtain good jobs and to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

100% of net proceeds and donations go directly to the local Cambodian projects as FDCC Australia is 100% run by volunteers.

We would love you to come to Cambodia with us and have the experience of a lifetime, so please sign up now by contacting Melani Daruis on info@fdcc.org.au. Closing date for participation is 15th September 2012.

You can download our PDF full of information here www.fdcc.org.au/cambodianendeavour

BOOKINGS FOR 2012 FDCC DINNER

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:17:08 +0000

Our annual fundraising dinner is fast approaching.
It will be held on Thursday, 21 June 2012 at Ascot House in Ascot Vale.
To organise your table, simply click here to download and print out booking form and either :

email attached order form to marie.osullivan@craigmore.biz
fax to ( + 613) 9816 8665 or
post to
FDCC
5 Alma Place
ST KILDA
Victoria 3182

2012 FDCC Fundraiser Dinner

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:35:34 +0000

Our next big event will be the annual fundraising dinner on Thursday, 21 June 2012. It will be held at the same venue as last year, at Ascot House in Ascot Vale. It will be a great evening of catching up, sharing stories, learning about the impact we are making on the lives of the girls and staff, and indeed, the local community. Please help us make this night an outstanding success so we can continue to help the children of Mekhala House.

Please follow this link to our website which has the dinner flyer and all details for the night. We’d love you to forward it on to friends, family and colleagues so we can make another successful night for Mekhala House!

30 days until Christmas and we need your help!

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:28:05 +0000

Have you ever thought about skipping all of the Christmas shopping hassle and spending your money where people really need it? Now’s your chance! FDCC needs your help to provide ongoing support to the girls living in Mekhala House. All proceeds go directly to Cambodia – where they are most needed. If you need some inspiration for Christmas gifts, have a look at these fun Christmas e-cards.

This gift idea is also suitable for your workplace. Why not create a donation Kris Kringle page for your workplace in lieu of gifts this year?

Finally, you can suggest to your boss that you’d like them to make a donation to FDCC instead of giving gifts or cards this year. Save unnecessary purchases and you can help to ensure those less fortunate than you have a strong start to the New Year.

2012 FDCC Calendar

If you prefer having gifts to put under the Christmas tree, don’t forget about the beautiful ‘Faces of Cambodia’ calendars we have for sale! Each photo featured in the calendar has been taken by a child of Mekhala house, and tells an intimate story about their friends, families and neighbours in their community. This is a unique insight into Cambodian life, and a wonderful Christmas gift idea!

100% of money raised directly benefits the children of Mekhala House.

Last year, we raised over $13,000 from the sale of calendars and gift cards which funded 20% of the annual costs of supporting the children of Mekhala House. This year, please help us to raise $16,000 and increase it to 25% of annual costs.
Order yours here!

FDCC gift ideas for the festive season and other special occasions

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:10:23 +0000

FDCC is again offering great gift ideas for the festive season this year.

Purchase a 2012 calendar with beautiful images of Cambodia taken by the children of Mekhala House or purchase a gift card for your friends and family.

100% of money raised directly benefits the children of Mekhala House.

1) 2012 FDCC Calendar

“Faces of Cambodia” by the children of Mekhala House

The orphaned and underprivileged girls of Mekhala House use photography to tell stories about friends, families and neighbours in their rural communities.

All images have been taken by the children of Mekhala House – please support their efforts to raise the funding required to provide them with a bright future.

2) FDCC Gift Card

Give a gift that gives twice – help a child to have a future

A gift with meaning – not just for the orphaned and underprivileged girls of Mekhala house, but also for those lucky enough to receive it.

Share in the true beauty of this festive season, enrich the life of someone less fortunate than you, and help someone you know feel the joy of giving selflessly. For the children of Mekhala House, even the smallest gift goes a long way.

FDCC Gift Cards and Calendars order form

Important Upcoming Date for your Calendar

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:29:49 +0000

Thursday, 27 October, 2011

FDCC Annual General Meeting (AGM)

17 Edward Street, Kew

Commencing 6.30pm

We welcome all members to come along and participate in our annual AGM. Hear about some of the exciting activities and

projects that have been undertaken, or are presently in the pipeline; meet fellow Members who share your keen interest in helping disadvantaged young girls in rural Cambodia. And importantly, inform yourself about how FDCC has conducted its financial affairs over the past year.

Drinks and eats will be provided.

If you are interested in attending, we’d be grateful if you could email Patrick Arthur (Chair) to confirm your attendance: pat_arthur@bigpond.com

FDCC Newsletter Vol 16 is online

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:56:44 +0000

Dear friends and supporters, FDCC Newsletter vol 16 has been released. Please click the "Read more..." link below to view the newsletter. Thank you.

2010 FDCC Annual Report

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:22:33 +0000

You can download the full PDF version in here

This is the second annual report for the Foundation for Developing Cambodian Communities.

FDCC achievements this year

The past year has seen FDCC continue to grow the organisation and implement the processes required to make it sustainable so that we can continue to help the children of Prey Veng in Cambodia.During the past year we have seen the resignation of a long-time Director, Carlee Baxter. The Directors would like to thank Carlee for her work and service in helping to establish FDCC and continuing to maintain a connection with the organisation. During the year we also welcomed Patrick Arthur as a Director of FDCC. The FDCC Board has continued to work with

Mallesons Stephen Jacques which has been providing pro bono assistance in drafting the submission to AusAID for FDCC to attain DGR status under the Overseas Aid Gift Deduction Scheme. The document, which represents the culmination of over a year’s work, is almost complete and the FDCC Directors are

expected to approve its submission to AusAID in October 2010. Attaining DGR status is a major goal of the Directors as we believe it will significantly increase the access to donations for FDCC to support the projects in Cambodia. Special thanks go to Sarah Guy, Phillip Davies and everyone else at Mallesons who assisted FDCC in this process. I would also like to thank Tony Batsakis of KPMG for his pro bono assistance in auditing FDCC’s annual accounts and Joanne Clark for her work in preparing the annual financial report.

FDCC membership drive and fundraising activities

In 2009 FDCC began its membership drive and by 30 June 2010 over 120 people have committed to supporting the work to improve the lives of many children in Cambodia. We are grateful to all of our members and supporters as their interest in and support for our activities are essential to allowing FDCC to raise funds for its projects in Cambodia and to operate the organisation in Australia.

In terms of fundraising, FDCC had an excellent year, raising almost $90,000 for Mekhala House. This was an outstanding effort from all involved – the Directors of FDCC and the many volunteers and supporters. Fundraising requires the combined efforts of many dedicated people who donate money or organise small fundraisers that are essential to keeping the flow of money to the organisation throughout the year.FDCC now has many regular donors, some who give on a weekly basis, some on a monthly basis and some who provide donations when their circumstances allow. They are all essential to helping provide a sustainable funding base for the organisation. Equally important are the volunteers who organise fundraising events for FDCC. For the Directors, it is gratifying to see so many people willing to support FDCC’s work. These people are too numerous to mention, but a big thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time or donated money to ensure FDCC continues to be able to support the work in Cambodia. FDCC’s main focus is to raise the money to fund the work done by its partner organisation in Cambodia and also to provide the operational support to the staff that allows them to carry out ACN: 134 664 903 Registered Address: 5 Alma Place, St Kilda 3182 Australia www.fdcc.org.au their important work in a professional, efficient and effective manner. One of the most pleasing aspects of this work is to see the staff in Cambodia grow and develop in their roles. Their enthusiasm and willingness to learn has greatly benefited both the Mekhala House and Mekhala Learning projects. They have taken ownership of the project operations and now regularly bring fresh ideas on ways we can benefit the children.

Mekhala House project

All of the children of Mekhala house continue to grow and learn under the care of the committed staff in Prey Veng. Many of the girls are now growing into young women and it is exciting to see their self confidence and ambition for the future. For this, significant credit and thanks must go to Sok Rady, the FDCC Executive Director, Phlong Sinath, the FDCC House Mother, and all of the staff for their hard work and dedication in caring for the children. At Mekhala House, using funds specifically raised from donors, a children’s room was added onto the main building and with generous support from NAB-Telstra Helping Hands program, ten laptop computers were provided for the children to use. It was most rewarding to see them very quickly learn to navigate around the system, set up email addresses and begin to communicate with past visitors to Mekhala House. Also recently, two volunteers, Peter Wilson and Shane Godbolt, travelled to Mekhala House at their own expense, and undertook a complete refurbishment of the girl’s bathroom and amenities block which was in desperate need of upgrade. The range of activities that the children participate in has grown over the past year. With support from the Indochina Starfish Foundation a girl’s soccer team was established at Mekhala House. This has given the opportunity to many girls to travel to tournaments in Cambodia. The girls have enthusiastically embraced the chance to play competitively and now practise regularly. Also FDCC in Cambodia recently established the Mekhala Child Club. This involves the older girls at Mekhala House teaching underprivileged children living in villages around Prey Veng the skills and knowledge they have learned at Mekhala House. They are developing programs and classes with help from the staff and, in the process, are learning valuable skills.

Mekhala Learning Centre project

A major achievement during the year for FDCC was the opening of the Mekhala Learning centre in August 2009. This project represents an important development for FDCC as it extends our reach into the Prey Veng community and provides many underprivileged children in the region with access to learning important computer and English skills. It provides them with access to learning resources for their secondary and tertiary education and also greatly enhance their future employment prospects. During the period August 2009 to January 2010 the first group of 66 students learned computer, internet and English at the Mekhala Learning centre. The community library, which now houses over 1000 books, also began operation in September 2009. The courses were available to high school children at lunch time and in the evenings. During the day local government workers attended classes. Classes were carried out for students five days per week. Apart from teaching, the staff also continued to develop and implement processes to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the school. ACN: 134 664 903 Registered Address: 5 Alma Place, St Kilda 3182 Australia www.fdcc.org.au The second six-month course began operation in March 2010. The feedback from students in both courses to date has been very positive. For this, significant credit and thanks must go to Sok Rady, Thon Setharoth the Manager of Mekhala Learning, and all of the staff for their hard work and dedication in developing such an effective education program in such a short space of time. Our major donor for the Mekhala Learning centre is the Planet Wheeler Foundation, which has committed to providing the majority of funding to the end of 2011. FDCC is very grateful to everyone at Planet Wheeler for their support and commitment to the education of underprivileged children in Prey Veng. Additional funding was provided by six individual donors who also share the vision of providing equal opportunity to learn for underprivileged children. I would also like to thank Global Development Group for partnering with FDCC on this project. Under the arrangement with GDG, donors to Mekhala Learning are able to make tax-deductible donations.

FDCC volunteers in Cambodia

Also during the year Catherine Wood, an Australian volunteer who has been working at Mekhala House under the AYAD scheme, finished her tenure. Another volunteer, Sarah Miller, is due to finish in December after more than two years in Prey Veng with FDCC. We would like to thank both Catherine and Sarah for the tremendous work they have undertaken to assist the development of the staff and to help implement the programs in their time with us.

Conclusion

Finally, to the staff, AYAD & VIDA volunteers, Directors of FDCC in Cambodia and to everyone on the Board of FDCC Australia – and especially to all our donors and local volunteers who support us in various ways – we should all be very proud of the continued achievements of both projects and also how well both organisations work together. We continue to achieve some wonderful things for the children and people of Prey Veng together.

Melani Daruis

FDCC Chairperson

Interview with Thida, one of the Mekhala House children

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:50:03 +0000

1) What is your favourite colour?

My favourite colour is Yellow because it is very bright and pretty.

2) What is your favourite subject?

My favourite subject is English because I like communicating with foreigners and I want to become a tour guide in the future.

3) What do you what to be when you grow up?

I want to be a tour guide in Cambodia because I love translating and I have wanted to be tour guide since I was young. My neighbour is a tour guide and is a role model for me. She thinks it is very interesting and she makes a lot of money.

4) What was the most interesting thing that you did last week?

Last week I liked playing football with the other children at Mekhala House.

5) What is your favourite possession?

My favourite thing is my jeans because when I wear them I feel very slim and I love the flower on the jeans.

6) What do you think is the most interesting place in

Prey Veng?

I really like Chong Pom, the lookout near the river, because there is a lot of fresh air and a lot of people and tourists to sit with and talk to. You can look over the rice field, which is very pretty in the rainy season.

7) What is your favourite song?

A new pop song called “Kun Pook, Kun Ma” (“Thanks Dad, Thanks Mum”). It is a song about thanking your mother and father for giving you food and clothes and everything and for helping you a lot.

8) What do you like to watch most on TV?

I like to watch stories (soap operas) because they are fun.

9) Who would you like to meet the most in the world?

I want to meet my mother because she died when I was born and I have never met her. My grandmother and neighbours tell me that she was a very good lady.

10) What is your favourite smell?

Pka M’lis – a small white flower with a beautiful smell that grows near FDCC, where I live. It smells very sweet and is very pretty.

11) Describe your favourite drink

Coca Cola, Soybean Milk, Wintermelon Drink

Below: 17 year old Thida with another Mekhala House child

12) What is the first thing that you do when you get to school?

I like to read a book and play with my friends when I arrive at school.

13) What is your favourite book?

I like all books because I want to know about news and knowledge and like stories for fun

14) What is your favourite vegetable and how do you like to eat it?

Hot potato chips with pepper sauce – when I go to the restaurant with my Australian Mother and Father I always like to order this food.

Where does the money go?

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:39:39 +0000

Running a home for 44 children often means that there are often one-off items that need to be funded, particularly
around this time of the year where the children start a new school year in October. These include:

$9 can pay for 1 student’s school books and stationery for the year

$23 can pay for 1 student’s school uniform, shoes and bag for the year.
$55 can pay a sewing teacher to help run sewing classes during the school holidays for a month.

$70 can pay for a new set of dance costumes for the older children in the community, who are becoming well known for their beautiful dancing skills

	$170 can pay for a new pair of shoes for 44 children $360 can pay for a school holiday activities program, which would involve the students learning about sanitation and hygiene, career guidance, photography, cooking and other practical life skills.

	$400 can pay for 8 second-hand bicycles for Mekhala House kids who will start going to high school in the new school year

And $750 can pay for the 44 children to visit the dentist annually

We are also looking for the following sponsorship for the Mekhala Learning Centre (MLC):

$1,500 annual sponsorship for internet access for the MLC which offers English and computer classes, internet access and library for poor children in the community

If you are interested in donating for any of these vital initiatives , please let us know by emailing fdcc@fdcc.org.au. Your support is much appreciated and very little can go a long way in Cambodia!