It is with great regret that I write to you with bad news. Future Cambodia Fund is ceasing all Cambodian and Australia-based operations commencing April 2nd 2010.

Future Cambodia Fund was founded in 2003 and has delivered a wide range of projects and activities promoting positive change to disadvantaged Cambodian communities during that time. Since 2007, Future Cambodia Fund has been focusing its efforts on supporting and empowering the community of Andong, who were forcibly evicted from their homes in 2006. Since that time, we have delivered effective community development programs and activities to a community of over 8000 individuals, and we are exceptionally proud of what we have achieved.

Due to a number of factors, including the global economic downturn and the political complexity of the issues faced by Andong’s residents, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain our projects. On the 3rd March, 2010 Future Cambodia Fund’s Board of Directors made the difficult decision to close down the organization due to insufficient funding.

Our Cambodian staff have now been advised and our projects in Andong will cease delivery in 2 weeks, while the organization will continue to operate until 2nd April 2010. We are continuing our attempts to find another organization/agency to continue the work we have begun in Andong and are attempting to minimize the negative impact of closure on the community through a system of referrals. All remaining funds and materials will be donated to an organisation operating in Cambodia with similar goals and objectives.

Because of your generosity and support, we have been able to work with the community at Andong to achieve positive change and improve their outlook for the future. Future Cambodia Fund’s Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and the community of Andong would like to thank you for the support you have provided over the years.

I would also like to personally thank each and every supporter for believing in and supporting our vision for a safer world for the most disadvantaged among us.

Warm Wishes

Leigh Mathews, Founder & Director

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To learn more about forced evictions and relocations in Cambodia and to provide support to these communities, Future Cambodia Fund recommends the following organisations:

• LICADHO Canada
• LICADHO

Published in The Age’ newspaper on 7th November 2009

By Chris Johnston

LEIGH Mathews is a Melbourne girl from a blue-collar family, her father a truck driver, who grew up around Seaford. The family of three split when she was very young.

She was expelled from school at 15 for venting anger bottled at home. “Swearing and fighting and yelling at teachers,” she says, “and not turning up.”

She left home, too, and at 16 was living in Frankston with friends and working in cafes. She did bits of other schooling but not much and drifted through jobs and then she started travelling.

In 2004, her life changed in an instant — literally as she turned a corner in a side street in a ghetto in Asia. Now, and because of that, Ms Mathews runs a unique charity — a non-government, community development called the Future Cambodia Fund — for some of the world’s most dispossessed children.

Click HERE to continue reading…

Published in ‘The Age’ newspaper on 24th January 2009

By Will Hine

‘…even in Andong - amid chronic disease, malnutrition and violence - there is hope. This small, fenced enclosure is “Happy Garden”, a sanctuary created by Australian charity Future Cambodia Fund (FCF) for Andong’s young. In any other setting, the learning complex, playing field, playground, hard court, water wells and toilets would barely raise an eyebrow. Here, the tiny compound is everything the local children could want - an escape from reality.’

Click HERE to read the full article featuring Future Cambodia Fund and Leigh Mathews

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This report is a compilation of evictions in 2006 in Cambodia, compiled from the Phnom Penh Post and The Cambodian Daily.

Read the report HERE

Click HERE to read Country for Sale.

Watch the video on the SBS Dateline website.

• Watch the video on the right hand side
• Show your support by joining the Future Cambodia Fund Facebook group
• Share new and views on the Cambodia Evictions Update Facebook group
• Donate to FCF to help support ongoing land rights

There is still time to sign up! Read more about the ride or contact us for an information pack.

“At just 23 years of age Leigh Mathews founded the Future Cambodia Fund, an organisation working with disadvantaged children and their families in Cambodia. After travelling the world she was struck by both the beauty of Cambodia and the tragic circumstances of its people. She made the decision to stay in Siem Reap, volunteering for charitable organisations until her money ran out and she returned to Melbourne to set up her own charity. Over the last four years she has worked seven days a week in her determination to help Cambodia’s children, and in a short time has made an enormous difference. Programs delivered by the organisation include remedial education; health and dental support; and activities for children including sports, recreation, dance and drama. They also run a water, sanitation and health program to educate women, and have built a children’s centre which now has 160 children in attendance. Despite devastating setbacks and enormous hurdles to overcome Leigh has never wavered in her vision and commitment. She demonstrates that when you truly believe in what you are doing you can achieve anything.”

Also, read this article from Herald Sun on November 19th - Recognition for the heroes of our local communities.

Congratulations Leigh!

Read more about the Happy Garden Centre and landrights in Cambodia.