Future Cambodia Fund

Video Journalist David O’Shea reports from Cambodia, where locals are now faced with a new peril - rampant land developers literally smashing entire communities, leaving thousands homeless.

Watch the video on the SBS Dateline website.

At 6am on Saturday 24th January, the community of Dey Krahorm in inner-city Phnom Penh was violently and forcibly evicted from their homes, losing a four-year battle.

• 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

After two amazing rides in 2008, we are now preparing for the ride of a
lifetime in March 2009! Get ready for the Northern Adventure, a bike
trip through Southern Laos, taking in the Bolaven Plateau and 4000
Islands before crossing into Cambodia and following the Mighty Mekong
down to Phnom Penh, visiting community development projects along the
way.

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

Leigh Mathews was announced this week as the Victoria Young Australian of the Year 2009 for her work founding the charity Future Cambodia Fund. Here is an excerpt from the National Australia Day Council website:

“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!

Future Cambodia Fund is working at Andong ‘relocation’ site, a community of over 5,000 individuals who were violently evicted from their homes and forcibly ‘relocated’ to a site 22km from Phnom Penh. Residents have little or no access to fresh water, adequate food, medical care, employment, or education, and many people are seriously ill from preventable and treatable diseases.

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