Hello fellow supporters of the Ponheary Ly Foundation and anyone thinking of going to Cambodia.

Offwego asked me to post a link to pictures and write about my impressions from our trip to Koh Ker with her and Ponheary on New Year’s Eve 2007. This is the day they discovered that the kids were sick and needed urgent medical attention:
http://www.speignerphoto.com/PLF/6103

I traveled to Siem Reap to meet Lori and Ponheary as a result of a post here on Fodors entitled “Chucking it All for Good.” My interest was to profile people “who have dramatically changed their lives to make a positive difference.” Many of you responded with helpful suggestions, and it was exciting to see the conversation take off.

Then Lori chimed in with “I feel like small potatoes compared to the names listed here, but I have ‘repurposed’ my life recently, at the age of 48 (ahem) to come to Cambodia and put my shoulder to the wheel. Would love to talk to you about how it's been so far.” With such a modest assertion I didn’t know what to expect, but after the first email exchange it became crystal clear that the ideal candidate had emerged. Little did I know.

Fewer than 4 weeks later Lori, Ponheary, Lori’s god daughter Devin, Ponheary’s nephew Phi Phi, her driver Rithy, and my partner, Jacqueline, are all on our way to Koh Ker. It was to be the first of the five schools we were to visit over the next several days. Because Lori described Koh Ker as being surrounded by landmines, I thought “wow, what a metaphor for these kids situation.” Little did I know at the time that unexploded ordinance was the least immediate risk to their health and safety.

On the way out of Siem Reap Ponheary asked Rithy to stop at a roadside stand where women were making and selling sticky rice. Lori told us that Ponheary always picks the poorest people to buy from. She also told us that Ponheary likes to offer people the first bites, because the sweetest rice was at the bottom. We all had a good laugh at that.

After a two-and-a half-hour drive through gorgeous Cambodian countryside, much of it uncultivated because of the landmines, we arrived at Koh Ker. Lori and I jumped out of the van on the way in to take pictures from outside the gates. After discussion with the teachers work got started.

Ponheary and Rithy began to distribute uniforms. Rithy, the sweet father of a new baby himself, really gets into the act of giving to these children. Lori and Devin begin distributing packages of Top Ramen style noodles. Jacqui goes to work recording audio, and I take pictures.

It wasn’t long before noticing something was odd. Usually kids love to ham it up and have a good time for my camera. These kids were different. Not a lot of smiles, instead there were a lot of glassy-eyed, vacant stares. What was wrong here?

Lori and Devin moved out onto the porch to unpack, sort, separate and distribute the duffle bag of hand-me-down kids clothes Jacqui and I had brought. Kids began to gather nearby to watch. Inside Ponheary and Rithy continued measuring and distributing the uniforms they had available. Since this was an unscheduled trip, they didn’t have sizes for the kids and were improvising, writing down measurements as they went. Back outside crowd had begun to build around the clothe sorting activity, and Lori began sizing kids up and physically dressing them. The kids seem to soak up the attention and soon you began to see lots of little kids running around in 1980’s garb. Lots of teal, and pink, and bold geometric patterns.

While handling the kids Lori noticed that many of them were very hot. Runny noses and glassy eyes were obvious. Then when she and Ponheary talked out in front of the school they both reached the same conclusion. Malaria. The story began to get really interesting. What would they do now? There charter did not cover providing medical supplies, but what could they do? Well they did what they could do. Ponheary called someone and found out a doctor lived 20km away in small town. We would go there next and see if we could find him.

Meanwhile they showed me both the new well that a Japanese non-profit (PeaceBoat) had put in at the school, and the old “well” that had been used before. It was nothing more than a big hole near the corner of the fence behind the school gouged 15 inches deep and about 10 feet square. Lori told me they used to catch muddy ground water in this ditch and drink it before the new well was installed.

Afterwards we walked with the kids to their nearby village to see their living conditions and talk with some of their parents. Some of the girls had managed to gather wood before school and carried the bundles back to the village on their heads.

It was heartbreaking to see some of the homes these kids live in. Most were little more than dilapidated grass shacks, at least one overcrowded with big bags of not-enough rice. A few were larger sturdier wooden structures but all were sparse on amenities we take for granted. No running water, much less electricity. Often times the kitchens was no more than a pot setting on an outdoor fire being tended by a kid.

The most poignant moment visiting the village came talking with the parents of one child. When asked what their dreams were for their children, the father said he hoped they would study hard in school and eventually become a physician or nurse so they could help people be well. Clearly this dad is supportive of having a school nearby.

Later we briefly visited the main temple at Koh Ker, took a few shots of Ponheary and then drove to the town where Dr. Kim lives, only to learn that he had left that day for Siem Reap. Fortunately the ever-resourseful Ponheary managed to get his cell phone number. Lori and Ponheary discussed it and all that was left to do then was to return to Siem Reap and get hold of the good doctor for a conversation.

Jacqueline and I spent the next 5 days in Siem Reap, staying at the Villa Marina guesthouse owned and managed by Ponheary’s family. We visited all of the other four schools that the PLF currently works with, including Chay, Knar, Kong Much and Wat Bo. Pictures from those schools including lots of pictures of the kids, and the trip to the pharmacy with Lori, Ponheary, and Dr. Kim can be found on the rolls at these urls for anyone interested: http://www.speignerphoto.com/PLF/6105 and http://www.speignerphoto/PLF/6106. Sorry for no index page to link all these urls together yet. It’s coming.

My best photographs have been entered into numerous contests and competitions. What began as a project to profile these amazing women, has become a mission to educate and raise funds for their work with these kids. I’ve never seen a more dedicated and competent pair of people. I am a total convert. I know that money raised for the PLF is being well managed and goes directly to helping kids.

My first exhibit of photographs from Cambodia begins today in Bellevue, WA, with all proceeds going to the PLF. Send your wishes for best of luck. A preview of that show can be seen at this url: http://www.speignerphoto.com/BeyondAngkor/index.html.

Thanks to all of you Fodorites who helped me find my way to Lori and Ponheary, and thanks for reading all the way through this rather long post.

Thank you for posting here! Your photos are wonderful.

Lovely photos, Jeff. Are you in Seattle? While your exhibit is in Bellevue, I note your phone number appears to be in Seattle.

As a fellow Seattleite and supporter of the plf, I want to thank you for your photos and writing about the work of this wonderful foundation.

Thanks for your kind comments Kim and Kathie. I am actually based in Kirkland, but my cell phone has a Seattle area code.

It had not dawned on me that there may be folks in this area or I would have posted information about the show. Here it is for whomever may be interested.

Beyond Angkor:
The Children of Cambodia

Omega Photo
1100 Bellevue Way NE STE 6
Bellevue, WA 98004

M-F 9:30 - 7:00
Sat 10:00 - 6:00
SUN 12:00 - 5:00

March 15 thru April 15

Saturday March 22, from Noon to 2:30
I'll be there meeting folks and talking about Cambodia and the PLF. It would be great to meet any other PLF supporters that could make it by.

Many thanks for posting the info about your show. We'll try to make it. (of course, it does involve crossing the water...) I know there are other Seattle travelers who have supported the PLF. Perhaps you could make a separate post aimed at Seattle area travelers who might be interested in your show.

Thanks for the tip Kathie, I'll do that. Any suggestions for a title or forum to post in to gain the appropriate attention?

Sorry for the trip across the lake. I know what a psychological barrier that can be. LOL

I'd suggest you post it on this board. Photo Exhibit of Koh Ker (Cambodia) school in Seattle area ... something like that. You might also be able to post an announcement on the PLF website since your photos are of the work the PLF is doing. Send Lori an email.

Duh!

I'm all over it. There are other supporters in the Seattle area who know Ponheary. I will let them know about it as well.

Thanks Kathie for the great idea.

Lori

Jeff,

Fantastic pictures! I'm really happy to finally see the rest of the ones you took that day! Visiting both the Knar school and Wat Bo were very special to Bill and I, and I was grateful to you for sending me a couple of the pictures for the presentation at my school.

I wish we lived closer to be able to attend the show in Bellvue- but we'll send our best wishes for a big turnout and lots of photos sold!

Thanks Kathy, Lori and Beth, for the kind remarks and good ideas. I've reposted the show information under the title: Photo Exhibit Fundraiser for Ponheary Ly Foundation. Please inform any friends in the Seattle area you think may be interested. Appreciate your support.

Thanks, I will pass this on to friends.

Thanks Kathie.