May 2008
April 208
February /March 2008
>>January 2008
December 2007
October 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007

Drawing by : Ung-Sophea Rey

Home > News > January 2008

Newsletter January

At the start of the New Year we would like to give a brief overview of 2007.

In 2007 Patrick Gillemans managed to find foster parents and other people who donated money for almost all WHC children. With that amount of money the children can have a good place to sleep, have 3 meals a day, can go to school and were able to visit the dentist and we could give them al necessary vaccinations. This is something very normal in western countries but is not taken for granted in Cambodia.

In May 2007 the official website of WHC did go life and was welcomed very enthusiastic by many people. Also in that month Foundation WHC the Netherlands was officially registered. The website has a lot of visitors which results in a lot of requests (to work at WHC) from potential volunteers. The first volunteers recruited by means of the website have arrived in Cambodia this month. This makes us very proud! Before approving their work at WHC each volunteer visits at least one member of the board to make sure only the best people go to Cambodia to help the children and staff.

In 2007 unfortunately there also was some bad news. Sokea had to leave WHC because her family wanted her to take care of her ill mother. With this, her whole future suddenly collapsed. First; her mother couldn’t take care of her but now she does have to take care of her mother! The good side of the story is that we could permit one new girl to enter WHC. She is now reunited with her brother who already stayed at WHC.

In October the Dutch foundation of WHC started a Christmasprogram to collect money and gain reputation. The artist Harm Pruyn designed 5 very special cards for WHC. The profit of the cards went directly to WHC. In total 2100 cards have been sold, a result we never dreamed of!

Of course lot’s of other good thing happened and you can read it all one more time in the newsletters of 2007.

In 2008 the foundation and staff will focus on buying or building a new house for the children. The boards in the Netherlands and Cambodia and a few ambassadors are already working very hard to make sure everything is taken care of. We already receive great amounts of money for this purpose which encourages to work even harder! Together with you all we can achieve this goal in the next year!

The board in the Netherlands, Cambodia, the staff and children of WHC like to thank you very much for your support in 2007. We hope WHC can count on you again this year!

We hope 2008 brings you all the best!

Foundation WHC the Netherlands,

Patrick Gillemans,
Manon Harmelink,
Marleen Holtkamp