 To start with, we need to find the money! We think that 50’000 USD would allow us to go through with the first phase of the safe house project (with a capacity to house 50 children). Sadly for us, land prices are on a steep rise, and have tripled in the last three years.
Phase 1 Phase 1 is divided in several steps, broadly the following:
1) Purchase of one or two hectares of rice field land, close to a serious public school with which we already have a good relationship.
2) One part of the land most then be raised in relation to the rest so that it doesn’t transform into a lake during the rain season. Hence, a small pond needs to be dug, and the earth used to lift the land where the buildings will be situated. The pond will then help provide water during the whole year, especially during the dry season, which is quite long in Cambodia. This whole operation costs about 40% of the land budget on which we have calculated.
3) Sadly, we will have to build a fence around the safe house, for security reasons. It a pity, and quite expensive as well.
4) Construction of the buildings, including an administrative office zone, rooms, dormitories and a separate refectory and kitchen, which might also be used for extra courses for the children, and for group activities. This is necessary, because during the rain season, the possibilities of outside activities are limited.
Phase 2 Raise the money needed to run the safe house, preferably in cooperation with a serious and steady partner who wants to work with us on the long term.
The budget for running the safe house will include money for:
1) Food, clothing and medical expenses (for 50 children, one year, this will be around 25’000USD, which is 500 USD per child per year or 41USD per child per month).
2) Other general expenses such as electricity (a diesel generator)
3) Salaries for the safe house staff.
|
