Libby Madden at Be Tho Orphanage

Rose Charities Vietnam is delighted to welcome Libby Madden to our Board.   Libby and her husband James live in Brisbane, Australia.  They work in the aged care sector to which Libby brings her considerable skills, including degrees in Nutrition and Gerontology.

Libby went to Vietnam for the first time in 2003 and “fell in love with the country and the people”.  She has been back seven times, visiting Rose VN projects in Ho Chi Minh City on a number of those occasions.  Libby has given Rose VN a great deal of support over the years.

In 2010 Rose Vietnam shifted its focus to Hue, where we now have a number of projects including building houses for the poor, education support, a school for blind adults and income generation. Libby plans to visit Hue in 2012,  (and is currently learning Vietnamese!)   While there she will evaluate a new community development project in Thanh Thien village.

Libby joins current board members  Mr. Phuoc Chi Nguyen, Louis Lap Nguyen, Hanh-Thuc Nguyen and Jan Johnston.

Rose Charities Singapore has established a transport link into Thailand. Through a network of volunteers, friends and affiliates, emergency supplies are being purchased in neigbouring countries and transported to the areas in need.

Donations in the past 3 days alone have enabled us to purchase 1000 tins of milk power which will be sent to babies in evacuation centers through local Thai TV station ThaiTV3.

We are now sending out the call for canned food for those stranded at the flooded sites.

For SGD3.00 / RM7.20, the flood victims will get a set of the following items:
1. Cinta Sardine in tomato sauce at RM2.75/425g/can (retail is RM3.25/can)
2. Rex Baked beans in tomato sauce at 1.95/425g/can (retail is RM2.25/can)
3. ‘Xiang Xiang’ brand crackers abt 420gm (similar to Ping Pong brand) RM2.50/pack

Donations are needed to assist program and will be very gratefully received.

As always with Rose Charities, the program is run 100% by unpaid volunteers so every cent donated goes…

Rose Charities Singapore (Lawrence and Mme Cheah on right)

A Rose Charities Singapore has now been formed, assisted by Mr Lawrence Cheah and others.  The whole Rose Charities network extends a warm welcome to our new organization !

Rose Charities Singapore has immediately sprung into action by helping raise funds for Baby Jeven who desperately needs a complex cardiac operation  this October.

Baby Jeven and mother

Edwina Bower

Some  80 people came to enjoy Rose Charities Australia’s ‘trivia-night’  planned and organized by Edwina Bower, and Penny Kendall and assisted by family members Will and Philip, on Friday 7th October 2011.  Held at the Willoughby East Bowling Club in North Sydney, participants enjoyed a lavish barbecue, and home made cakes and treats prepared by Edwina and her family.   Edwina visisted Cambodia last year and with brother, Will helped Joanna Thomson’s Rose Rehab project at Chea Chumneas hospital assisting with much valued administration.

Penny rolling comp in background

Apart from the meal, drinks and trivia quiz (around 50 questions), other competitive events were included, such as paper aeroplane distance flying, and penny rolling.   The evening was hugely enjoyable and raised several thousand dollars for Rose Rehab Cambodia

Penny Kendall

Paper aeroplane competition

Sarah and Gareth marry in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, 8 Oct 2011

Following the marriage of Theresa (Rose Australia) and Cameron,  comes that of Sarah and Gareth. Both Sarah and Theresa are founder members of Rose Charities Australia and  board trustees.  Theresa is Current  Chair of the organization.

All in Rose Charities wish our lovely couples all happiness and congratulations !

Rose Cambodia Rehab Director Jo Thomson (Australia) examines a disabled patient

Report on Rose Cambodia Rehab Centre in Investor Edge Magazine: Philanthropy Edge Section (click)

‘Access-for-All”

On Friday the 31st of July 2011, Joanna Thomson and her team at Rose Cambodia Rehabilitation Centre (RCRC) are excited to be attending the signing ceremony to receive a $20,000 (USD) grant from the Disability Inclusion Assistance Fund (DIAF). DIAF is a funding mechanism supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and managed by the Australian Red Cross (ARC). The goal of the DIAF is to reduce the vulnerability of persons with disability including landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) survivors, their families and affected communities in Cambodia.

The grant will be used to support the “Access For All” project which aims to address the issue of women with disabilities in rural areas being unable to access secondary and tertiary education. The project provides a safe, secure housing solution for disabled women, allowing them to move into the town and live independent, fulfilling lives where they can access educational opportunities. Not only are the beneficiaries able to access formal education but they are also trained in project management and organisational development skills which will enable them to be leaders and manage the project independently long-term.

Through the learning of life skills, taught to them in the supportive home, they will be able to gain confidence and learn to participate fully in the community and to teach others about women with disability and raise awareness and advocate for disability rights. Through the long-term acquisition of skills and formal qualifications they will be able to earn an income and relieve the burden on their families of caring for a disabled daughter in rural Cambodia, increasing the living standards of not only themselves, but their whole family.

This project has been established by inspirational local Khmer man, Mr Ull Meng Hour. Located in Prey Veng Town, this project has been developed by a group of devoted local volunteers with Mr Hour’s leadership. While Jo Thomson is the Project Manager for this project, her role will largely be a consultative and advisory role as the day to day management of the project will be staffed by the women with disabilities who are the beneficiaries of the project. Mr Hour and his supporters will remain very much involved in the project acting as long-term project guardians who will provide training to the project team and will ensure that the project is being implemented in line with the identified objectives.

While this grant covers the basic costs of the project for the next year, more funds will be required to sponsor the beneficiaries’ educational requirements, in particular their University fees. As well, more laptops are required.

If you are able to help with these needs, please contact Rose Charities Director, Sarah Miller – sarah@rosecharities.org.au. For more information on Rose’s Educational Sponsorship program and to see the student profiles of those involved in the Access For All project please see http://roseeducation.wordpress.com/cambodia