NEWSLETTERS
THE CLMMRF NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2008
Baby Meetah Arrives!
CONGRATUALTIONS HOURT & AKI RA!!!!
After a few months of settling into their new home at the landmine museum relief facility, Aki Ra and Hourt have been blessed with the arrival of their new baby girl Meetha! Baby Meetha arrived on _____________ 2008. Aki Ra and Hourt’s two older boys Amatak and Mine are having a terrific time too and are looking forward to playing with their new sister. Best wishes to them all!
CMAA GIVES LICENSE TO CLMMRF NGO
On January 10th 2008 the Cambodia Land Mine Museum Relief Facility hosted an official license accreditation ceremony to celebrate the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority’s decision to provide the CLMMRF with a license for exhibiting mines and UXO’s to the public. This accreditation process took several months and several inspections to complete. Part of the condition for the license required the CLMMRF to create fibre glass display cases for the weapons and security personnel. It was also necessary to create signs for emergency fire exits, provide first aid stations and fire extiguishers as well as to provide structural support for heavier weapons.
The mandated protocol for the license accredition was very challenging as the CLMMRF had to meet both the CMAA national standards but also guidelines within The Ottawa Convention to Ban Landmines (more famously known as the International Campaign to Ban Landmines). After months of inspections and due dillegence to create a safe and legitimate museum we have successfully met their mandate for the safe storage and display of decomissioned mines and UXOs. The CLMMRF is now identified as the first accreditated museum of its kind in the world.
General News
It has been a very eventful 9 months for the staff of the CLMMRF NGO and all of our resident children living within the relief facility. The entire team faced a huge challenge moving to our newly constructed relief facility from the original museum in April of 2007. As a result of this experience the team has adapted at a remarkable pace. They have shown much improvent since first opened and have excelled ever since. Now that we are located in the country side near Banteay Srey Temple, we can enjoy a more quiet location with cleaner air and more space. We are especially happy to be away from the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap’s boom town and all the distractions that it can create!
Our staff has been doing remarkably well and are learning very fast how to work as a team. We are all very proud of them and all their hard work. The CLMMRF staff now hold a weekly meeting to report accomplishments made by each department or challenges that have come up. They have been completing the tasks of daily operations while simulataneously working on new projects and assignments. Each department also submits a weekly upate and report in writing to the management so all that we may all openly discuss concerns, challenges and ideas. After 8 year of preparation and planning the CLMMRF Board of Directors is very pleased to have our operation running tip top! We have over two dozen children living in our care and have created two dozen jobs for local Cambodians.
Museum Visitor Patronage
The Cambodia Land Mine Museum is now receiving an average of 1000 visitors per week in low season and as many as 2500 in high season. The number of museum vistors does not vary too significantly between seasons since so many of our patrons are already on route to see the Banteay Srey Temple. This is why the new location of our project is so important for sustainability in the future.
In anticipation of future travelers coming to the museum who do not know about the CLMMRF’s new location we have completed advertising incentives and promotional projects to help get the word out. In late January volunteers working with us helped to develop an updated tourism information package that was sent out to vendors and tourism industry organizations via email. In doing so we have simulateously created a data base that can be used to channel future upates about the museum and its progams. We have also led local promotion initiatives for the museum.
CAMBODIA SELF HELP DE-MINING (CSHD)
NGO REGISTRATION IN PROGRESS!
Bill Morse, director of the US based organization The Landmine Relief Fund is a registered 501c3 charity that has been helping the CLMMRF to develop and register a new demining NGO for Aki Ra and his team. The LMRF has been working closely with the CLMMRF since 2004. The team also includes Tony “Bomber” Bower Miles who has also been working with us to achieve this goal. We would like to take the time to want to thank Bomber for raising funds to help purchase a de-mining NGO vehicle for Cambodia Self Help De-Mining.
We would all like to extend our gratitude and thanks to His Excellency Sam Sotha Secretray General of the CMAA as well as to his staff at the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority for their on going support. Bill Morse is currently in Cambodia dealing with diplomatic and administration details of the new NGO and will be head of the new organization’s management team. Aki Ra’s de-mining accredition process is almost ready to meet the CMAA standards. In mid February Aki Ra and his five team members successfully completed a mandatory Field Trauma First Aid course at Santepheap Medical Clinic in Siem Reap. The CLMMRF is also contributing funds to help provide each deminer with protective gear, uniforms and body armor. The CLMMRF and LMRF are currently trying to raise an additional US$10,000 to purchase a second mandatory vehicle. |
