Chi Phat 2011 - we need your help!

Mid June 2011, it's been a year and a half since we, the volunteers of the last delegation of the Israeli Backpacker Contribution project, left Cambodia. A year and a half, in which we have traveled, went back to our lives, missed, and... Yes, even forgot a little. all of us, Cambodia-veterans, have many moments in which we say "wish we were back there", but all in all we can say we have gone back to our former lives.

but still, something HAS changed. Deep in the Cambodian rainforest, there is our small and very loved village. In the heart of the village, on the main road, just between the little coffee shop and the primary school, stands a big white building. Pteha Sahakum they call it. The Community Center. in this building there s a big fundamental change. Some time ago there was a bunch of crazy Israeli volunteers here, that have brought computers and English lessons. They have gathered a group of teenagers from the village, and have trained them to become volunteers all on their on.

A year and a half has passed since, and the community center is more thriving than ever. On a daily basis, English and computer classes are held, movies are screened, books are borrowed at the library and more. All this is supervised by the English teacher of the village, who is now also the manager of the community center. With him, is a new generation of teenagers, volunteering to keep continuing what the Israeli volunteers have left behind. In fact, the Israelis don't even know most of these young volunteers - they are a generation that was trained by the same generation of young leaders trained by the Israeli volunteers. Out of a real desire to improve their lives, they chose to become a link in a chain, and become young leaders on their own, while at the same time training the next generation of young leaders.

The Israeli backpackers Project is therefore very successful. it is with only one thing that we have failed - with helping these young guys with fundraising. yes, we have tried to send them to fund raising courses, and tried introducing the to local and foreign NGOs, but it seems that from the great isolation that the rainforest provides, this task, that is never simple, is particularly hard.

so out of great belief in this project, in the teacher leading it (who himself asked for this help), in the amazing teenagers that are hopeful for its outcomes, and its importance to Israel’s reputation, we have decided to help them with this task. we are now trying to raise as much as we can, so we can help the center run for another year. Every donation that we receive will be sent in full to the community center.

if you are willing to contribute, we have two ways available (unfortunately, the banking system is yet to reach Chi Phat, so all the donations collections is done in Israel):

wire transfer:
from Israel:
Gil Chen, Leumi Bank, Gesher Hayarkon branch (no. 829), account no. 05846880.

from abroad:
swift code: LUMIILIT
IBAN: IL 74010829 000000 5846880

by check:
Gil Chen, Asirey tzion 19, app. 29, Tel Aviv, Israel.

I'll be happy to answer all your questions and provide further details through mail gil.chen78@gmail.com, or phone +972-52-2336873.
Thank you very much!!