NeilyWorld      Tabitha Foundation (Canada)    

         It seems each year, in order to give an account of our activities, I am forced to repeat many of the things reported the previous year. I am thankful for this repetition since it is almost all good news. Because you, the donor, make all this possible, my first pleasant task, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Tabitha Foundation (Canada), is to once again thank you all very warmly for your contribution to our extremely successful work in transforming dreams into realities in Cambodia. Tabitha’s effectiveness has gained continued acceptance and produced further expansion of our field work in Cambodia. Our Director of Field Operations, Janne Ritskes, reports that 32,364 families with 266,912 dependents (up over 50,000), were involved in our community development programs last year. In 2006-07 Tabitha began operations in one new province in Cambodia, Kompong Channang. The cottage industry program continues to provide work for some of the most destitute Cambodians, especially women. It allows them to work at home, while they care for their children.

         The road to helping people in a country rife with corruption is rarely easy. Late last year it came to light that the program in Siem Reap had fallen prey to abuse. Janne was forced to shut down that province’s program to eliminate the problem. It was a sad time. But new lessons have been learned and new controls put into place. Audits of other provincial programs have not, thus far, uncovered any further problems. This particular scam is not likely to recur. It is hoped that the Siem Reap program may reopen in the near future.

         Last April, Janne Ritskes made one of her rare visits back to Canada. She was able to speak to many people into Ontario and British Columbia. Here in Ottawa, she spoke movingly at the 1st Annual Tabitha Foundation Fundraising Event. Our 2nd Annual Event will be a showing the touching movie “To Speak”. This movie about a Cambodian family premiered at the Montreal Film Festival last year. I encourage you to visit our website at http://www.tabitha.ca, where you will find information regarding this event, as well as updates on the field work and programs, a cottage industry catalogue, and links to our four sister foundations. If you would like us to email you the monthly field reports and updates, please send us your email address. We would be pleased to add you to our private distribution list.

         An amazing 611 houses were built in the past year by 75 teams with a total of 2025 volunteers (up from 376 houses and 800 volunteers last year). These house-building trips give Tabitha many of its most enthusiastic and solid supporters. The well digging program saw 997 wells dug for 4,985 families with 39,880 dependents this year (up from 845 last year). This is one of the most important initiatives to help families in need in a nation where only 10% have good drinking water.

         Of course, as in all charities, it is our faithful donors who, by their generosity, provide the funds necessary to operate these wonderful programs. All of us thank all of you so much. Tabitha Foundation (Canada) received around $157,000 in charitable gifts this last year, a more than 50% increase from 2006. We are pleased to welcome Bonnie Robertson, Jennifer MacKay and Glenys Galloway all from British Columbia to our Board. They, along with Gordon Longmuir, will represent the growing community of support for Tabitha in SW British Columbia.

         We are only able to continue backing Janne Ritskes’ beautiful vision because of the support of our dedicated all-volunteer Board here in Canada (especially the close-knit group who regularly attend our meetings and deal with the day-to-day business of running the charity) and the many additional volunteers helping us. Because of their combined efforts, nearly all funds raised go directly to aid the work in Cambodia. I know you will join me in giving them a huge and well-deserved “Thank you.”

         This year I must single out one longtime Tabitha supporter for special thanks. Lisbeth Mousseau got involved more than ten years ago helping with cottage industry sales. She has been on our board for nearly ten years and has headed both cottage industry sales locally and been the Tabitha.ca webmaster for much of that period. She has brought many supporters to Tabitha and continues to do so. This year Lisbeth celebrated her 80th birthday, instead of gifts asking for funds for house building. Thanks to her generosity, a family in poorest Cambodia has a new home.

         Janne Ritskes and her capable, all-Cambodian staff have continued to produce miracles in the poverty stricken areas of Cambodia. We thank Janne, her staff, and the government and people of Cambodia, who have embraced and supported the goals of Tabitha. And once again I thank each donor. Please send your prayers along with your donations. May we all continue together, in grace, with this work in the coming year.

                                Respectfully submitted,  Larry E. Neily  Chairman

         The table below shows how life is improving for the villagers in Choum Pouk. The data show that there is hope, despite the increasingly evident scourge of HIV and AIDS. Education in health issues is an important part of Tabitha's work. Along with the table are notes from Janne Ritskes, Tabitha Cambodia's soul and inspiration, not to mention project chief.

         The satellite image to the right shows the extent of the devastating flooding Cambodia has undergone in both 2001 and 2002. Normally, this area is not under water. You can see the Mekong River's usual channel coming in from the right and snaking down to the left to Phnom Penh, the capital; then flowing back to the right and down into Vietnam. From Tonle Sap, a lake in the upper left, comes the Tonle Sap River, whose channel you can see coming down to Phnom Penh from the lake. This is normally a smaller river than the Mekong.

         While flooding is an annual event in Cambodia (in fact, agriculture and fishing depend on it), the floods have been very bad this year and last. Many have lost homes and livelihoods. Please help. See how at our website at http://www.tabitha.ca.