Newsletters

With our regular newsletters, we aim to keep you posted on all the interesting and important news and updates of our programs and various activities. Enjoy reading! 

January 17, 2008

            	
Dear friends and partners, Happy New Year to each and every one of you. May this year be full of the blessings that you given to so many here.
                
Our year has started out with some deep soul searching. For the past 6 months, we have suspected problems in our project of Siem Reap. Our questions to staff were answered as normal – when we checked on groups or on finances they appeared correct – yet – the monthly reports didn’t sound quite right. We began a full on investigation and our worst fears were confirmed. Our female staff in Siem Reap was participating in a systematic practice of corruption and theft – too small and too varied to be found out right – but quite in-depth and quite ingenious when investigated. What to do? There is a perception amongst all staff that I am strict but very fair. They believed that if they could explain their behavior – all would be forgiven and life would continue as normal. In some ways, that perception is correct – the questioning had gone on for the past 6 months – and no one was caught outright. I was loathing finding out the truth – for these were women whom I love and trusted – women with whom we had gone through so much. As usual, I talked with my God for answers and I came across the parable of the talents. In this parable – a man had given money and responsibility to three of his staff – to one he gave $10,000.00 – to another $2000.00 and to another $1000.00. Then he went off on a trip – the first two staff used the money wisely – the third one hid the money in the ground. When the man returned – the first staff presented him with $20,000.00 – he said come and see what I have done with the responsibility you gave me. The man replied well done – I will give you more responsibility. The second staff came and he too had doubled the boss’s money. The boss replied as he did to the first. The third staff came and he gave back to the boss the same amount of money that was entrusted to him – he said to the boss – you are a hard man – you expect us to work hard and to earn money for you – I didn’t want to lose the responsibility you gave me – so instead of using it – I hid it – and now I return it to you. The boss’s reply was succinct – he said, you wicked lazy man – you blame me for your laziness – get out – and give this man’s responsibility to the man with $20,000.00 When the ladies were questioned on their responsibility – the answer came back – you are a hard woman – and we were afraid of what you would do when you found out – so we hid the truth from you – my response – we will close down the project. That process is almost completed – my heart is heavy for I love these women – my heart is heavy for I trusted these women – my heart is heavy because the two male staff never wavered – in fact they doubled their work – my heart is heavy for they do not want to transfer to another project. Despite the heaviness – there is also thankfulness – Srie and Nary are designated to follow in my footsteps should anything happen to me – I gave them the responsibility of finding out the truth and then to act. They have done and are doing a remarkable job – their findings have horrified them – the trickery involved has been enlightening – the recognition of their task in supervision has strengthened – they have learned to love despite the hurt – to be strong when others are weak. I apologize to each and every one of you for failing to discover the problem sooner – for failing to use all your gifts to us as wisely and as faithfully as I should have. I could say that it will never happen again – but I can’t do that – one of the staff was instrumental in setting up Banteay Meanchaey Project – this project will be investigated in depth as well. All the other projects are directly under Srie’s supervision – there are no problems reflected in the reports. A friend of mine asked if I would change my ways after what happened in Siem Reap – would I no longer trust as much. My answer is I can’t live that way – trust and faithfulness – love and compassion are my strengths – it is the way I choose to live and will continue to do so – but we have learned how to check out answers to questions in a better way. Thank you for all your support and your faith in us. I pray that this may continue in the years ahead. Janne