Rose Charities 10 Year Conference Penang 2008

Rose Charities International, comprising a group of non-political, non-profit, secular, independent organisations based in several countries, organised its inaugural international conference and planning meeting at Cititel Penang, Malaysia, recently.

The conference, held from February 22 to 24, 2008, entitled “New Perspectives in International Response” was attended by over 30 delegates from participating countries such as Australia, Canada, Madagascar, Vietnam, Nepal, Belgium, United Kingdom, Indonesia, USA, Cambodia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe and Guyana.

Dr B. Anthony, president of AMDA(Association of Medical Doctors of Asia) Malaysia and host-organizers of this event, shared that the conference enabled all members and supporters of Rose Charities groups and projects worldwide to meet, exchange viewpoints and create friendships, strengthen international co-operation between Rose Charities branches, define medium and long term direction and priorities for Rose Charities, provide a forum to present and discuss all aspects of field projects, new programmes and initiatives, to extend thanks and appreciation to all who have made and continue to make Rose Charities what it is today as well as to celebrate ten years of Rose Charities International project work.

The keynote lecture was presented by Dr Collin Yong from the British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Canada and amongst the other projects papers shared by the delegates were ‘Infectious Diseases and Palliative Care in the Philippines’ by Ms Lise Groot, ‘Eye Camps in Nepal’ by Dr Basant Raj Sharma, ‘Micro-credit and Community Programmes’ in Sri Lanka by Mr Anthony Richard, ‘Child Care Projects in Madagascar’ by Ms Cheryl Anne Pine, ‘Emergency Disaster Response’ by Ms Kirsten Reems, ‘Rehab Surgery in Cambodia’ by Dr Nous Sarom, and ‘Corneal Transplants & Braille Teaching in Vietnam’ by Mrs Jan Johnston.

The conference ended on a high note with the Rose Charities International 10^th Anniversary banquet dinner including the presentation of “Charity Rose’ Awards 2006/2007 at Cititel Penang.

Rose Charities International is made up of a group of independent organisations based in several countries which are non-political, non-profit and secular; all linked by a common aim, which is to rehabilitate people to a better, more productive life.

It started in Cambodia in 1998 by aid workers with the aim of delivering effective, sustainable programmes directly to those in need, with minimal bureaucracy and with transparency at every stage. Their projects include developing peace among communities through programmes such as ‘Peace through Education’, ‘Vocational Training for Youths’, ‘Peace through Sports’, ‘Counselling’, ‘Leadership Training for Children, Youth and Women’, ‘Relief and rehabilitation, ‘CRO Enterprise Development’ and other educational and health related projects.

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Pip - Whil

Pip - While you were pounding round the colliseum I was pounding round Angkor Wat. It is 200 square km of ruins and two solid days of clambouring over temples has produced a new anciient ruin.....but they are marvellous...even when fighting through bus loads of jabbering koreans ..all in sun hats and face masks. But it was possible to be alone. As soon as you left the main temples behind you found exquisite little temples floating in the heat haze ...completely empty ..with nothing but the ringing cicadas...and everywhere the stone carvings: the dancing apsara, naga the 7 headed hamadryad, garudas, buddahs and elephants.
There must be 20-40 thousand people through every day...but the whole place was spotlessly clean...even the loos. That was really amazing...because Phnom Phen was anything but spotless.

We are now in Vietnam...in Hue. Today we went out to see our Rose Project. A fascinating drive off the main road and down little bumpy farm roads between padi fields and family tombs ...and eventually found a little blue building with a big banner saying welcome to Rose Charities. And inside almost everyone is blind. But we are escorted upstairs and given glasses of water and talk to the director...who is also blind. We talk through a translator..and are told that the money we sent them has allowed them to furnish a classroom with tables and chairs and books etc for 20 people to learn braille. We are taken downstairs...it is all desperately poor...but there is the classroom...full of 20 men and women...all beavering away at their braille reading and writing exercises. They all stand up when we come in and burst into a welcome song. Everthung has "rose charities" writtren on it...the desks, chairs, even the braille books. The teacher is young and enthusiastic ...and longs for a computer to teach them computer braille. He was at university when he suddenly lost his sight. So he taught himself braille...and this project has given him a few months of salary and a project that he is empassioned about. .

It is late and we are off on a long day trip tomorrow

xxJosiem of ruins and two solid days of clambouring over temples