Feedback and Questions from our Friends

We thank our friends who have come back with feedback and ideas on how to improve our website, and to make information clearer to them.

We have updated our "How You Can Contribute" page so that it gives you information on how to send your contributions to us.

Where your contribution goes to
Some have asked how we would be using the funds collected. We are happy to let you know that 100% of the funds we raise through this call for contributions will go towards the cause. This includes:

1. Purchasing slippers, school supplies and school uniforms for the children & youth
2. Purchasing raw materials to repair houses
3. Offering scholarships to children & youths to study in a city school
4. Providing food for children
5. Improving the infrastructure of the learning centres
6. Paying for teacher's fees at the learning centres

We are committed to ensure that none of the funds raised go towards any other costs besides those that will benefit the children and youths directly.

Acknowledging your contributions
For transparency, names of all our donors and the respective amounts will be listed on our website within a week after you have made your contribution. If you require a receipt, please indicate when making your donation. We will arrange for the Jesuit Community in Siem Reap to issue this to you. However, we will be able to forward you the receipt only after our return from Siem Reap on 23 December 2008.

If your name is not listed in our list, please contact us at deborah@caelansage.com.

Once again, we thank you for your feedback. We're improving our website every day to provide you with more information and news of our fund raising efforts, so stay tuned!

I am touched and encouraged - a personal note from the Founder of Project Happy Feet

I must say I am very touched and encouraged.

When the idea of Project Happy Feet was mooted some a year and a half ago, I was highly enthusiastic and charged. I had grand plans. I wanted to do so many things for the children in Cambodia that I felt I could take on the world.

But like all busy people, life took over and somehow the grand plans I had took a side step. Challenges that I thought could be easily overcome at first became big hurdles I used as excuses to not start the project.

And so, life went on.

Then two months back, I looked back at the blog I started during my previous trip to Siem Reap. My conscience pricked me, and I remembered how friends came forward so readily when I first spoke to them about Project Happy Feet. With that, I spoke to my team at Caelan & Sage and asked if they were willing to make a trip to Siem Reap this year for their annual staff retreat, and instead do some community work. They all agreed without thinking too much. All were just so excited to be able to bring joy to the less fortunate this Christmas season.

One by one, all did their part. From designing the logo to developing the website, to borrowing cars just to collect clothes, to sorting and packing clothes and thinking of activities for the children, each one of them did their part. Then the call for contributions began.

I was skeptical at first. I thought if we could just bring joy to the children in any way, it would be enough of an achievement.

And so, in less than a week after the word of Project Happy Feet was spread, I am heartened, encouraged and touched. That despite the financial crisis, people are still so willing to lend a hand and play their part for the less fortunate.

For all of you who have contributed and are intending to contribute to our cause, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You have made many many 'Happy Feet'!

Deborah Chew
Founder - Project Happy Feet

Contributions Pouring In...

Project Happy Feet would like to thank our friends who have made their contributions through Friends of Project Happy Feet.

We so far received contributions from the following:

Huang Zongren - $100
Shuyi Tan - $100
Joyce Zhuo - $100
Dawn Ho - $50
Weiwei - $50
Li Caifeng - $20
Hazel Tan - $10
Alex Zhuang - $10
Gee Wah Mui - $10
Parry Tan - $10
Glenn Chew - $200 (who specially requested that the amount be used for 100 pairs of slippers for children)

For a full listing of donors and sponsors, please visit the "Donors" page on the website. We'll do our best to update the page the instant we receive your contribution but do forgive us if we take a little longer than usual. Oh, and if we missed out your name, please give us a little nudge. We know it's important to give acknowledgment so help us keep our word :p

Thank you for the bottom of our hearts. We thank you for making many "Happy Feet"! :)

The Start of Project Happy Feet

Our first efforts have started. Grace and I took an entire day sorting out the clothes we had collected from Peggy Lee, a friend of Fr Heri.

When we first unpacked the clothes from 7 big bags, we thought the sorting would never end. But bit by bit, and picturing the children in the pretty clothes made us just go on and on.

And finally, after 7 hours, we had them all sorted out.


Grace sorting out the clothes. We had to guestimate the age of the children the clothes would fit.


That's me folding the clothes so we can pack them nicely into bags to be given as gifts to the children.

Now that that's all done, our next efforts is to raise funds! Watch this space to stay tuned on our efforts!