The HVTO Newsletter, April 2025

The road repair and six of the many families to receive food aid from Seng Kaing’s family and friends

The Studiosus Foundation e.V. mentioned previously, has been a tremendous help for many years. They act as the primary focal point for European donors to HVTO in the same way that HTVO, incorporated in Florida, does for U.S. donors. See the discussion below under SUPPORT. In addition to generous donations towards our administrative costs, they have donated computers and other electronic equipment, have sponsored water wells, and send tourist groups to visit the school and village, who, in similar fashion to Viking tourists, make individual donations.

Myself and Ine Un with Ruth Hopfer Kubschp, President of Studiosus Foundation e.V. and her assistant Tony Reyhanloo

It is impossible to recognize all our supporters, but some of those that have been the most generous over the last year include: Ken and Amy Parker, who in addition to sponsoring eight students, have provided one house and purchased a printer, photo-copier, classroom tables for the HVTO II campus, and provided books to the libraries of both campuses. Deanne and John Bailey have sponsored four students, built two houses, and have sent funds for an additional two houses. Too many supporters to mention associated with ADOL have been extremely generous in many ways, but one that deserves special mention is Yun Qing Zi and his disciples, who is pictured below in the discussion of the Clean Water Initiative. Finally, we could not be where we are without the LNR Trust Reg. (Cokkonis Estate), administered by Dr. Oliver Nesensohn. This estate has since 2013 sponsored 132 students, representing 22% of all HVTO student sponsorships and 38% of our graduates! You will read about some of these students below.

EDUCATION:

On October 10, 2024 HVTO and Angkor University, located in Siem Reap, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the options available to our respective students. In this agreement HVTO students will receive a 15% tuition discount on their Bachelor’s degree. This includes a free two-year English diploma and one free year of computer and AI training which will build on what they received at HVTO. Angkor University will also send its third-year students to stay and teach at the HVTO main campus, giving them valuable teaching experience. Housed in the building described above, they will augment our volunteer teaching staff. HVTO students will also have the opportunity to win scholarships to study abroad at universities with which Angkor University has partnerships. A win-win agreement, this relationship will also widen our student’s employment opportunities in Siem Reap.

Angkor University and HVTO representatives after the signing of the MOU

Since its inception in 2008 the HVTO Education Program has sponsored 596 students of which 340 are active in the program (see below). To date we have 103 degreed students. Those that have withdrawn usually do so to support siblings and parents, or because of a desire to marry and start a family. For students that drop, the sponsor has several options, but most opt to allocate these unused funds to an unsponsored student of a similar age to aid them in completing their studies. The 24 students in the ‘Other’ category have either decided to become public school teachers, whose salaries are now competitive, or received an outside sponsorship to study elsewhere.

As every parent knows, boys and girls mature at different rates, with girls often being far more focused in the early grades than boys. This is manifested in HVTO’s experience at both campuses, with girls accounting for over 2/3rds of the enrollment and sponsorships. Cambodia is largely a traditional society in which boys are brought up to be breadwinners and girls homemakers. Thus, as the boys mature, they tend to become much more focused and drop out at a rate roughly half that of girls. Of our 103 university graduates, over half are boys.

The above chart shows the initial positions taken by HVTO students upon graduation. The ‘Professional’ category refers to degrees in the Legal, IT, Science, and Engineering fields. As is true everywhere, actual career paths vary with opportunities that arise in the lives of these students.

Graduate News

The positive impact that our supporters have made in health and living standards through clean water, improved housing, and food relief is stunning. However, the most lasting impact of our work, and one that will endure long after those reading this are gone, is in education. This can be seen in the accomplishments of HVTO graduates. The seeds we continue to plant into Cambodia society will live on, not only through their lives and careers, but through every succeeding generation.

Listed below is a select sample of HVTO university graduates that have either recently entered the workforce or have had a significant advancement in their careers. Their original sponsorship photo is on the left next to a recent photo. The students highlighted represent only a fraction of those with success stories that we could relate. However, those shown demonstrate the variety of career/life paths that our graduates are taking.

Oeng 2025

Ine Oeng (Cokkonis Estate) received his Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Southeast Asia and appeared in our 2018 newsletter when he was administering public school students and sponsorships for HVTO. He appears again because last year he joined the faculty of the Humanities and Foreign Languages Department of Angkor University, and now has been named Assistant to the Rector of this school.

Voeurn 2025

Proen Voeurn (Friends From Oklahoma and Ken and Amy Parker) received his Bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Southeast Asia and now teaches at the Australian Center for Education (ACE) in Siem Reap. He is now working on a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The photo on the right is his ‘Walk of Inspiration,’ a new tradition at HVTO where graduates in their regalia walk through the school and talk to the younger students. In Cambodia children are often ‘farmed out’ to local Buddhist monasteries when they become too great a financial burden. Sim Piseth, myself, was one of these.

Thana 2025

Chan Thana (Linda Sue Hayn) received her Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Southeast Asia and is now works for the Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company located in Siem Reap.

Damrong 2025

Nhem Damrong (Cokkonis Estate) received his Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from the University of Southeast Asia and now works for the 4^th Regional National Police School in Prasat Bakong District, where he heads the Arts and Sports Department.

Seila 2025

Ny Seila (Cokkonis Estate) received her Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southeast Asia and now works at PRASAC Bank as a Merchant Specialist in Siem Reap. Before attending university Seila was a volunteer at the HVTO School.

Chhang 2025

Hoeurm Chhang (Barbara J. Foster) received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southeast Asia and is now a well-known Thai-English-Italian tour guide in the Angkor area. Language skills evidently run in his family, as his brother Chhay (Cokkonis Estate), another USEA grad, is an English-Spanish tour guide.   

Sophors 2025

Seuy Sophors (Cokkonis Estate) received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from the University of Southeast Asia. She teaches kindergarten (including English) at the elite Sovannaphumi private school in Siem Reap.

Makara 2025

Chhea Makara (Dave Kucheck) received his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the University of Southeast Asia and is now an IT professional working for Acleda Bank in Siem Reap.

Sophoen 2025

Phen Sophoen (Bill and Karen South) received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Southeast Asia. He is now following his dream as a professional sculptor and is working in the Prasat Bakong District.

Chheav 2025

Chhang Chheav (Mark Taylor) received his Bachelor’s degree in Business from Build Bright University. He now works for the NGO Safe Haven, in Kampong Thom Province, as an Interventionist. Here he provides therapy for children with mental and physical disabilities to help them improve their motor and cognitive skills and increase their independence.

Srey Nith 2025

Long Srey Nith (Cokkonis Estate) received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from the University of Southeast Asia. She is now the Manager of E-Commerce Sales for ACE Energy Solutions Cambodia, located in Siem Reap.

Sitha 2025

Sok Sitha (Jeff and Caron Winston) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Southeast Asia and now works as a credit officer for Pov Panna Micro-Finance Company in Siem Reap. Many of our students are attracted to the higher wages offered by microfinance companies.

Sambean 2025

Tonh Sambean (Skip and Debbie Sayres) received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Southeast Asia and now works for the Anusa Residence and Spa in Siem Reap as the Assistant Administrator.

Many former students that have officially ‘dropped’ from the program have prospered because of the head start given them by HVTO. More than can be mentioned have donated services, whether that is in designing a website, providing manpower in construction, or a myriad of other large and small acts of giving.  

CLEAN WATER PROJECT:

A Drop of Life (ADOL) began working with HVTO in 2016 and they have been our partner ever since. Comprised of a group of like-minded supporters from Hong Kong, they have performed miracles in our Clean Water Initiative. This work has helped tens of thousands of people and has grown to cover a substantial portion of the area north of the ~120-kilometer long Tonle Sap Lake. They support all our clean water projects, including wells, water filters, toilets, as well as virtually every other program in which HVTO is active. Established in 1998, A Drop of Life is a Hong Kong registered NGO that strives to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for the needy. ADOL funds clean water projects in Cambodia, mainland China, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, and Hong Kong. For more information on ADOL please visit their website at: https://adropoflife.org/?lang=en

A small example of the impact that ADOL has had on the lives of our people are the now-treasured water bottles that they supplied to the students on our two campuses.

The little things often mean so much

ADOL’s continuous support has also provided jobs for dozens of workers. Accounting for all the workers and supply chains associated with projects in which HVTO is engaged, it is safe to say that hundreds of families are benefiting through the HVTO work made possible by ADOL.

Water Wells

Prior to the work of HVTO, much of the water consumed in our area of activity came from pits dug in the earth’s surface that collected rainwater runoff. With both human and animal waste also collecting at the surface this created a horrendous water quality issue, affecting everything from general health to infant mortality. A huge step in addressing this has come with the drilling of water wells, which uses the natural filtering system of the earth to remove pathogens.

HVTO, now mostly through our partnership with ADOL, has seen the drilling of a staggering 9,753 wells since inception. Through this partnership our core area has expanded from the area immediately around the school to five large districts along the northern shore of Tonle Sap Lake. These wells now provide clean water to over 46,000 people in rural Cambodia that would otherwise have little or no access.

Nab Roth with his new ADOL well has a family of four and lives in Bong Village, Krobeiriel Commune. This well is located a full 35 kilometers from our starting point in Sreth Village

HVTO – ADOL Annual Water Well Drilling

For the last seven years ADOL has financed the drilling of between 800 and 1,600 wells per year. This year will add 1,200 more wells. Although we cannot match the financial resources of ADOL, never forget that HVTO always remains committed to drilling water wells for smaller sponsors. If you would like to donate funds for the drilling of water wells, please do not let the magnitude of the ADOL project dissuade you.

Water Filtration – Bio Sand Filter (BSF)

Thus far HVTO has installed 4,491 Bio Sand Filters, serving 22,000 people. This total is projected to increase by 1,230 filters by the end of 2025. As with wells, the vast majority of these were made possible by the supporters of A Drop of Life (ADOL). One of these, Yun Qing Zi, has been a key supporter in this initiative. See our 2022 newsletter to see a diagram of a Bio-Sand Water Filter; HVTO Newsletters | Homestay Volunteer Teachers

Seaknam and myself with Yun Qing Zi (center) bracketed by four of his disciplesAmber Wan (ADOL Project Manager) is second from the right with her assistant Charlie Mak

Sanitation – Toilet Project

This project is part of our water project because it addresses the long-term solution to rampant surface water contamination that the country endures. A large organizational task for the HVTO Team, we use a subcontractor to employ 15 men to perform this work. The 1,325 toilets constructed thus far serve about 5,500 people and form the core of the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) area that we are expanding. See our 2022 newsletter to see a simplified diagram of a composting toilet: HVTO Newsletters | Homestay Volunteer Teachers

An ADOL toilet provided to Leang Phai and her family of four in Rumdeng Village

COMMUNITY PROJECT:

Home Building

Since this program began in 2016 HVTO has secured funds for the building of 52 houses. Designated only for the homeless and the most poorly-housed families in the community, 224 people have benefitted from this program. Nearly a third of these were funded by the tremendous generosity of Katherine J. Burns who began her donations in 2021. Special mention also goes to Bruce and Jeanene Weiner who have supported the building of 8 homes over the last two years.

After

Kim San and his family of five live in Sophy Village. They very gratefully received their new house from Bruce and Jeanene Weiner on October 25, 2024

Food Aid

The HVTO food aid program, which began with ADOL in June 2020, has since been joined by many HVTO donors and augments the government assistance package for the IDPoor-1 rated families.  To date this program has seen 996 food packages delivered to thousands of the local poor. The items included in a standard $65 food package are listed below.

1. 50kg jasmine rice
2. 1 small case of instant noodles
3. 1kg salt
4. 1kg garlic
5. 1kg MSG
6. 12 cans of fish
7. 6 bottles of fish sauce
8. 6 bottles of soy sauce
9. 4 cakes of soap
10. 10 facemasks
11. $2.50 in cash

SUPPORT:

HVTO could not accomplish its mission without the support of individuals and organizations sharing a commitment to our core programs. Viking and Studiosus tour groups have historically been one of our main sources of support and our partnership with ADOL has pushed our non-educational programs to undreamed of levels. In the last year, the support we have received especially from Bruce and Jeanene Weiner and Frank and Donna Youdelman has had a tremendous impact in boosting our educational programs. Thank you !  

Patti Baker, a former Viking guest, is the President of Homestay Teachers Volunteer Organization, Inc. (HTVO), a 501c3 organization incorporated in Florida to provide tax relief to US citizens funding HVTO in Cambodia. This NGO simplifies money transfers and provides a vehicle for access to larger grants that can have a major impact on reaching our goals. To learn more please visit the website at: http://www.hvto.org/about-us/hvto-contacts-in-usa.html or call Patti at 1-239-682-0067.

Frank Youdelman is the HTVO Vice President. He lives in Tucson, Arizona and can be reached at 1-520-465-7625 and youdel@aol.com. We also have ‘ambassadors’ living in various parts of the United States that you can call directly to get first-hand information. For information on the ambassador nearest you, please contact Sim Piseth at sim2piseth@gmail.com.

Supporters and friends of HVTO have an opportunity to strengthen our mission and secure our financial future. You can establish your legacy through gifts to our endowment fund held in Cambodia or through a personal endowment that continuously supports our organization. We encourage you to consult with your financial advisor when making these important decisions. If you would like to provide administrative assistance please contact us.

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Below is a summary of our various project costs:

Sponsorships:  

All-inclusive costs for student sponsorship.

Grades 1-12:           $412 per year                        ($30 monthly stipend – uniforms, supplies, etc.)

University:              $800 per year                        (Tuition, fees, and books)

Water wells:

$325 (including plaque)

Donors receive a photograph of the completed well with information on the name, size, and GPS-location of the family for whom the well was drilled.

Water Filters:

The cost for a Bio-Sand Filter water filter is $75

Toilets:

The cost for a composting toilet is $500

House Building:

The cost for a standard new home for a needy family is $3,500

Food Aid:

The cost of a standard food package is $65

Thank you for reading about our continuing story and we hope that you share our sense of accomplishment in HVTO’s continued progress.

Sim Piseth

HVTO Founder

Tel: +855974506969Email: sim@hvto.org | sim2piseth@gmail.com

Facebook Profile: https://web.facebook.com/sim.pisith

Sign up to sponsor a student? In order to become a student sponsor, it will be necessary for us to have your names, address and telephone number. We will then be able to connect you with a special student- you choose or we choose for you. This will also allow you to have a correspondence with your student in the form of letters and a photograph.

The following steps will be taken in order to connect you with a special child.

1. You can have HVTO decide or you can determine a child of your choice. A girl or a boy? How old or in what grade? Primary, Secondary High school or University?
2. After choosing the student, you will receive four documents such as

1) Child’s Short Bio with budget proposal and some primary notes;

2) Sponsorship Guidelines;

3) Children Protection Policy;

4) and Terms and Conditions

3. Signing an agreement with both parties – HVTO Representative and you the sponsor.
4. Sponsor sends funds to HVTO in the US or Cambodia to be deposited into the student’s Trust Account.
5. The student is enrolled into the program and will receive a monthly stipend. Monthly letters will be written by the student and sent via email to the sponsor. If the student is over the age of 18, direct communication can be had between the sponsor and the student.

Thank you so much!

HVTO Management Team

Email: info@hvto.org | sim2piseth@gmail.com Website: www.hvto.org | Tel: +855974506969 Address: PO.BOX 93213, East Sreth village, Kontreang commune, Prasat Bakkong district, Siem Reap province, Cambodia

អង្គការស្នាក់នៅស្ម័គ្រចិត្តជួយបង្រៀន

Dear HVTO Supporters, Donors, and Friends,

We sincerely appreciate your continued support and generosity. If you wish to contribute to HVTO projects and help expand our life changing impact, we invite you to donate at one of the convenient options below.

Please note that donation options 1 – 3 qualify as 501(c)(3) charitable contributions within the United States. Your support empowers us to carry out our mission and serve our community more effectively. If you have any qüestions about donating, please contact us at sim@hvto.org

Donation Options for HVTO Cambodia

Option I: Online or Mobile

• Stripe Checkout: https://buy.stripe.com/00wbITalA2NR2WzgqYfEk00
• PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/FQVPFTA3P5WFJ
• Scan to donate via QR Code below

Option II: By Check

HVTO CAMBODIA
448 East Winchester, Suite 225, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107

Option III: Bank Transfer to HVTO CAMBODIA in America

Wire and ACH Transfer Instructions

To receive a wire transfer to your account, please provide the following information to the individual or business that is sending
the wire.

Deposit products offered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Wells Fargo provides products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
NMLSR ID 399801
593388 (Rev 09 – 10/25)

Option IV: Bank Transfer to HVTO Bank Account in Cambodia.

Bank Remittance Information bellow:

* The local bank will charge from $12 to $32 ( HVTO cannot provide the tax deduction codes as it is not applicable in Cambodia but we can provide the donation receipt that you can use it for the tax deduction )

Option V: Western Union

Receiver : Sim Piseth

Position : HVTO Founder

Address : Siem Reap Cambodia

Phone Number : +85512237889

***After you have made arrangements for the transfer, we need to have all the following details to access the funds.***

• Full name of sender
• Country and city where money was sent
• The reference number
• The amount sent

* HVTO will get full donation from donors. (HVTO cannot provide the tax deduction codes as it is not applicable in Cambodia but we can provide the donation receipt that you can use it for the tax deduction. *

Option VI: Transfer funds to Ms. Patti Baker

Address: Patti G. Baker

President of HTVO

H/P: 1-239-682-0067

Email: htvo.usa@gmail.com

C/O Homestay Teachers Volunteer organization Inc.,

30 Lagoon Course Ave., Ponte Vedra Beach Florida, 32082

*** Please let us know after you send the money and include your name and contact information. This helps us to identify and track your donation. Patti forwards the accumulated donations to HVTO quarterly, so reporting may be delayed if you donate via this option***

***For added clarity, HVTO and HTVO are two separate organizations. Although HTVO helps channel funds from U.S. citizens to support some HVTO projects in Cambodia, they are legally and operationally seperate.

– HTVO is registered in the United States and is chaired by Ms. Patti Baker and her team.

– HVTO is a Cambodian community-based NGO registered with the Ministry of Interior in Cambodia chair by Dr. Sim Piseth and his team.

Each organization has its own management, administration, responsibilities, and liabilities. However, HVTO and HTVO have been partners and continue working together to bring meaningful benefits to the people of Cambodia. ***

The donors, who donated to HVTO in whichever option, please contact us (sim@hvto.org or sim2piseth@gmail.com) immediately so that we can follow up or we are on lookout for it and to avoid any confusion.

If you are interested in knowing about the HVTO financial reports, we are happy to send you all the files. From 2008 to 2015 we used the Microsoft Excel and come in the form of a spreadsheet. From 2016 to 2020 we used QuickBooks Accounting Professional and from 2021 to present to also use QuickBooks Accounting Professional in a more customized mode, these reports will come in PDF format.

Last Date: November 19, 2025

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Warm regards,

Sim Piseth, Ph.D.

HVTO Founder & Chairman of the Board of Directors

Tel: +855974506969

Homestay Volunteer Teachers Organization

Address: East Sreth village, Kontreang commune,

Prasat Bakong district, Siem Reap province – Cambodia.

Tel: +855974506969 | Email: sim@hvto.org | sim2piseth@gmail.com | Website: www.hvto.org