T wenty orphans and street children look forward to new lives in a new orphanage

under the charity of a Korean Buddhist nun, Reverend Mother Superior Chung Soo

Park.

The "Orphan Center", in Kandal province, was opened on Mar 16 to

provide accommodation and education to children who would otherwise be homeless.

It was the result of an appeal to Rev Park-who has sponsored a host of

charitable activities around the world-to help Cambodia's youth.

Rev

Park said she received a phone call one night last year from Son Soubert, Second

Vice-President of Cambodia's National Assembly, while he was attending a

conference in Korea.

Surprised by the phone call, she was soon convinced

that Cambodia was a worthy cause for her.

She donated $13,000 to build

the wooden orphanage in Sre Ampil village, in Kandal's Kien Svay district, where

about 160 returnee families live.

The center includes bedrooms and a

classroom for the 20 children, and Rev Park has also donated $1000 toward

building a kindergarten for other youngsters.

Rev Park, who attended the

center's opening, said she hoped to continue her new connection with Cambodia.

Her next project would support mine removal efforts.

The 20 children

living at the orphanage were picked off the streets of provinces such as Takeo,

Battambang, Prey Veng and Kandal.

Rev Park, who was ordained a Won

Buddhist nun in 1956 and has a masters' degree in Buddhism studies, has helped

lepers, blind people and teenagers in Korea since 1979.

She has built a

school for children in the Himalayan mountains, supported Vietnamese refugees

and sent medical supplies to African nations such as Rwanda.

She funds

her projects through donations to her Seoul wat, the Won Buddhism Kangnam

Temple.