Road safety

Road safety is a big thing for the Handicap International group in Siem Reap. The NGO, known mostly for its rehabilitation work with victims of landmines and people with physical disabilities, is concerned with the rapid rise of traffic accidents and has been running road safety awareness programs. Now the group has implemented the Road Safety Network Project, developing a simple yet comprehensive road safety policy for employers and organisations.

Handicap International recommends this policy be incorporated into terms of employment, and Sem Chenda, the group’s Road Safety Program assistant, is presenting an awareness session at the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa on Wednesday, April 7, from 2-3pm.

For information and bookings, contact Sem Chenda at [email protected]

Natural osmosis

Entrepreneurial Siem Reap NGO Osmose has steered a partnership between Saray, the Tonle Sap-based water hyacinth weaving cooperative, and the upscale tailor-made silk clothing shop Samatoa.

Osmose claims “the raw feel of the Saray water hyacinth products is a natural offset to the smooth elegance of Samatoa’s silk clothing and accessories”.

The relationship is a natural fit because both producers have worked to revive lost arts in their chosen domain – both rely on natural materials for their products, and both deem it vital for their “ethic and identity” that the raw materials come from Cambodia and that the production is carried out here exclusively.

This is especially important in a market where so many “Cambodian” products are actually imported.

Saray products are now available on the top floor of the Samatoa shop on the Provincial Hospital Road, as well as a range of Osmose mats, bags, baskets and boxes, and other home accessories and furnishings.

Singaporean gifts

Singaporeans bearing gifts were warmly welcomed at Siem Reap’s Sunrise Angkor Orphanage on March 24.

The Singaporean delegation was led by the Minister for Finance for Singapore, HE Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Mrs Tharman, and they were treated to a dance performance by Sunrise kids.

In turn, the Singaporeans donated to the kids about $10,000 worth of gifts including one motorbike, five bicycles, a DVD player, a digital camera, a scanner, mattresses, chairs and office supplies.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor played a part in the occasion by providing refreshments and sweets and also coordinated the purchasing of the goods.