Vandin San

Wayne Dale Matthysse
Text Box: MISSION STATEMENT PARTNERS in COMPASSION CAMBODIA is a group of concerned Khmer and Expatriates, who share in a common desire to assist the Cambodian people in raising the standards of life for the most vulnerable groups in its society. Its members include Buddhist Monks and Persons of various Religious backgrounds. The intent of the group is to assist each other, and to work in harmony with other organizations in Cambodia, in the development of and care for those who seek its services. It provides education, financial assistance, food supplement, medicine, medical care and spiritual guidance as is required, provided that it is within the capabilities of and in agreement with the providers. Members of the PARTNERS in COMPASSION CAMBODIA group work in various professional fields. It does not have any religious or political preferences. Its sole INTEREST is in helping each individual who REQUESTS its assistance, to find his or her own personal peace, comfort, and fulfillment in this life, without judgment or persuasive manipulation from any of the members of the group. Funding for the group's activities comes primarily out of public, private, and personal donations from local, national and international sources. There is no personal reimbursement of any kind to or for any member or officer of the PARTNERS in COMPASSION CAMBODIA group, unless they provide a specific job or task in one of the projects operated or funded by the group.

FOUNDED IN 2001 BY

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Background

 

In 1996 the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia began an AIDS awareness program in the Province of Takeo. Mr. Vandin San met with target groups, informing them of the dangers of AIDS and steps they could take to prevent contacting it. While there was some concern at that time, no one could foresee how large the epidemic would become.

 

In the years that followed, San continued to work with COERR, dealing primarily with the training and education of Buddhist Monks. He arranged and led several conferences in each of the 9 Districts of the Takeo province in which 344 monks participated. At least one representative, from each of the 226 Buddhist Wats of Takeo attended. While no one can measure what effect this has had on the spread of AIDS in that area, one thing is certain. The people and especially the Buddhist Monks, of Takeo, are far more aware of and open to dealing with the situation now facing Cambodia, than are other Provinces, where this form of education was not available.

 

As a result of the close working relationship COERR had developed with the Buddhist Wats of Takeo, it was decided in 1999, at the close of a seminar, that it was time to do something that would directly impact the growing AIDS problem.

 

 In February of 2000, COERR began construction of one of the first AIDS family health centers in Cambodia. It was unique, in that it was built on the property of a Buddhist Wat and would be used not only as a treatment center but also as a training center for Monks and family members.

 

In the beginning of 2000, Wayne Matthysse, a medic who also worked with COERR,  assisted San with some home visits to 3 families with AIDS, living in close proximity to the project. Within a few months that number had increased to 10 families. By the beginning of 2001 that number had risen to 40 families and at the end of 2002 the number had jumped to over 250 families. Now at the end of 2003 the number of families that have come to the Project for help is 434.

 

In 2001 Vandin San and Wayne Matthysse formed the local non-governmental-organization called PARTNERS in COMPASSION and they took over the management of the Wat Opot Project from COERR. What had started off as a health clinic soon developed into a twenty-four hour Family Health and Care Center. Many of our members have been hospitalized with us, most returning to their homes while others stayed with us until their death.  Over 350 of our members have died since 2001,  many were in our care at the time of death. A crematorium has been built on the Wat and services are provided free of charge to our members.

 

In August of 2003 a new relationship with MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERS completely changed the direction of our program when they offered to put all of our patients on Anti-Retro-Viral Therapy. From care of our dying members we were suddenly challenged to look at them in a whole different way. Now they need to have our help in rebuilding their lives and their children need education. Partners in Compassion / Cambodia is dedicated to finding new and creative programs that will provide challenging alternatives for them to choose from as they begin to restructure their lives.

 

In November of 2006 the last of our serious patients died and it was decided that because there was a new hospital unit built in Takeo specifically for AIDS patients, the need for us to continue providing hospice care was over. We are now converting the Wat Opot Project into a Working Community for children and adults who have been  affected by HIV/AIDS. Our emphasis is now on providing education, skills training, and community development, for ourselves and the greater community around us. Please contact us if you would like to have more specific information about  what we are doing or, should you be interested in volunteering some time in helping us, what you can do to help us make this World a little better place to live in.

Partners in Compassion / Cambodia

Wat Opot Project and Home Care Staff

26 September 2006

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