PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED

 LARGER PROJECTS

 PROJECT TITLE:     SCHOOLHOUSE

                          LIBRARY/ACTIVITY CENTRE

COST ESTIMATE:    $25,000

 Please refer to the FUNDRAISING FOCUS page as the above project is our main focus at the moment.

 PROJECT TITLE:    HOSPITALITY SCHOOL

COST ESTIMATE:   $50,000

As Kep is steadily growing as a prime tourist destination we would like to establish a hospitality school at the Kep Gardens base.  Classes offered will include training in housekeeping, front office, restaurant service, bar service, tourism, history and geography, account keeping, English language, computing and good manners and ethics.  We intend to offer this training as a total 12 month course covering all topics as well as separate courses, so that people can choose training that suits their interests as well as their capabilities. 

To achieve this end, we plan to erect seven or eight Cambodian style bungalows and a restaurant.  We will advertise the bungalows as farm visits for tourists to stay within a traditional Cambodian community.  The bungalows and restaurant will become the training ground for the students as well as work experience in various establishments in Kep and Kampot.

We sponsored 4 students for 12 months to a hospitality school in Siem Reap.  They are now working on our hospitality training boat, MV Kep Gardens, but will also work in the bungalows and restaurant and be an integral part of the practical training for the students in our school.

We would also like to offer this training free of charge and use volunteers who have expertise in the various skills.  This training will provide many opportunities for people from our local community to obtain employment without having to move away from their home province and family.

SMALLER PROJECTS

 PROJECT TITLE:    DAM REHABILITATION (PHASE 2)

COST ESTIMATE:   $1,000

Phase 2 is the construction of stone retaining walling to the waterway inlet and secondary outlet which will incorporate a spillway and retention gate system.  Additional dry stone walling and project earthworks will complete this phase.

 PROJECT TITLE:    WATER BORE

COST ESTIMATE:   US$2,000

Our dam is our primary water storage facility.  Water collected in the dam during the rainy season is insufficient to provide for our needs for the full year.

Increasing the size of the dam is not an option as it is located in a natural waterway and any further flow restriction would adversely affect the local community.  The installation of large storage tanks is cost prohibitive.

Discussion with locals and drilling contractors have shown that the option of a bore providing a year round supply is positive with an 80% chance of success.  The contractor will drill a maximum of 5 holes.  Should they not be successful there will be no charge.

The best time to commence drilling is towards the end of the dry season when the water table is at its lowest.

 PROJECT TITLE:    POWER GENERATION

COST ESTIMATE:   US$6,000

Mains power is not connected to Kep Gardens.  The nearest available connection is approximately 2 kilometres away on the main road to Phnom Penh.  The cost to connect mains power to our gateway is US$22,000.  None of this payment is redeemable regardless of any users who connect to it as it passes their property.  Whilst it is a perfect solution, we cannot justify such an expense considering the benefits to the local community other projects can provide.

The best alternative, after considering the running costs, is to replace our small, ageing 3.5 kva unit with a modern 25 kva machine priced at US$4,800.

 The new generator would provide sufficient power to meet our development needs over the next 2 years during which we hope that the mains power infrastructure would have reached our area free of charge.

We estimate an additional US$1,200 would meet the costs of distributing the power around Kep Gardens.

PROJECT TITLE:    COMPOSTING PROGRAMME

COST ESTIMATE:   US$3,000

The soil tests we have carried out show that the conditions within the farm are at acceptable levels for some crop conditions but the sand/loam consistency, combined with the lack of clay and substantial rainfalls over the years, results in very little humus remaining.

We have built 5 adjoining compost bays which, when in full production, will produce approximately 1 ton of compost per week, enabling us to substantially improve our soil conditions and crop potential.  These bays need cleaning and reroofing but our primary need is a commercial style engine driven shredding/mulching machine which will enable us to prepare and maintain the supply of raw materials to meet our production target.

 Once established, we will conduct proactive training in the method and use of composting to local farmers.