Betsy Weyer

I met this young boy on the tour of the landfill homes. He ran up and hugged me around the waist with all his strength; just about bowling me over. He was so happy Habitat was helping his family and friends build a new place to live.
If you have a few dollars ($5-5,000,000!)you can spare, please make a donation to this website. All funds will go directly to home construction at Smile Village in Cambodia. Thank you for your current and recent generosity to this cause!

After 4 days of hard work at the site and a monsoon workday at Habitat's partner facility (PSE) the Seattle-King County affiliate team (16 members strong!) dedicates their work and the partially completed home to the Soum Klo family.

Late monsoon rains slowed the initial pace of vertical progress. Mountains of dirt, concrete and bricks were moved by the 150 Global volunteers at the Mekong Big Build in Phnom Penh. This cluster will 36 families with homes averaging 350 square feet for families of 5-7 members.

It's been a few weeks since I returned to the comfort of my Kirkland home. Working for and with the people of Phnom Penh was an inspiring experience. This is a photo of the current living conditions of the families who will soon move into their new homes in Smile Village.

What an inspiration it has been to register 14 team members (so far) for our Cambodia build this November. Over $16,000 has been raised and over 89 supporters have registered on the SHARE site. Thank you all and know we will work hard during our build; creating more decent and affordable housing.

All funds raised will go to construction costs in Cambodia!

It was a busy weekend, with the addition of four new team members! We now total ten team members, from all walks of life. An EMT, Habitat Seattle-King County CEO, 2 Realtors, retired and active Microsoft employees, a Consultant, Project Architect, retired Long-Haul Trucker and a Habitat Advisory Board member. What a group this is becoming. I know we will be productive and have a ton of fun!

Just finished "I Survived the Killing Fields" by Seattle Restaurant Owner "Sam" Ung, Seattle's Phnom Penh Noodle House was founded by Seng Kok Ung. He has recently retired to Cambodia and his daughters run the restaurant, located at 660 S King St. Daughter Dawn catered the food for an information meeting we held last week. The food was amazing so two of our Cambodia team members had lunch there last week-really excellent! While at the restaurant, I bought Sam's book "I Survived the Killing fields". The book is compelling; sad and triumphant, inspiring and amazing. For those of us who watched the violence in Vietnam and Cambodia in the 60's and 70's, this book is a comprehensive look at the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. In addition, it is Sam's story of survival and relocation, ending in an amazing life he built for himself and his family.

Dined at the Phnom Penh Noodle House at 660 S King Street. So good. Fresh, healthy, yummy. The Patriarch of the family that owns & operates the Noodle House is Sam Ung. I am currently reading Sam's book "I Survived the Killing Fields", written in 2011. Sam has an amazing story of survival and living the American Dream. Artifacts from the time of the Killing Fields are at the entry alcove to the Noodle House. Awesome restaurant and museum all in one!

I remember hearing about Cambodia on the news when I was younger. Certainly heard a lot about the Khmer Rouge when I was in college; almost exactly during the Killing Fields time.
Now reading "When Broken Glass Floats", one survivor's story. Refreshing my memory of the history of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge time in Cambodia.

About 20 Habitat staff, Cambodia team members and prospective team members last night met to learn more about this trip. Great questions and a great response. I expect our team of 5 to double in size this week! Let me know if you are interested in learning more about this trip.

Looking for donors to help me build homes for families forced out of their homes at the Steung Meanchey dumpsite in Phnom Penh.

A little money goes a long way in Cambodia. Hoping to raise $500 in construction costs for Habitat Homepartners.