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We discovered this place totally by chance. We were in search of a secure place to spend the night and instead of it, we discovered a garden of love, Wat Opot. There, they take care of people who got the HIV and fallow them in the process of the illness with compassion and serenity. Women’s, men’s, children’s and orphans cohabit and work together each day in order to improve the life of the community. Since 5 years, the project is taken in charge by Wayne Dale Matthysse and his Cambodian colleague who are in charge of the research of financing and the organization of the place. In first, the reality of the place appeared us indeed tragic, but with time, it is impossible to be sad for all these happy people. Wayne, is a veteran of the war of Vietnam and from Michigan, decided to dedicate the rest of his life to take care of this project and help this community; his new family.

First, the mission of the project had for goal to help the adults who were contracted the HIV. They were accepting people with the illness and offered them a medical follow-up in order to assure any restoration. With time, the mission enlarged and now, they take care of the children’s also affected by the HIV and orphans, let to them because the parents die due to the illness. There, they offer to them education by a school and a daycare. In this way, they can give education to prevent the kid to finish in the street.

They all work strong to eliminate the discrimination facing these people. They educate the community and sensitize them facing the facts that the women are not all prostitute. Several of these women caught the virus because their own husbands used the services of a prostitute. They also concern about the discrimination of the children in their community. The organism, Home Care, takes care to sensitize the children of the village about the reality of the illness and to decrease the discrimination between children. People organize a feast therefore at the child's parent’s house and take care to bring to much food in order to attract the children of the village at the house. In this way, they break the first gate and contacts make themselves then more easily.

Take one day of rest on the road and visit this community. You will be welcomed there very well. You will be able to help a bit the community during several days if you want and let you seduce by the love at Wat Opot.

Direction:

From Phnom Penh, you must borrow the road #2 for about 45 km. You try to get at the same height of Phnom Chisor Wat on the national #2 and you inform for Wat Opot. You should borrow a path inside the village for about 1 to 2 km before finding the project. Ask to the monk at the temple.