The Pookai Book Project was established in response to a plea from Chandara Lor, a leading Cambodian journalist, and from my son, Chris, who spent two years living and working in Cambodia. We learned of the savage devastation of Cambodian society and the desire of the people there to rebuild their country.
In response, the Seper family started the Pookai Book Project to gather up books and money to help libraries and schools in Cambodia. We will focus on restoring the Cambodian culture, promoting literacy and accelerating education and speeding economic development that will empower Cambodians to take their place on the world stage.
Our first project is with Chandara Lor, who opened a library in his rural hometown to stamp out illiteracy and teach democracy.
We plan to spend this year helping Chandara’s library; obtaining necessary legal documentation for our project, including 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status; and reaching out to Cambodian associations in the United States to create a network in the Khmer American community.
Chandara’s project is not only a precious vehicle to help a country grow, but we plan to show everyone that, by working with his library, the Pookai Book Project is a worthwhile endeavor that can make a difference. We expect that almost all of our donations through 2002 will be from caring individuals. But by the end of 2002, with the aforementioned goals met, we will be ready to accept and process large donations from corporations and foundations.
The Pookai Book Project is currently awaiting approval of tax-exempt status, which we hope to receive sometime in the spring of 2002. In the meantime, we ask you to contribute some funds to help the library. You will be kept informed of the progress and the use of your donations through this Web site and a quarterly newsletter.
The events of September 11, 2001 have made a huge impact on all of us in many ways. As President Bush has said, we should continue on with our lives. Since we started this project in July, we will continue our work for Cambodia.
We hope you join us in helping to contribute to bettering the lives of the Cambodian people. They were once the awful victims of a cruel and savage regime that deliberately destroyed the educated and institutions, only to replaced them with a totalitarian agrarian communist society. With your support these courageous people can begin to restore their education and the institutions that will provide for their future generations. On their behalf we thank you for your support.
Julia Seper, president
Pookai Book Project