SIEM REAP
Siem Reap attracts an average of one million tourists each year, due to its location nearby the beautiful Angkor temples. The Catholic community is made up of some 300 people, the majority of whom are Cambodians, although there are also some expatriates. As the needs increased and more people joined the church's activities, a new wooden church was built in 2004. It offers daily liturgy, recollections, meetings and catechism.
A priority for the church in Siem Reap, as it is in other communities, is to help children and youth. A community centre located in the church compound provides literacy classes for children; school support, especially for elementary school students; English classes; library and reading communities; children gatherings to promote friendship and solidarity; visits and basic help to the sick and the poor and traditional Khmer dancing lessons. In 2005, the church is being extended to shelter the growing community. The Missionaries of Charity, present in Siem Reap city, host some 25 children of poor backgrounds in their house.
The diocese works in close partnership with Jesuit Service Cambodia, whose Meta Karuna outreach teams, which include several mine survivors, provide psychosocial support to villagers and assists them in planning programs for their health and well-being in villages surrounding Siem Reap (see also Banteay Meanchey and Battambang).
The program includes housing, water access, emergency food, schooling assistance for children and access to health services and markets through bridges and roads. In 2004, JS worked with 236 people with a disability in Siem Reap province. A specialised ear health program caters to those who have ear infections.