★☆Media Reports
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Raising Center － A Model Development In CambodiaThe CAMBODIA DAILY June 21, 1996
Supreme Master Ching Hai is always ready to help those in need. In recent years, She has provided relief for the Cambodian people through the distribution of thousand tons of rice, digging of wells, help building schools, temple, hospitals, etc. around Cambodia. With true love for the Cambodian people, She has been taking care of them like a Bodhisattva. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association (which included monks, nuns, and lay people) has twice held meditation retreats in Cambodia to pray for this country, and has developed good affinity with the Kingdom. There are many members of the International Association who are highly talented, come from many countries, range among various social levels, and have been very supportive of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving philanthropic acts In this instance, they have also come one after another to participate in the development plan. And this developing area was named Raising Center by Supreme Master Ching Hai. (Wishing that Cambodia will raise up as a strong nation.)
The Raising Center’s Development Plan focuses on cultivating economic and agricultural products, such as coconut, mango, mangostine, durian and rambutan trees and various vegetables. The Center has also made an agreement to work with a Japanese company, introducing the very profitable youdo (oil bean). The Japanese company is responsible for purchasing this commodity from the country. The prospects for this project are good.
An industrial region is also part of Raising Center’s plan. Not far in the future, agricultural product processing factories, rice-hulling mills, clothing factories, plants to items for daily use, as well as various stores are expected to emerge and flourish like bamboo shoots after the spring rain. They will not only provide products for the community’s needs, but also for export, which will be a huge impetus for Cambodia in becoming an awakened economic power!
In order to uplift the spiritual lives of the community residents, the Raising Center is building a Compassionate Heart temple for the local people, a middle and elementary school called “High Thinking School”. The school will make the spreading of the selfless service and noble ideals of the Bodhisattva its educational purpose, so that children can learn from their elevated manner at an early age.
The Healing Love Hospital which is expected to be completed in two months (by early August) will provide natural health and holistic methods of treatment. Its services will include dentistry, internal medicine, pediatrics, traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture. Besides these services, classic dining hall will be there to serve healthy vegetarian food, not only to the entire community, but also to welcome foreigners to enjoy the delicious taste of natural vegetarian cuisine.
The public facilities also will include a library and a wholesale market for agricultural products, which will assist local investors and farmers. Their agricultural products will be able to be distributed, thus improving their lives economically.
At present, Raising Center Developing Plan has created five hundred job opportunities for local people, who have come to help pave roads and construct buildings. With the Development Plan’s smooth progress, many times more manpower will continue to join the project. The establishment of the Raising Center has attracted many investors from many countries, who will come in succession to cultivate the land, build factories, and open stores. This has created massive job opportunities for local people, and promoted the manufacturing of high-quality modern products, both retail and import- export. The emergence of the Raising Center in Cambodia would help the country’s future. (To encourage more investors to this nation.)
The National Defense Department owns ninety thousand hectares of land in Kompong Speu. The land has been leased to more than twenty companies. Once the Raising Center Development Plan is successful, investors from other countries are expected to come swarming, which will promote prosperity in the entire Route 4 area. This highway is an artery connecting the capital city Phnom Penh with Kompong Som. Once it begins to flourish, it will directly affect the prosperity of the entire city of Phnom Penh as well as that of the national economy. This will create a positive cycle of continuing abundance. May the Raising Center Development Plan be successful, with Buddha’s blessing.
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In order
to develop agriculture and attract foreign investment, the Cambodian
National Defense Department leased thirty thousand hectares of land
in Kompong Speu Province to the Tri Star Company two years ago.
One of the company’s shareholders is a disciple of Supreme
Master Ching Hai. After having leased this piece of land, the company
has not developed it for the past two years. Due to lack of manpower
and finances, they have asked Supreme Master Ching Hai to come and
help in the development. 
Raising Center － A Model Development In Cambodia