Yesterday, we rode in a tuk tuk down the main drag of Siem Reap and took a right on a dirt road across from a huge 5-star hotel. Ten minutes later we were in a tiny village of straw houses. The people here have a completely different life than the one down the road. There is barely any food. No running water (and what's there isn't clean). No electricity. Very few jobs besides collecting trash for pennies and karaoke (sex) work. The poverty cycle here is entrenched and, without help, insurmountable. Most families have one parent left, and that parent works 12 hours a day, seven days a week to earn food. Children have to work in order to help buy enough food to prevent starvation. There's no way a family can afford the bicycle and uniforms necessary to get their children to the local school. And without education, there's no hope for a different future.
We came to the village to visit New Hope, a non-profit that is throwing a wrench in the poverty cycle. New Hope was started by Kemsour, a man from the village, and is run by Kerry, an Australian woman who came on vacation to volunteer and didn't leave. They have started a school with English, Khmer and vocational lessons, and a free medical clinic that treats 200 people a week. Kids come to New Hope for school and women come to learn a trade like sewing so they leave the sex trade.
The crux of New Hope's funding is sponsorship. Individuals (like you) sponsor families in the village. By giving $25-45 a month, a family is supported with rice, salt, medical supplies and a little bit of cash. It's enough that the kids can stop working and go to school instead. The families do not become dependent on foreign help - it's just enough to raise them above complete and absolute poverty. Just enough that, if they work hard, their futures could actually change.
It's hard to explain how it felt to visit with the children and walk through the village. The kids were so happy and adorable. They were hanging all over us - each of us had two kids on each hand, one hugging us from the front and one from the back. They just wanted a little affection, and they were so excited to see new barangs (foreigners). We felt no pity. The only emotions we could feel were happiness and hope because these families have a chance to get out.
Please think about sponsoring a family if you can. Take a look at the families that are still unsponsored on the New Hope website. Or just give a one time donation, there are a lot of other things they need.
It's really an amazing organization, and as far as I could see there are basically no administrative costs. It's all going to the villagers with a focus on education and health.
That's all for now. New posts to follow this week.
