Gender Equality Cambodia Project #3961

Help Destitute Moms with AIDS Care for Their Kids

by Kasumisou Foundation

Project Report | Feb 21, 2012
Postcard: Project Site Visit

By Jacqueline Lee | GlobalGiving InTheField Representative

With beneficiary family Pirron and his grandma

Jacqueline Lee is an InTheField Traveler with GlobalGiving who is visiting our partners’ projects throughout Southeast Asia. Her “Postcard” from the visit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia:

My day began bright and early with Juana – the local staff of the Family Support Program for Kasumisou Foundation. On 20 January 2012, I would be visiting several families benefitting from Kasumisou’s Family Support Program (those affected by HIV).

The first family lived in a Buddhist Temple Pagoda. This family consisted of a young boy affected by HIV and his grandmother who took care of him after his mother passed away due to the virus. I asked her what her life was like before she was taken in by the Kasumisou Foundation – she had been a beggar. Homeless and penniless she took in her grandson after his mother passed and was desperate because he was dying. At a local church they were introduced to Juana and the Kasumisou Foundation, and they were given a small stipend to pay for rent, for food, and education for the young boy. The conditions were she had to stop begging. When I met this family I would have NEVER imagine what they had gone through. She was proud of her grandson’s studies, smiling, and welcoming. I asked what hope she had for her grandson in the future, and she said "for him to finish his studies and become a professional". He responded he hoped the same and loved working with electronics and electricity. His favorite subject was math. She now has a home, electricity, and with therapy the boy has lived to the age of 15. She sells snacks and candy to the local community.

The next home visit consisted of two young girls who lost their mother due to HIV, so were adopted by their mother’s friend. One wanted to be a doctor “to help (listing everyone in her adopted family, Juana, the Kasumisou staff, and sponsorship family who is paying for her education) for free of charge” and the younger one followed with wanting to be a nurse “to help all of Cambodia”. One loved to read and the other draw. Her favorite thing to draw was.. Angry Birds! I was astonished and had to see the drawings - they were amazing. I told them how kids in the US also loved Angry Birds, and at the end of the visit she gave me 2 of her prized drawings. They practiced their english with me, and showed me some of the dance and song they learned at the Apsara Arts program. These were two beautiful and educated young girls with hopes and dreams. I asked Juana what was the likelihood of them receiving education to become doctors, and she said the hope of Cambodia is for youth to graduate 6^th grade, if possible 9^th (14 years old), and if they are very talented and have the funding then 12^th. It is very difficult to attain vocational or university training here. That did not stop these girls from reaching for the stars. I found out after that the eldest of the 2 girls also had HIV.

The final few families ingrained in me the strength of the human spirit. Sampao had been ostracized by her family when her husband died since she had HIV and separated from her children. She was on her deathbed when Kasumisou took her in and instead of accompanying her to die with dignity, Juana was able to “accompany her to life”. When she never expected to live now she travels with Juana home-visiting other families affected with HIV spreading experience and support. The next family was a mother and son both affected. All you could see was their joy and strength – she was able to work since she received therapy and he was a naturally gifted artist. The boy was self taught in drawing and painting with beautiful elaborate pictures of whatever he could get his hands on. The final family’s mother had been blinded by the disease and was supporting her 2 young boys. Kasumisou provided her the opportunity to not have to turn to brothels to make money, but supporting her children through school and allowing her to focus on them.

My overall impression was that this organization was well-run by a small number of local highly trained and skilled staff that work on the ground and report to the 2 founders. The founders visits every few months with not only staff but every project as a whole. It was wonderful to experience how those involved did not differentiate by age, race, or religion (some beneficiaries were Buddhist, some Christain, some attended all temples to receive support and "live long lives") – it was about providing lives with dignity and breaking the cycles of poverty for future Cambodian generations. Currently, they work with 70 families, 180 children within these families, 4 youth in university, and 3 receiving higher studies/vocational training. Hopefully, the rest of the children will have the opportunity to attain all of their hopes and dreams… and maybe even finish university.

For more details and pictures about my visit please visit: JacquelineInTheField

With beneficiary family

Links:

InTheField Blog

Permalink

Dec 14, 2011
What's new at the FSP! Fall 2011

By Barbara Rosasco | What's new at the FSP ! Fall 2011

FSP Program Update Fall 2011

Our continued thanks to all of our supporters for making the AIDS Patients Family Support Program ( FSP) possible! 2011 has been an exciting year!

The FSP continues to support a group of 70-75 families comprised mainly of homeless mothers suffering from mid to late stage AIDS. Within this group we care for approximately 125-130 dependent children of whom about 20% themselves are afflicted with AIDS. We also provide permanent full support for 11 orphaned children whose parents passed away in our program some years ago.

In November,2011 Mark completed his quarterly visit to Cambodia to review the status of each family in the FSP and to conduct a line item budget review with our FSP program coordinator. The type of support given depends on the specific needs of each family, but regardless, the basic structure is that families receive housing support, a semi-monthly food allowance, basic medicines ( not antiviral) and transportation to medical appointments. When surgery re other major medical expenses are needed, we also cover that. We work to connect our families with various HIV/AIDS support programs so that their illness can be properly managed.

What’s new ?

We have committed to provide modest assistance to the children at the Phnom Penh municipal orphanage – The National Borey for Infants and Children. It is home to 120 orphaned or abandoned children, all of whom suffer from serious physical or emotional conditions. About 30% of the kids have AIDS while others have cerebral palsy, life threatening cancer or other serious problems including autism and severe birth defects.

From January 2012 we will fully fund the room where the most severely malnourished and handicapped kids live and which functions as sort of a basic intensive care room which will insure that these kids get at least a basic standard of care and nutrition regardless of the chronic unavailability of government funding.

The orphanage is grossly under funded and so we will also help out by offering enrichment classes on weekends for these shut in kids and occasional outings funding.

Other things we do in the FSP

We cover school expenses for all dependent children grade 1 ~ 12 in our 75 FSP families. Our current school age enrollment for the FSP is 91 students and we are thrilled to say that we are also supporting 4 of our long time FSP kids in their first year in university studies ! This is so exciting for us, 4 kids, who despite incredible odds, have “ made it” to university.

Reaching this achievement is in large part a result of our continuing emphasis on education. Our FSP staff of 5 includes one accredited primary school teacher whose main responsibility is to monitor the progress of each student, help keep the student current on assignments and identify any student who may need extra help or who shows evidence of truancy.

Our school package of support for each student includes a “ school kit” of two uniforms, a pair of shoes, a monthly allowance for each student to pay his public school teacher the small daily required cash lesson fees without which progress in school is nearly impossible. FSP kids also have enough to eat- a key part of any educational effort.

Although the primary objective of the FSP is to preserve family unity and assist women with AIDS the means to survive and care for their children with dignity, our ongoing goal and dream is to help the children to break the cycle of inherited poverty.

It costs approximately $ 125 dollars per month per family when all direct and administrative costs are

We are deeply grateful for your continued support! Think of it- together we have not only assisted these families and kept them together as families, but our ability to provide long term assistance and oversight has enabled 4 students from the FSP to reach university. We have 2 other students who last year also entered university. Put differently, from our universe of about 135 children in our FSP related care, we now have 6 in university , their tuition of roughly $ 500 per year per student covered through dedicated donations by generous donors.

Together we can make a difference. Our deepest thanks to you all for your continued support of our efforts and our best wishes for a wonderful new year in 2012

Barbara & Mark Rosasco

Permalink

Sep 6, 2011
5 FSP High School Graduates & Seisen Int'l, Tokyo , Japan Student Volunteers

By Barbara Rosasco | Secretary & Treasurer

Mark completed his quarterly trip to Cambodia in June 2011 where he reviewed all operational aspects of the IDS Patient Family Support Program. Although no significant exceptions were noted, FSP families continue to be impacted by the effects of high local inflation ( double digits ) , rising rents, rising fuel and food prices and costs of medical care. Our goal remains constant: to provide comprehensive compassionate care to mothers and children impacted by extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS , with resources directed toward keeping families together and helping children to break the cycle of inherited poverty.

Program highlights: 5 FSP students graduate from high school

Great news awaited Mark, where he learned that 5 FSP ( 4 girls, 1 boy) children had graduated from high school. Graduation form high school is a commendable achievement in Cambodia, which only a low percentage of students achieve. It is a remarkable achievement for these four FSP students, who come from backgrounds willed with significant impediments such as extreme poverty and the impact that HIV has had on their families, such as the loss of a parent, and the remaining parent suffering from HIV.

Two children, a brother and sister, are the only two surviving family members of a 5 member family. Both father and mother passed away while in the FSP, as did another sibling. These two children are original members of our FSP, and represent a wonderful example of how the longer term assistance of the FSP can help children break the cycle of inherited poverty.

The FSP currently supports the education of 88 children.

Our five high school graduates have dreams of continuing on to college, with annual tuition costs per student of under $1000 . However, as the average monthly budget for supporting an FSP family is currently $118 , a college tuition is currently beyond reach unless we can find additional funding resources for these four students. Dreams include studying law and nursing. Please contact us if you would like to support these efforts or know of financial resources.

Other news: Seisen International School, Tokyo Japan Student Volunteers

Seisen International School, Tokyo, Japan sent 17 high school students and 2 teachers to assist the FSP in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in June 2011 through 12 days of intensive volunteer activities.

Students were divided into two groups. One group of students volunteered at an AIDS Hospice and the second group of students volunteered at the Phnom Penh municipal orphanage. Student volunteers assisted caregivers by providing caring companionship to orphaned, frail and bed bound children through play, singing and individualized companionship and touch.

Some student volunteers initially fought back tears as they learned of the significant and permanent limitations of frail and bed-bound children. However, they immediately took on their challenges with good humor and great kindness and grace, putting forward maximum effort to make a positive impact.

Although children in these institutions receive care, staff members cannot take time to provide more individualized personal attention to young residents. For frail and bed bound children, simple touch and companionship, such as is achieved by simply sitting or rocking a child is a wonderful experience . Our student volunteers were a wonderfully welcome addition to the care team for these children.

Upcoming events:Wild Life Alliance Partners with Kasumisou Foundation

The Wild Life Alliance in partnership with Kasumisou Foundation’s FSP, has arranged for trips for two groups of children to visit a wild life rescue center run by Cambodia’s Ministry of Forestry. These two groups of children, 80 students from our FSP and 60 children from the Phnom Penh Municipal Orphanage, will take a bus trips on September 14 and 16 to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, an area outside of Phnom Penh, to learn more about Cambodia’s endangered species and how they can help to protect them.

As always, we remain grateful for your continued support of our AIDS Patient Family Support Program. Together, truly, we make a difference.

Barbara & Mark Rosasco

Links:

Kasumisou Foundation photo gallery

Permalink

‹ 1 ... 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.