Summer Arts Camp for Orphans 2010 - Cambodia

May 2011 Program Update

Please support the GlobalGiving Recurring Donation Campaign!

As we previously reported, our 2010 Summer Arts Camp was a big hit for the  70 children in attendance. Children came  from the Phnom Penh Municipal Orphanage, Home of Peace AIDS Hospice and children from indigent families who are supported by the Kasumisou Foundation AIDS Patient Family Support Program,.

Many of our  campers this  were repeat campers who had attended our 2009 session . The Camp is one of the few , if not only, extra curricular activities that these children have access to, so it is meaningful to them on many levels. As many of our campers are permanently warded children ( children with HIV may not be adopted  out) , the inclusion into our camp is often the only  activity they have access to beyond  basic custodial care and public school, where most classes have class populations of 45 to 50 students.Children  from the FSP families come from backgrounds of extreme poverty.  Summer Arts Camp offers a unique  opportunity for campers to learn about their rich cultural heritage and enjoy the rare opportunity of  more individualized attention and learning and gain self respect and  the actualization that comes from knowing others value them enough to provide this opportunity. The children are already asking us  if there will be a camp in Summer 2011. We can only say at this point, that we sincerely hope so.

Although many  these children currently have care providers in custodial institutions, it is important to remember  that some of the older  children  will soon  “age out” of their custodial institution and find themselves independent. Consequently the life skills of cooperation, discipline, self respect  and perseverance learned at  Camp  are essential for these children if they are to manage the transition into a young adulthood   avoiding  exploitation and abuse. For children coming from FSP families, this is a unique experience that takes them out of the slums and shows them an entirely new vision of the world, one filled with possibilities.

Owing to the continuing challenges of the current economic situation, we continue to experience grave challenges in fundraising. Recent negative TV journalism about Greg Mortonson has spilled over  to other international non-profits,  most of whom are already reeling from drastic funding  cutbacks  since 2008  by donors large and small in response to either the economic crisis or huge natural disasters.   Now with the urgent needs of Japan on the horizon, we are unsure whether this low cost vital program, will be able to obtain enough funding support to continue.

GlobalGiving is sponsoring a Reoccurring Donation Campaign beginning May 2. We would urge you to support the children in the Summer Arts Camp  by initiating an automatic monthly donation. A donation of even $ 10 per month will help us to continue in our effort to support these children whom society has forgotten.

For more information and photos, please visit our website at www.kasumisou.org. and click on the AAA link.

Thank you for your support. 

Barbara and Mark Rosasco