Help Give Cambodian Young Adults Independence

H.O.P.E trustee Jo Hansen recently attended a useful workshop, which apart from meeting like-minded people in an impressive historic setting along the river Thames in London, encouraged us tell the whole story and not just the parts we think you want you to hear.

Often we choose not to tell you the gritty stuff, mainly because we like to keep positive and demonstrate all the progress the projects we support make with your donations.

Nevertheless, the support is needed in the first place, but why and what happens to the youngsters that do not receive support?

Let us take you back to the 70’s (not too far in the distant past)

• The Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia on the 17th of April 1975 and ruled the country until 1979.
• Whilst in power, they set up policies that disregarded human life, produced repression and massacres on a massive scale.
• They turned the country into a huge detention centre, which later became a graveyard for nearly two million people.

http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/

These tragic facts and figures build up a picture of total devastation of a country not long after it was innocently caught in between the American Vietnam war in the 70's. Remnants of which are still evident today in the form of unexploded mines. It was not until the turn of the millennium that Cambodia was able to get back on its feet and open its doors to tourism.

Today Cambodia is still recovering from the trauma whether its mourning loved ones, getting by with one leg, suffering from post-traumatic stress or surviving on $1 day. There is a stark lack of basic healthcare, education and social security.

The situational needs of the young adults in our programmes are not that dissimilar to teenagers in the UK in terms of finishing school, figuring out what job they want to do, finding work and learning about health and relationships. However, this issues are further compounded by lack of family support, lack of housing, limited opportunities and falling foul of quick fixes in drug abuse, begging and prostitution in the ever-growing tourist town of Siem Reap; we must be alert to these problems and assist where we can.

These are the issues the Young Adult programmes address to enable the participants in the programmes to grow into good citizens, securing employment and enabling them to look after themselves and any siblings in their care.

The shared message is simple, we need your help to continue our work supporting these vulnerable young people and make a difference to their life chances. Thank you for helping us make such a big difference to these under privileged youth.

Jo will be visiting the field and the next update will be a true reflection on the success stories of H.O.P.E’s young adults but also will detail how Siem Reap has grown into a tourism mecca.

Links:

• http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/

http://vimeo.com/97418999

Recognise the faces?? 

This video was shot back in 2008 when eight young shy Cambodians were lacking the tools and confidence for independent living. Today in their early 20s they have benefitted hugely from the Preparartion and Integratioin modules that this Life Skills programme provides to help them prepare for and adjust to, life beyond the Childrens Centre. 

We are delighted to say we are still in touch with all of them and only the two still studying at University are beneficaries of the programme.  All of the young guys have secure work and have agreed to "graduate" from the support.  The two girls have gained skills, one is a trained nurse the other has gained experience in a hotel, but for now they are both settled down with their husbands.  Without this programme we are convinced they would not be as happy, safe and independent.

Thank you for helping us help them - it would be great if you can help us help their younger siblings make the same progress