Help Give Cambodian Young Adults Independence

Bill Brower is a Field Program Officer with GlobalGiving who is visiting our projects throughout Southeast Asia. On January 24 he visited the Sangkheum Center, supported by HOPE, outside Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Picture an orphan in Cambodia. What springs to mind? Likely the image of a baby being left on a doorstep. Or a young child begging on the streets. But the thing about children is they grow up. This seems to be a concept that is lost on some orphanages and other organizations that deal with young children with no family (or at least no family able to support them). However, as the young people they work with have grown older, HOPE has developed a program specifically for young adults to help them transition to adulthood and independent living.

Talking briefly with some of the young adults at the Sangkheum Center they seemed to be just what you’d expect of teenagers anywhere: Interested in soccer and the opportunities tourism presents. Lightheartedly chatting and laughing among themselves, gathered in the merciful shade of a palm tree. Trying their best to look cool, but still showing respect for Jo and Thomas. You can hear a few of them describe the program for themselves: http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalGiving#p/u/3/bUj3Iat2lNg

Jo and Thomas say they’re making necessary adjustments as more young people go through the program. (I always take it as a good sign when an organization doesn’t pretend they know exactly what they’re doing straight away.) They start preparing for leaving the Center at 16, meeting with employers in fields they’re interested in. At 18, the young adults leave the Center and go to a satellite house where they continue to receive education, life skills training, HIV/AIDS treatment if necessary and a placement at a hotel or children’s hospital, as a mechanic, etc. At 21 they leave that house, to become, hopefully, independent members of society. Although only four of the young people they work with are this age, so far the results have been positive.

As I wrote about in a recent blog (http://blog.globalgiving.org/2010/02/06/a-tougher-sell/), HOPE is an example of an organization addressing needs that can be more difficult for which to find funding. Kudos to those that understand the need to support their work. You’re supporting a great organization doing unquestionable good in their community.

Links:

• Hear the young adults describe the program themselves

In April 2009 I returned to Cambodia (a trip I try to make at least once a year as trustee of HOPE). Fortunately my fellow trustee, Jo Owen lives in Siem Reap for about 70% of the year so I get to hear all about progress and challenges but nothing beats being there myself.

On this trip we took the opportunity to do a short presentation (in English) to the young adults on the Young Adults Programme, telling them why we had selected their project to help and how we had been raising money. We showed them photos of my personal trip from London to Paris by bicycle and explained how this was a distance greater than Siem Reap to the Cambodian capital Phnom Pehn, and given this challenge, generous people were prepared to sponsor me.

At the end of our presentation each young adult was encouraged to practice their English and ask us a question. One of those questions was “Could we do a cycling challenge?”

We were not sure they were serious but over the summer they continued to show a willingness to participate in a big ride and so HOPE has helped them to get organised to enter the Angkor 30km Bike Ride to be held on 5th December. http://www.villagefocus.org/angkor_marathon/

HOPE has paid the entry cost ($25 per Cambodian for 13 YAs, and 6 Cambodian educators). Please note a large proportion of the entrance fee is going to support other charitable projects including a boarding school in Mondulkiri, a slum school in Battambang and development projects in over 70 villages in Northwest Cambodia. HOPE has also helped organise some long bike rides to get in training (see photos)

The benefits of this event are many but the key one is that the children are taking part in exercise and learning about fitness and the disciplines required for training for a big event, including encouragement and motivation.

This group of young people are not sitting around waiting for help to fall into their lap, they are prepared to get up and do something to improve their way of life – we are so very proud of them.

One of boys is keeping a blog, a great way for him to practice his English and IT skills. He is one of a group of 6who have recently moved from the orphanage into shared accommodation, paid for by the program. This is their first step towards an independent life beyond the orphanage.

I’d like to share with you an extract from Bota’s blog…….

Dear Jo and Tanya Hello, how are you? For me it’s fine. I am Bota, and I am 18 years old and I have fourth brothers. They’re live in Sangkheun Center for children. I have been live SCC for six years ago. So, now I leave the Sangkheum Center already, but I still in the Sangkheum project we called “Young Adults Integration”

Now, I want to tell you about bicycling practice. Every Sunday in the morning I have been practice bicycling with my friends, Teacher, Samnang, Thomas, and Jo. I am filling great. You know why? Because this the first time that I have a bicycle racing and learn how to race, too. The first I am filling a bit neurons and tired, but it fun for me. Although, I am getting tired but it’s good exercise. I love to exercise. I usually work out everyday. I get up early in the morning and run for about 00:30min. Then I often go to play football. Sometimes I go for a walk in the evening, about once a week. Thank you for all your help, Bota

We can support more children like Bota and his brothers, through this fantastic program with your donations - THANK YOU

Links:

• Annual Angkor Bike Ride