Summer report - August 2015

We arrived in Cambodia on Sunday, and it's not an encouraging sight which greeted us at the airport.
Since Borin graduated as a doctor, got a job in Siem Reap (city of Ankor Wat) and moved from the temple the situation for kids has deteriorated sharply. Without Borins protection have other adults moved into their room, as a result the kids have lost their status and rights, the right to their furniture and room and must sleep on the floor again.
Sopal came to the airport limping because of an ankle injury after a kick, with inflammation of both eyes and skin fungus in the face so our trip went quickly to a pharmacy.

Chanty was sick, vomited, had both headache and fever, Borin was concerned that she had meningitis and has done everything he could through his contacts with other doctors to get her into the best hospital in Phnom Penh without payment . She was hospitalized Monday morning and is still hospitalized, but it is going better with her.

Kosal look good physically, but was very sad as he failed in school and will not be allowed to move up from sixth to seventh grade, he must do 6. grade again.

Cheng has to turn well after he was moved from the temple to Borin in Siem Reap at the end of April. We hope that he has overcome the crisis caused by the physical violence which he has suffered for many years in the temple and that he can continue his studies in Siem Reap after the summer vacation.

All in all a little miserable situation, sad to think that they need to survive under these conditions while we almost don't like to stay in the temple for more than few hours.

The next days we will focus on having good time and keep our fingers crossed that they come  through and manage school so they can get an education.

A visit from Denmark

The kids had a visit from Denmark today and were invited for pizza and ice cream :-)

To the left Choun, the student who looks after the kids

Borin visit the kids in the temple today

After Borin left Phnom Penh because of his new job in Siem Reap, the children miss an adult supervision. Therefore, since we have received an additional donation, Borin and I have chosen to spend the donation on hiring a student, Chuon, to keep an eye on the children and help them with the daily issues/challanges. Chetra live in the temple as he can not afford to rent a room in Phnom Penh.
Today Borin came to Phnom Penh to visit the kids (a bus trip of 7 hours each way) and he sent me some photos and video explaining why Chheng doesn't have hair.

from the left: Chuon, Kosal, Chheng, Chanty and Sophal

Merry Christmas

Chheng in the dinningroom of the monks

Sophal

From left: Sophal, Chanty, Kosal & Chheng

Chanty

Dear Friends
Year 2014 had a terrific start, Borin got, as a newly graduated doctor, his dream job at a private hospital, fantastic, well-paid position in Cambodia well known and best hospital. He had to move to Siem Reap which is about 6-7 hours drive from Phnom Penh and he needed to leave the "small kids", which is now quite grown up, alone in Phnom Penh. They need to manage themselves, which has created lot of challenges.
Borin maintaining close contact with them and to the school by mobile phone. Chanty is also nice to help Borin with information about the three boys, but nevertheless it is a huge challenge. The boys do have a weak background and have difficulty taking care of themselves without an adults daily push.
We have tried to involve, more and more, Chhengs half brother who also lives in the temple and we got his help but it is a daily challenge. It is hard to find people in the temple with resources to help the kids, most of the people there have poor background in any aspects.

This year Kosal i doing 6th grade, Sophal and Chheng do 7th grade, Chanty started 1. grade in high school and Rotha do 2. year in high school (out of 3 years). They are all in the "critical" age so Borin and I keep our "fingers crossed" that they can manage this path in life.

With these great photos from the temple, we thnak you and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
The warmest greetings and best wishes for 2015.
Borin & Orly

Graduation ceremony for Borin today

Congratulation to Key

Key has completed last month his IT studies at university with good results, and already has a job. After graduating, he has been on a trip to Siem Reap, a visit that everyone in Cambodia dream of experiencing.
I send Key my best wishes for a bright future, it will certainly be a huge help to have a good IT education in hand.

Srey - a new girl in our project

Srey is a new young girl in our project. Last year, she finished high school in the country side where she live in a small village with her father. She managed to get a scholarship to study in the capital Phnom Penh where she is now studying IT. She has a job where she earns for living and our project will help her to study English at a private school beside her job and IT studies. We wish Srey good luck with her education.

 

Srey in her home in the village