SAUSAGE SIZZLEEEE !!

Hi everyone !

I've been working hard trying to secure a sausage sizzle to fundraise for Cambodia, and finally a booking has been made !!!!!

Come down to the Mountain Gate Shopping Centre Safeway this Saturday on the 20 December to show your support ! It would mean the world to me, and your generous donation will go a long way (:

Who will teach the children?

Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, stipulates:

"the right of the child to education... in particular to make primary education compulsory and available free to all"

But what do you do when there is simply no school provided for local children to attend?

In rural Cambodia, WorldVision is working with Vibol who has made a very personal response to this issue. A young man in his mid twenties, Vibol, together with his wife, have built a veranda onto their wooden single room house, under which they have constructed raw tables and chairs for local children to come and learn.

After school ends each day, Vibol tries to earn a meagre income from his small plot of land. A young couple so committed to education improving the lives of their communities children, that they make significant sacrifices.

This story is repeated throughout the region, far from the capital, where WorldVision is supporting community members who are passionate to help their children out of poverty through education.

It demonstrates that communities living in poverty are resourceful, passionate and committed to a better future. Another reminder of how your support of WorldVision can provide and hand up, not simply a hand out.

What will your donated fund go towards?

Hi everyone, as most of you know, I am required to fundraise $3000 for the communities I'll be visiting in Cambodia. But I'm sure if you are going to donate for this great cause, you would like to know exactly what the funds are being used for. Well, here it is!

Why do I want to embark on this journey?

I have always had the compassion in wanting to be part of the movement to end world poverty. I can sit here all day and talk about how poverty is unfair, that young kids deserve an education, or that gender inequality is immoral. But what good is that if I am not doing anything about it?

I went to India 2 years ago with World Challenge, blessed with the opportunity to observe first hand the injustice of a poverty stricken country. These people are just like us, with the only difference that they lack the opportunities we have in order to reach our best potential.

Cambodia is much the same. When I was offered the opportunity to go to Cambodia to learn more about World Vision's work, how could I say no! I've always wanted to know what more can I do? What can I do from home, from Australia, to in some way make an impact?

I am hoping that after this trip that will happen at Jan 2015, I will be able to gain a better insight of World Vision's projects and works, a better understanding of the impact and difference donated funds make in these communities, and hopefully to be able to figure out what everyday Australians can do more to help.

In saying so, I cannot do so without your help! $3000 is the target we have been set to fundraise per person. This $3000 does not go to my accommodation, activities or flight tickets (I will be paying for those out of my own savings), but it goes directly to the communities that we will be visiting.

The whole idea behind this 'Change for Cambodia' campaign is to spare some of your loose change for this very worthy cause! Much like the loose change menu at Mcdonalds, except this goes to a better purpose! Drink one less coffee a week, or eat in instead of out for a night, and lend a helping hand. Every dollar counts!

I'd like to thank you in advance for your support, kindness and generosity. I know there will be many of these! (:

Many thanks to Ian Adalia for his creativity and artistry skills in designing this logo!

Click to donate!

Do you have any skills to contribute for this 'Change for Cambodia' movement? Or opportunities to offer in my fundraising efforts? Don't be hesitant to leave a comment, and I'll be in touch (:

The Plight of the Cambodians - History and Background

The Khmer Rouge was the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975-1979. Some of the policies that were instituted under them include:

Image sourced from here.

• Abolished money, free markets, normal schooling, private property, foreign clothing styles, religious practices, and traditional Khmer culture
• Public schools, pagodas, mosques, churches, universities, shops and government buildings were shut or turned into prisons, stables, reeducation camps and granaries
• Family relationships were heavily criticized. People were forbidden to show even the slightest affection, humor or pity. Children were separated from 'capitalist' influencing parents and indoctrinated with communist values, and then trained to torture and execute.
• The arrest and killing of thousands of soldiers, military officers and civil servants from the Khmer Republic regime led by Marshal Lon Nol, whom they did not regard as “pure".
• the execution of hundreds of thousands of intellectuals; city residents; minority people such as the Cham, Vietnamese and Chinese - where many were detained, interrogated, tortured and executed. The most important prison in Cambodia, known as S-21, held approximately 14,000 prisoners while in operation. Only about 12 survived.
• Under the terms of the CPK’s 1976 “Four-Year Plan,” Cambodians were expected to produce three tons of rice per hectare throughout the country. This meant that people had to grow and harvest rice all 12 months of the year. In most regions, the Khmer Rouge forced people to work more than 12 hours a day without rest or adequate food.
• Sewing of land mines, in which there is still 4-6 million mines left in the ground today, leading to thousands of deaths and disabilities - and they are still claiming lives to this day!

During their regimen, they have estimated to cause the death of 2 million people.  20,000 mass graves were uncovered, and an estimate of of execution alone is said to be 1.5 million. Starvation and exhaustion due to long labours hours, as well as the abolishment of western medicine were common causes of death.

So why did I choose Cambodia?

• Education - due to the execution of many intellectuals, where 90% of teachers were killed under the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia's education system is in strife. And we all know that opportunity for an education is the key to break the chain of poverty.
• Human trafficking - traffickers deceive children by offering them seemingly legitimate jobs, only to coerce and threaten them info forced labour. This includes begging, street vending, and sexual exploitation.
• Child labour - children are forced to work on average 20 hours a week as they have to assist their family as wage earners, stripping off their opportunity to attend school.
• Health and sanitation - everyday at Cambodia, 50-110 children die due to easily preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, and respiratory infections.

So there you have it. The plight of the Cambodians. What are you waiting for! Join me now in my venture, be part of this amazing movement, and make a meaningful contribution - 'Change for Cambodia' !