The Riverside : Phnom Penh, Cambodia
IMAGINE – JustWorld International
“Imagine.” Let’s take a minute to think about this powerful word. It suggests ideas and dreams for the future. It brings hope that what can be imagined, can be achieved. I’m happy to say that with our donors’ help, we have achieved what was once just an idea, hope, and dream for thousands of children.
Then: Phymean Noun with the kids in the garbage dump before attending the JustWorld/PIO school.
Allow me to introduce you to some of the children at the JustWorld/People’s Improvement Organization (PIO) school at Stung Mean Chey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Han, Chhun, Vor, and Keo shared with me their dreams to someday become teachers, photographers, and nurses. Their reality, however, was much different. They were barefoot, sick, and hungry – scavenging a garbage dump for food and any materials that could be sold, earning a few pennies a day and having no means to a better life.
As you imagine how life was for these children, realize that in less than a decade, with the help from JustWorld supporters like you, we have been able to provide free education, free meals, and free medical care to more than 3,000 children at JustWorld projects in Honduras, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Brazil. We’ve given these children the ability to imagine a better life, filled with hope and sucess for the future.
Today: Students at the JustWorld/PIO school at Stung Mean Chey
Can you imagine what more we can do together?
We need your support. Please contribute to the JustWorld International Annual Fund. Participation at any level is important and your contribution will help ensure that all of our programs continue to offer our kids – this year and every year – the opportunity to fulfill their dreams with the tools and support JustWorld has given them.
Sincerely,
Jessica Newman
Executive Director
JustWorld International
jnewman@justworldinternational.org
JustWorld International is a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and a registered Association 1901 in France. Local branches have also been established in Mexico and Honduras. Canadian donors can receive charitable receipts for all donations to JustWorld through Tides Canada (http://tidescanada.org/funds/justworld-international-fund/). JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.
AOGAAH FOUNDATION
Aogaah Foundation® provides educational OPPORTUNITY for impoverished children by
opening and operating free Community Schools. ‘Aogaah’ means ‘opportunity’ in Khmer,
the language of Cambodia.
The Foundation educates children in their native language. Aogaah’s schools are
taught by community adults for community children. The curriculum promotes local
customs. Classes in English are only offered in communities that specifically request them.
Aogaah Foundation®, registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, is an American 501
(c) 3 non-profit, tax exempt corporation. The Foundation was created by and is directed by a
volunteer group of teachers, students and artists from Arizona (USA). Donations mailed to
the USA Phoenix, Arizona address or made via this web site are tax deductible as permitted
by law. Click here for the USA address and/or to make an on-line donation.
No corporate official receives a salary, benefits or reimbursements for his/her work for the Foundation.
Aogaah need to raise a minimum of $8000 per year to enable 100 kids to have the opportunity to attend school ($10000 needed for next year), not a lot when you think of what is spent on an individuals education in the west. All monies received to date are from personal donations, some corporate donations would be nice.
JustWorld FAB new website
Go take a look at the site it is really much improved and easier to navigate.
http://www.justworldinternational.org/en/
Juan Carlos Garcia Clinic in Normandy Raises $2,960 to Benefit JustWorld
Internationally renowned Italian rider, Juan Carlos Garcia, gave of his time and talent this past weekend in a clinic arranged by JustWorld ambassador Florinda Detouteville at the Scie Equestrian Center in Normandy.
Juan Carlos has ridden as a representative of the Italian team in both high-level CSO and cross-country competitions. His most recent victory came with the capture of two silver medals in both the CSO and cross-country challenges presented at the 2009 FEI Windsor European Championships.
This two-day intensive, targeting amateur riders from all levels of show jumping, hosted a total of 20 riders and 22 horses from May 31st to June 1st, 2011. Riders were extremely pleased with Juan Carlos’ communication style and his willingness to adapt to the individual group needs.
This clinic could not have been possible without the support of the Departmental Riding Committee of Seine-Maritime and Karine Boué, owner of the Scie Equestrian Center. Many thanks to all who came out to support JustWorld International and help us raise €2,025 (USD $2,960) to fund life-changing programs for children in impoverished countries throughout the globe.
EXTREME WELL DONE
Boeung Kak Lake – the death of a community
Spanning 90 hectares in central north Phnom Penh, Boeung Kak Lake is one of the only large open spaces left in Cambodia’s capital city. Prior to the recent evictions, approximately 4,000 families lived on and around the lake, with many depending on the lake for their livelihood. Families have been living around the lake since the early 1980s, when they returned to the city following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Most of these families have legal rights to their land under Cambodia’s 2001 Land Law.
Do a Photo Course and help the Children in Cambodia
The law means little to those with power in Cambodia and people are being offered way under the market value of their property to move knowing that if they do not accept they may get nothing and have the house demolished around them. Most have been given little choice but to accept knowing the recent violent history of forced evictions in Cambodia they are fearful for their family’s safety.
It is very sad to see this once vibrant and busy community being destroyed in the guise of progress, when everyone really knows it is about the rich getting even richer on the shoulders of the poor and powerless.
Being a ” Barang ” I have certain different expectations of government. Government is given power to work for the people and to protect the interests and rights of all its citizens, not just its rich and powerful ones as seems to be the case generally in Cambodia. The powerful protecting and helping the poor and needy seems not to have reached Cambodia where it seems if you have no resources you are less that nothing.
I wonder how many of the people responsible for this atrocity would like to find themselves in the same position, with few or no rights, and even those they do have being ignored because the ” rich ” know that they do not have the resources to fight for justice.
The people of Boeung Kak made a life for themselves, building on the strengths of the Khmer people ability to survive and come through by building a service industry for travellers, before the thought of fancy hotels was even a twinkle in the eye of the rich and famous. The community was rough and ready but exciting and cheap for those who visited it, they, sadly, would no longer recognised it now.
Do a Photo Course and help the Children in Cambodia
© Ian Kydd’Miller
