The local Buddhist monks work tirelessly to help those in need with monthly food supplies and support. There is no centre link out here so if you have nothing you literally have nothing. Your children don't go to school,you survive day to day with malnourishment a serious problem. You cannot work as you have no way to get there and in many cases what little you have is lost by the gambling habit of the fathers. Alcohol and gambling are a major issue. This leads to a loss and anger which also leads to domestic violence as well as child exploitation to obtain money.
The monks work to help the families by providing food and putting in wells for water. If a family is proven to be good with no drinking,smoking,gambling or domestic violence then a better home is built for them, a bicycle given and the children sponsored to go to school so there will be a brighter future. Fathers farm the land around there homes to provide for their family. If the rules are broken then the family may lose the house or food supplies are stopped. It's harsh reality folks.
So our friends Pip and Michael have been here a couple of times, they sponsored a home last year and put us in touch with Y Nol, the Buddhist monk who works at the Life and Hope Association. And after much email chatter, here we are.
We were picked up at 7:30 and driven out on the bumpiest road imaginable to the peace home.
For 5 days a large group had been erecting it so all the frame and roof was up,just the floor to nail down and the walls to go up.
So with small hatchets we assisted in nailing down the floor boards.
That's Y Nol next to me. He is lovely. Did you know under the outer robes is another layer which includes a couple of pen pockets, mobile phone pocket and a large pouch for carrying wallet etc. At one time we were talking about how his name was spent and he turned around and goes 'Y Nol, that's how I spell it on Facebook!!! What tha!
Here's a couple more photos of the house and Susie hammering nails. When ever you bent a nail or hit your thumb you couldn't do the usual swear words, there's monks present, so I grunted a bit and Sue adopted the term, 'aw rats'. Y Nol would giggle every time.
Walls thatched and ready to go up.
Walls up. To make a window, they just saw a hole in the wall and wire on a smaller thatched cover,a wooden prop holds it open.
These guys were putting the roofing on. OH&S anyone!
For lunch we headed off to the local children's centre, where around 40 children live and are supported. Some are orphans, some given up by their families cause they can support them, some have only a mother or father and sadly some have HIV. They are the most beautiful children and everyone of them came to us individually,sompiahed and said hello. They also prostrated to the monks.
You just wanted to take them all home but also realised they were here, in there home, and being supported to go to school and have a future.
We had lunch with them in the mess room, I just didn't photograph them as I felt it was rude.
A number of the children then headed off to afternoon school.
Like children the world over, they were late for the bus!
Tomorrows blog we return to the peace home for the blessing. Spend time with the family and feel the emotions of giving.
Uke complete me!
Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia
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