Now What?
Rithy and I visited the family who lost their wife and mum yesterday, in their homeland, bordering Vietnam! The 8 hour motorbike ride was a real marathon.
They are doing ok, sad and shocked but starting to think about what is next. There are three of the 5 kids who we will try to get into the local primary through the Flame School Project, where they will be supported through school and have a case worker assigned to keep tabs on them. We would love to help the dad into some sort of business where he would be able to support his family. He currently sells snails on a rented cart and can't quite get by.
@Samkemp
Some generous donations have come in this week. Thanks so much to all the people who have given so that Flame can help this family.
Death in the Slums
This is hard to write. On Tuesday night when Rithy got to the slums he was met with tragedy. One of the women we have been treating died over the Pchum Ben holiday. Most people go back to their homelands to see family and venerate ancestors, but this one woman didn't go home. She knew how ill she was and was waiting to us to come and see her. She died before she could say goodbye to her family for the last time. She left five children, including a small baby.
This wee guy lost his mum.
Mobile Medical have decided to cover the milk powder for him until he's old enough to eat.
If anyone would be able to help cover the cost we would appreciate it. Mobile Medical is still looking for funding, we are a new initiative, and currently with no regular funding partner. Please email us on info@flamecambodia.org or give directly on our website, tagging the donation with Mobile Medical. Thank you.
Greg's Blog part 2
The Flame Young Leaders are so devoted to the cause, inspired by the regular training and mentoring they have received, they step into their own initiatives and serve in slum communities, inspiring hope and change in the lives of others ... This is what Flame calls the full circle
The hard backgrounds these guys come from haven't deterred them one bit. This is a long journey and at times a tough one. Let me tell you about Esther.
Esther is the Flame Photographer
Previously she was so very shy, she was the kid that just didn't speak. Now she's the one behind the camera as the Flame Photographer and is bubbly and friendly and confident. She can talk with foreigners without any fear. She is teaching photography and has completely come out of her shell. She was mentored, and now she is the mentor!
Kids at Sensok photo creds to Esther
Flame has embarked on an incredible journey, from about 14 months ago til now, and the input from these young leaders makes a huge addition to the lives of the kids around them.
You can see the light coming from their eyes and the smiles on their faces- they know they are loved.
Education and Exploitation
Education as a way to prevent human trafficking and exploitation
Last week I met woman in the slums, we stood together in the dark and she told me her story…
A few years ago, she was recruited to work overseas, sewing t-shirt seams in a factory. Her hours were from 7am ‘til 11pm. WAIT. I stopped her, and asked “until 11PM??” I didn’t know factories stayed open so late. She repeated it. Yes, 7am until 11pm, but that wasn’t when her day ended. She lived with the factory manager and after getting home each night worked until 1am, cleaning, doing washing... then at 4am she was woken again to cook and clean. She was paid US$300 per month, a 21 hour day. No leave. After 3 years, exhaustion took over and she had to quit.
Real Story. Real Woman. Real Exploitation.
We were standing in the stink of the slum, with dirty kids at our feet. She looked at me and said, at 28, there’s no way she can afford kids. Look around you, she said.
I keep thinking about our conversation: if she had an education her story would be different. She would have had more choices. She would have autonomy. Her story would skip the Exploitation chapter.
We have been looking into the Stats around Exploitation and Education and according to Cambodia's Ministry of Planning, once a child is educated beyond grade 4/5 they are "safe from illiteracy" and this protects them from Traffickers.
Age Before Being Trafficked
Education Attainment before Victimisation
60% of the victims of human trafficking were illiterate, and there are very small numbers of victims with an education over grade 5.
Let's educate the kids, so they have a different story.
Let's skip the exploitation chapter altogether.
Pchum Ben Celebration
Celebrating Pchum Ben with Flame
The noise from the Wat (temple) next door has been almost constant in the lead up to Pchum Ben, similar to Christmas Carols on repeat at the Mall!! This is a hugely big celebration here in Cambodia, it's the one time of year that the Gates of Hell open and ancestors from up to 7 generations past are revered and fed. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation, roads blocked by people flocking to local the Wat with copious offerings, and the city empties as people return to their homelands to celebrate and honour their dead.
Happy faces at SenSokSenSok
At Sensok this week we celebrated by feeding the kids a full meal of curry, rice, and a fresh apple, in addition to the usual soymilk. What FUN!! We will be having a Big Break over the next 2 weeks... Back after the holiday!!
Standing guard outside a Wat
Longdy's Commissioning
Longdy has been a part of Flame since its inception, and if we had founding members, he would be one of them. Amazing news: one of Cambodia'a leading counselling organizations have signed him on to be a counsellor for boys. He is finishing his Psychology and English degrees and is working part time. This means he is leaving Flame, his heart for seeing Cambodia's children whole and happy drives him to pursue opportunities to build his capacity. We are so proud of him and excited that he is able to get such high quality supervision and training. He will always have a special place in our hearts, and as he is living with the Winthrops, we still see him everyday!
HIV Positive
Last night we visited the slums and gave out loads of soy milk to the young kids, and then the rain hit!
We then went to the Khmer Russian Hospital, to visit an HIV positive patient from one of the slums where we work. Rithy had been advocating for the couple, making sure they get the help they need. On admission the patient was unable to stand, but now the infections in his mouth are fully clear, his other symptoms are decreasing and he has energy again. His wife has tested HIV negative!
Infectious diseases ward
Greg's Story -part 1
Greg Stocker is a veterinarian based in Hamilton who works for AssureQuality. He has been to Cambodia three times but this time it was different. This is his story.
First Visit to Sen Sok
The first time I went to SenSok on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, it struck me how obviously malnourished and unhealthy the kids were. I saw how they lived, the extreme poverty.
Second VISIT TO SEN SOK
The second time, I saw the very first medical clinic, kids covered in sores, quite badly malnourished, lice in their hair, pneumonia, diarrhoea, ear infections. It was just the beginning. They looked ragged, like you would imagine.
A couple of months later, Flame was born and things changed big time.
12 Months later at Sen Sok
Now, Flame Young Adults run the Sen Sok kids club and there are programs morning and afternoon and even a soccer team! Kiwis have donated books and interactive toys for the activity centre to help the little kids development.
The difference was almost a shock. I knew they were the same children, but I couldn't believe it! Bright eyes, clean faces, with footwear, no sores or skin diseases... they look so healthy. They are getting some proper nutrition, they can focus and learn. Just about every kid was locked onto the teacher and completely engaged with their learning. Every kid in the room knows the maths, and they are being taught to read and write - and are motivated to learn and learn more.
The kids are fully on the way to being integrated into what most people would consider a normal upbringing - food, education and good health. They are being taught they have value, that there's a God who loves them, and that is being demonstrated by the service of the Flame Young Adults.
I walked in and thought wow, like night and day. They still live a slum, but they have hope in their faces now, it's written all over them.
Kids playing in the shoe rack. @SoEsther
Welcome to the World!
We celebrate the arrival of a new baby and the beginning of a new generation at Flame today! Last night Houn Thy and Lili became the proud parents of Lysearng, a beautiful boy! Congrats guys.
Houn Thy leads the activity centre at SenSok and embodies the full circle. He comes from a very difficult background, and is now investing his life back into the lives of the kids in our project. Well done Thy! You and Lili will be great parents!
Cute baby, just a few hours after his arrival
Monsoon Madness
Our Sunday kids club at SenSok was completely rained out today. On the way we saw trees down and had the wipers on full blat! Lots of wet kids and laughing. Our young adults were soaked, but happy to hand out soy milk to the kids!
Wet kids running home with their soy milk. Thanks again Entrust for sponsoring us!
Economic Solutions to Economic Problems
Imagine a poor, hardworking woman, living in the slums with her kids. The kids go to school with help from the Flame School Project. But what about mum?
At Flame we are all about the Full Circle, individuals and families reaching their potential and beyond. In the poor slum communities, there are opportunities to do small businesses but often just slightly out of reach.
Our Flame staff initiated some small business loans and leg-ups, helping get some of the women in our families into small independent businesses. We currently have an artisan making cute crafts, a coffee cart and a cart selling sweet cakes made by the grandmother. We are in the process of helping one of the mums move from selling vegetables at her doorstep to getting a cart.
These are industrious women who in the past have worked but haven't seen seen the profit. Now they are able to earn independently -their future is in their own hands. There are smart women are in the corporate business sector, and there are some pretty smart women in the slums too!
These small business start-ups were funded by a kind kiwi woman who came and saw a need, and put her money to good use. Thanks @zoevanhalem
Literally standing in her mums shadow
Kids in the slums
I just met a little boy with a gas burn on his leg. We are organising some medical help for him. He is too scared to go to hospital, in fact he doesn't want to go anywhere. His parents have left him in the care of his 7 year old sister. The kids live with the various neighbours in the alley.
Poor little kid is scared stiff
I was thinking of posting a picture of Bauk's leg, but it's too horrid, so I edited off the injury and we have one 5 year old foot in the picture insead. Rithy is on his way now.
Catch Me If You Can
I talked with two of the kids at the New Flame Catch-Up Class.
Ratana started school last year and struggles with reading and writing. Despite being 14, she finds it hard to follow her grade one teacher. She used to pick apples in Thailand.
Intense learning at the Flame Activity Centre
Rotha left school when he was about 9 to look after his little sister after his parents were recruited to work abroad. He hasn't seen them since, they disappeared. He is attending the Flame Catch-Up Class every day and hopes to start school next month. When he grows up, Rotha wants to be a truck driver.
The Catch-Up Class was sponsored by some caring kiwis who understand the value of education and that some kids who have fallen through the cracks need extra help. Thanks guys!
I love my job!
My name is Choryee and I live in one of the Flame Leadership Academies in Phnom Penh. Every Wednesday I work as an interpreter for a slum community, as well as run the Flame Guesthouse. I am a full time student studying International Relations at the Royal University of Law and Economics. Yeah, I'm busy!
I love interpreting and sharing about God
I am excited about Flame because we meet the needs of people who really need help. We understand them. I love sharing the truth with my people because God has done so much for me, and it's real, and it's true. This is serious. Their situation is the same as mine was when I was a kid.
the HOPE factor
Last night the Flame Mobile Medical brought kids clothes and toys to two of the slum communities where we have been doing ongoing medical care. A big shoutout to the kind people of Te Awamutu, and @Pumpkin Patch Te Rapa, and of course Rebecca Stocker, our NZ rep who lugged them all the way here! Clothes are cheap here but there is no way the families we are working with can afford them for their children, there's a reason for the word ragamuffin!
Photo quality is sketchy because it was getting dark
I found it tough last night. I see the complexity of the issues: poverty, corruption, substance abuse and family breakdowns, but with no easy answers in sight - we can't barge in and fix anyone, BUT what we CAN do it get the kids who are keen learners into school. We have to hold onto the HOPE factor. It takes more energy some days than others.
Clean Water
Clean water is something most of us take for granted... No so in the slums of Phnom Penh. The Flame Mobile Medical Tuktuk have had the privilege of bringing water filters to two more slums this week. The kids have clean water to drink, thanks to our donor from Te Awamutu! Can't wait for her to come and see the project in person!
Refreshing water on a hot day
Posture of Learning
Tonight the mobile medical team had a study session, covering the new government regulations for medical personel in Cambodia.
It was a fun night and we covered a multitude of interesting scenarios. What became obvious was the need for us to keep our records digitally. We have increased numbers of patients we need to track their history, exactly what illnesses are presenting, our diagnosis and treatment plan. We are looking for donations to cover a laptop and an iPad. Anyone keen to chip in? Donations towards the Mobile Medical can be made through our website flamecambodia.org
Just get them into school
The other week I was out again with the Mobile Medical Tuktuk, doing the usual medical run into the slums, and I met a little girl. She was bright and chatty, and for about 2 hours, she and a crowd of kids played a flurry of hand clapping games. She was the one who knew all the words and laughed and clapped her way through the evening. I asked her if she was in school and she looked briefly away, and said no. I asked her how old she was, she said 11, she has 4 siblings and she cleans the shack, and takes care of her younger siblings and works on something else, which I couldn't understand... I faked a smile and we continued with the singing and clapping games, but inside I was really hurting. This kid needs a better chance. They all do.
Kids at Sen Sok today, playing games and learning
One life can make a difference
A couple of weeks ago, our volunteer nurse, Rita shared a story with me that had really touched her heart, and mine too. She was out on the mobile tuktuk in one of the slums where we do free medical care and was handing out apples.
Rita with the kids
A little 9 year old girl approached her and asked for another apple to give to her mother. Rita said no, if her mum wanted an apple she would have to come and get one, she can't hand out extra apples to everyone! The little girl insisted, and said her mum had only just gotten home from work and was cooking dinner, and couldn't come. Rita held her ground, and the little girl raced off to bring her mother. By the time she had gotten back to the tuktuk, Rita was cleaning ulcers on the heads of a couple of boys (skin infections are common in the slums) with Betadine. The little girl approached Rita again and boldly asked for a bottle of Betadine, to take home because her little brother had similar ulcers! Rita said no again, but agreed to go and see the little brother. Visiting the shack, Rita found the 2 year old brother lying on a bed, unable to walk or talk, the aftermath of meningitis. He suffers from fits and thrashes around, often hurting himself. Rita tended to his infections, and the little girl continued to share her concerns... Her father is a snail seller, he came home that night exhausted from the 40+ temps and went straight to bed and would not wake up. Rita's heart dropped straight into her belly. She quickly checked on the dad. He was alive, but suffering from heat exhaustion.
In telling the story, Rita repeated again and again, this little girl had something special, an energy and enthusiasm and simple gutsy get-up-and-go which is rare. Flame is about identifying leaders, (like Rita herself who is now serving in the slums!) and giving them the leg up they need to grow beyond their potential. We would love for girls like this to be in school- the first step towards a world-changing future.