I can't thank you enough for all your help in Cambodia...
For this country I decided to work with a local NGO called Sao Sary and then asked friends at home to help through monetary contributions. When you work with a local group you can accomplish many things in a short amount of time, and raising money to help a group is just ONE way to get your “guerrilla aid” on...
We had an amazing time in Cambodia, and in just three weeks, we:
Bought new steamer pots for Severn to expand her business
Provided a New Roof for Mi Pau
Created a clean water system for the Pre Yon Yin Village
Bought oil and reading lamps for Srea tuk
Completely overhauled Mai by giving her a new bike, new bed, and water jars so she could water her garden
Stocked Mais store and paid off her debt
Provided chickens and ducks for the Chon Sun Family
Provided pigs and ducks for the Phim Dees
Fixed a broken UNICEF well
Put 3 kids in school
Hooked up internet for 100 kids
Built new walls for 4 families
GOT A NEW WHEELCHAIR FOR SO CHEAT!
Took care of Sam and his family by paying for a years rent and filling his pantry
Provided school lunch for 7 children for a year
Got a new bike for Toul
Kites for the village kids
Paid off the debt to return a child to her mother after she had been taken
All in all, it was an amazing few weeks - I owe a huge thanks to Andrew Galuppi for coming from NYC to help me get my feet on the ground and be the cameraman for a couple of weeks!
BEST DRIVER IN SIEM REAP? CHEUB SAM OL - Ph. 855-12-596-708
SAO SARY FOUNDATION - http://www.ssfcambodia.org/
Here's a random video of an overview of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
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Dec
18
2008
Last day in Cambodia at FCC...
Every morning I'd walk from the guest house and have a double latte and tomatoes on toast... By the time I left they'd have it waiting for me... I'm going to miss Cambodia...
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Dec
17
2008
AMAZING... Thank you all!
The time in Cambodia has come to an end - a remarkable experience and I can’t even begin to convey my gratitude to you all… We were able to take care of every family we set out to help, and if you scroll through the pages just click on the “read more” section and you’ll see the thank you completion videos..
My next stop is Laos, and I’ll be heading to Vientiane tomorrow, then on to Luang Prabang on Friday… It looks like it’s nearly a 12 hour bus trip through Laos, so I may be out of commission on Friday! Laos marks the beginning of my “Guerrilla Aid” style of volunteerism, as here in Cambodia I partnered with a local organization and helped them out.. That’s ONLY ONE aspect of aid work… Laos will be more about finding daily opportunities to just help, and I’m stoked for it…
Thanks again, and keep in touch along the way… B
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Dec
17
2008
Last view of Kampong Speu from my moto...
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Dec
16
2008
MORE SUCCESS!
Problems are varied...
SO CHEAT needs a wheelchair! She has cerebral palsy, and her old chair is disgusting and missing wheels (and much too small for her)!
MAI’s husband left her in horrific conditions and she has nothing. She needs three $10 water jars to irrigate her small garden, a bike to transport her vegetables to market, and a new bed.
MI PAU needs a roof!
MAIS needs some groceries and and help with debt**!
**BACKGROUND INFO - I've had some say, "Why should I pay for someone else's debt?" Well, in Cambodia it's a bit different... It's not like a credit card - it's always to a loan shark at 100% interest, and usually starts with $25 for rice or seeds. If there is a bad harvest and they can't pay it back - the $25 becomes $50, then $100, then $200... For someone making less than a dollar a day it becomes insurmountable, and at this time the loan shark might cause harm, take a child, or other horrific punishments... That's why I help with debt (I know, it's heavy - but reality)...
ALL FAMILIES WERE SPONSORED!
THANK YOU!
#6. SO CHEAT needs a WHEELCHAIR! THANK YOU VICTORIA MASTERS, WESLIE RAU, AND DENNIS SNAPP!
#7. HELP MAI BECOME SELF SUSTAINING - THANK YOU ANDY AND CINDY LEWIS! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHRIS AND DONNA!
#8. PUT A ROOF OVER MI PAU’S HEAD - THANK YOU SCOTT BULL!
#9. HELP MAIS REBUILD HER BUSINESS - THANK YOU EDGAR AND DAVID! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ROBERT CRAWFORD!
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Guerrilla Aid is a style of volunteerism - simply go somewhere and do something,
while teaching others to do the same.
