Homes for Hope

 Dear Friends,

We hope all is well with you and yours. As many of you know one of KIDS focuses is to provide decent houses to very poor families living in the brick factory area. Many families live in terrible conditions due to poor wages. Even the children have to work in the factories to help their families make a living.

Each year, thanks to K.I.D.S. donors, we are able to help some of the families, who's children attend our Smart Kids English Education program. The principal of the school and our coordinator of the Smart Kids program decide on which families are the most in need of a decent place to live. We also visit the houses that the families have to live in and are always moved by the terrible conditions they must endure.

This past year, thanks to our donors, we have been able to build five new houses for the poorest families. One family had to live inside the brick factory in the corner of the open building without walls, a dirt floor and not a private bathroom. Needless to say the families are thrilled to have a decent home to live in.

Recently we went out to deliver some basic needs for the homes, like: mats, cleaning supplies, blankets and mosquito nets. One of the mothers cried and as we gave her a hug; she deeply thanked all of us for helping she and her family live a decent life.

It is truly heartwarming to visit the families once they have moved into their new homes, it will change their lives for the better and they are incredibly grateful.

There are many children who live, work and play in the brick factories. 

Thank you for improving the lives of some of them and for helping us create better futures for the children. 

Wishing You and Yours all the very best, 
Till Next Time, 
Adrianne and Rick

Kindergarten to Computers

 Dear Friends,

We hope all is well with you and yours. We recently went up to the northeastern province of Stung Treng to visit the projects we have been helping for many years. Stung Treng Province is one of the poorest provinces in Cambodia. After a long bus trip we arrived and the next day we went to see programs we are supporting. For many years, thanks to our donors, KIDS has supported a daycare/preschool for very poor children, as well as a computer lab for older students to learn how to use computers, We arrived and 40 kindergarten children came running toward us, they gave us hugs and the teachers were very happy to see us.

This past year we partnered with Kindred Hearts Cambodia, another Canadian organization and together we built a new playground for the children, which they love!

We also visited the computer program we fund and talked with the students, they are very excited to learn computer skills which will assist them with finding decent employment. The teachers are very happy to teach the young people these skills. Chan the director is very grateful for everyone's help and support.

As always, we like to upgrade the toys and learning materials for the preschool, so we went with the teachers to buy new toys and educational materials. When we brought them back to the centre the kids were thrilled and immediately started to play with everything...so fun to watch such joy.

If you would like to see a short video of the kids; please click this link.

https://youtu.be/bISijmRB7Rc 

"Nothing lights up a child's brain like play"

Thank you for your kindness and generosity to help improve the lives of all these wonderful kids.

Wishing You and Yours All the Very Best,

Till Next Time,
Adrianne and Rick

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A New Year and New Hope

 Dear Friends,

We see that the New Year is upon us! A time we often reflect on what has been and what will come. Also, a time to be grateful for all our friends and family and all we have been through together. We are very grateful to have you all in our lives and we wish you and yours a HAPPY NEW YEAR that brings good health, happiness, new adventures, and love.

K.I.D.S. funded another medical mission with the children's hospital to another refugee camp sheltering a 1,000 families escaping the war with Thailand on the border. We once again joined the team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and support staff.The good news is that Thailand and Cambodia have signed a peace agreement which seems to be holding. However, there are still thousands of people who still need help to get home and rebuild.

When we arrived, it was difficult to see how thousands of people were living under tarps at the pagoda and trying their best to get by. Everyone was very happy to see the medical team and we immediately began setting up the tables for the clinic and the doctors and nurses began seeing patients.

While we began to organize people to receive blankets, mosquito nets, toys and snacks for the children. Everyone was very happy, especially the kids who were soon blowing bubbles and playing badminton and eating goodies. We also set up a station where families could receive blankets and mosquito nets which they were very grateful for. Thank goodness for the medical team from Angkor Hospital for Children...they were able to give out medication and help to those that were struggling with medical issues.

Even though there is a peace treaty right now, many of these people have lost their homes because of the bombing and some land will not be habitable due to unexploded bombs. So, it will be difficult for some of them to return but hopefully there will be some help there. We said goodbye to everyone and wished them all the best. They were all very grateful!!!

We packed up the vehicles and headed back to Siem Reap. On the way we saw two families living on the side of the road in a field...they were also displaced from the border so we stopped and gave them materials that would help them....very sad...the kids were so excited to have some treats and toys.

Thank you for supporting K.I.D.S during this very tragic time. Your kindness and generosity has helped so many to survive a very difficult period in their lives. Let's hope the New Year will permanently end this terrible situation and help these people reclaim their lives. If the peace treaty holds, we will use our contacts at the children's hospital to try to help some families rebuild their homes and lives.

If you would like to see a short video and more pictures of the day, please click this link:

 https://youtu.be/b0T-WfgHJN8?si=4NdlZ7lxSIOa26nW

"The flowers that bloom tomorrow
are the seeds
you planted today" 

Indian Proverb 

Sending Love and Gratitude to you all for your support.
Here's to a Happier, Healthier, Hopeful New Year.
Love
Adrianne and Rick

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The Conflict in Cambodia

 Dear Friends,

We hope all is well with you and yours. As some of you may know, Cambodia is facing a very difficult time. The current invasion of Thailand into Cambodia has been devastating in Cambodia/Thailand border areas. Thousands and thousands of people are fleeing their homes and finding shelter in other parts of the country; more than 400,000 people have been displaced. Thailand has begun to use airstrikes and are attacking cultural and historic sites as well as military targets. We are safe in the area we are in so far.

When we heard of how many people were struggling, we got together with a school and a friend we work with here. We bought needed items and we filled some trucks and went to the countryside where refugees have gathered at pagodas. We delivered items such as, two tons of rice, food, cooking oil, mosquito nets, blankets, tents, milk and formula for babies.

Many people are staying at pagodas and the monks are helping them as well. The families were so grateful and who knows when this invasion will stop. There is also a countrywide effort from locals, school children, and businesses to support the flood of refugees fleeing the conflict.

We will continue to assist the refugees as much as we can. It was very hard to see how the people are surviving, sleeping on wooden or cement floors or worse yet on the dirt. Some were sleeping on open trailers they use for hauling rice from the field.

Thanks to your kindness we are able to help and will continue to assist these refugees as well as our other projects. We will keep you posted. Thank you all for your support!!! and lets hope this conflict will end soon. 

If anyone would like to contribute toe the projects, please click the link below.
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/8908 

All the best to you and yours,
Adrianne and Rick

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