Dear Friends,
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| Bamboo | |
We are now here in Bangkok and as a friend put it, we are resting and reflecting. This will be our last update for this year’s trip, as we will soon be winging our way home.
We arrived back from Myanmar and did a quick turn around and headed back out to the Tonle Sap Lake as we needed to meet the bamboo seller to pay him. We boarded the boat and again the water level had dropped, each time the trip gets longer (and hotter). We are so impressed with the boat pilots and their knowledge of the waterways. This time we brought some wood, chicken wire and four chickens so we could get the solar powered chicken pilot project up and running. When we arrived the bamboo was in front of the K.I.D.S. School and the teacher and commune chief were there from Steung Trove village, where the bamboo was going. We paid for the bamboo and metal roofing and had a visit before they towed the large rafts of bamboo to their village, a few hours away. They were very happy and grateful to be able to refloat the school. We also brought school supplies for all 75 children, as they did not have anything at the school except a blackboard and chalk.
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| New chicken coop |
We stayed in Moat Kla a couple of nights and built the chicken coop with the Principal and a teacher. We are pleased to report that the chickens happily gorged on the insects that came in droves to the solar powered lights that evening and so it appears that the chicken project will be a success and we can expand it next year.
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| Laundry tub boat |
While on the lake some children from the “neighbourhood” came over to visit, arriving in different forms of floating vessels, including big aluminum laundry basins, which they paddled with their hands; amazing balance these young ones have. On our last day the small kids from across the way were visiting and we asked if they would like our new mosquito net, as we would not need it any more. They said they did not have one, as they could not afford one. We put it in a plastic bag and they rowed it over to their small platform of a house. On the way the little girl kept stopping and calling to her mom and holding the bag up triumphantly, like it was a prized trophy. The mother and father were busy trying to extend their house with whatever scraps of wood they could find. When the mother looked in the bag and saw the net she gave us a huge smile and an even bigger wave…an image that will always stay with us. The mosquito net cost $5.00, so little for us and so much for them.
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| New computers |
Our last days in Siem Reap were spent saying goodbye, picnicking with kids and signing contracts, etc. The night before we left we took pizza over to the girl’s home and the boys from the boy’s home were also there. As we have said before, You Vath, the director of the girl’s home, has managed to keep the boys home running (on a shoestring). Thanks to more donations that came in K.I.D.S. is now able to help support these wonderful boys, they are a great group and really have no one, except You Vath, so how can we not help! We all had a terrific time and we presented both the girl’s and the boys with a computer; one donated by friends and the other we bought…needless to say they were thrilled and the older kids started practicing what they knew right away while the younger children entertained us with their newly acquired English skills by singing us songs, with great gusto.
The work we are involved with here was driven by a great tragedy in our lives. Today is the date of our daughter’s death thirteen years ago. In the beginning we did not know how we would go on without Danielle. So many people have supported us in our loss throughout the years. In our work here we have also met those that have endured great difficulties and tremendous losses themselves. These examples of the resiliency of the human spirit have assisted us greatly to reconstruct our own lives and work together with you in the formation and evolution of K.I.D.S. We cannot thank you enough for your support and compassion in helping K.I.D.S. bring education, healthcare, clean water, relief and hope to children and families in need. We also thank those we work with here, who dedicate their time and energy, year in and year out to improve the lives of others.
With great appreciation,
Adrianne and Rick
