International Women's Day

 Dear Friends,

Today is International Women's Day, a day to celebrate how far women have advanced and to acknowledge the social, economic, political achievements of women globally. K.I.D.S. works to improve the lives of girls and women, through education, training and support.

An example of this is the Story of Sen.

Sen was born in 1984, just after the Pol Pot regime, which launched one of the world's worst genocides. The country was engaged in the civil war when Sen was sent to a refugee camp, Site 2, on the Thailand border, her parents had abandoned her before she can remember exactly how old she was.

She lived in a bamboo shack with an old woman, going to be hungry, tired and scared, and trying to sleep while listening to bombs landing around the camp. As she grew older, she would escape to the forest to hunt for mushrooms and plants to trade for rice.

In 1990, a Cambodian Social Worker named Sinat helped her and other children by bringing them food. In 1991 Sinat offered her the chance to live in an orphanage they started in the camp.

In 1993, Sinat and the UN organized the first group of children to be repatriated back to Cambodia by train so they could live in Krousar Thmey, one of the first orphanages set up inside Cambodia. Sen's life improved: she had a bed, food, education and the opportunity to learn traditional Apsara Dancing.

 

 

When we met Sen in 2005, we encountered a lovely, smart, kind girl. We learned of her dream to attend University. After she finished grade 12 K.I.D.S supported her to fulfil her dream. Sen studied to get her Bachelor degree in English literature, doing extremely well in her studies. Upon graduation, she got a job teaching English at a private school, and also became a dental assistant for an NGO, in addition to teaching Apsara dancing. With these three jobs she worked very hard.

In 2012, she wanted to keep her culture alive and open her own Apsara Dance School, teaching dance to Cambodians and Foreigners working in Phnom Penh. For five years, her students put on traditional performances hired staff and paid everyone a fair salary, all the while providing good working conditions. It was through this work she met her husband Benoit, who worked for an NGO that provided emergency service for foreigners working with the UN and other NGOs.

 

 

 

 

 

Today Sen and Benoit now have two beautiful children. Benoit was transferred back to France by his company, where they all live happily together. As Sen says, "she has a good life while she never forgets her past". She is very grateful to K.I.D.S. donors for making her dreams come true and helping her to turn her tragedy into triumph, as have many of the women and girls with whom we work. 

K.I.D.S. is committed to supporting girls and women by providing education and vocational training. Many of the young women we have all supported have changed their futures, are healthier, happier, and so successful they will also most certainly change the futures of their children

So here's to Women around the world!!!
Happy International Women's Day.
Thank you all for your life-changing support.

 

Until Next Time,

Adrianne and Rick