Cambodian Orphanage

https://www.facebook.com/cambodiankidsCIO/

On my last day in Cambodia I was able to spend some time at an orphanage. I had read in the brochure at the hotel that you could do this, but I was skeptical. I had read that many of them were abusing children and you would do more harm in visiting. I talked to my tour guide, Saven, about it, and she said she had a friend that died and the husband ran off to Thailand and left the twins, and they were in an orphanage nearby. I told her I wanted to visit and she volunteered to take me, without pay. She wanted to see how the kids were doing there.

She picked me up on her motorbike and we set off. I remember riding on the back of Kevin's motorcycle and being scared to death, but even with the crazy traffic I felt like I would be ok. The traffic in Siem Reap is crazy. Tok Tok's are one of the rides of choice, besides motorcycles and cars. What an adventure.

Seven and I

With a helmet

We drove out of the city for a bit and stopped at a small market and I bought 25$ worth of rice for the orphanage. Seven called and 2 boys came out on a motorcycle and picked up the rice.

They just moved into a new building recently. There are 39 kids and they are taken care of by a man and his wife who have 4 children of their own. They were getting ready for lunch and all the kids looked like they had little jobs to do to help. The meal consisted of rice and a soup with a small amount of meat and vegetables. There are 39 kids residing there. From age 3-18. Once they turn 18 they help the kids find a job and they can live on their own.

I met a lady from Australia who has been volunteering on her holidays for several years. She teaches the kids English lessons. After the kids ate lunch they all washed their own tray and helped clean up. I asked how I could help and they said I could sponsor a child, so I have decided to sponsor a girl named Sokleng. She is 15 years old. I am so blessed. I was adopted as an infant...and count my blessings everyday. I don't understand why it is so hard in this world. Such sadness and such hardships for so many people. I wish I could do more to help.

Sokleng

They insisted on feeding us lunch after. I didn't want to take food from the kids, but they insisted. I felt even worse when they gave us a plate with meat and vegetables in addition to the rice and soup. I took a little tour around the home, talked with the kids, and even taught them The Hokey Pokey. Then we said goodby and left. What a great experience, and one I would love to repeat.

On the way back to the hotel Saven had me try fried bananas and sugar cane drink. We also stopped to see some people making silver and silk things to sell.