aussiesfororphans.org

Have had a HUGE time in Siem Reap. I sit to write this and struggle to find the words for some of the experiences I have had this week. As I did in Africa, I feel very privilaged to have been invited into some of the Cambodian people’s lives and even more so for them to graciously allow me to take photographs of their lives. I am always very reticent about taking photos as I feel it is intrusive but this is just “the world according to Janelle”. I always ask permission but even then wonder what is going through the heads of the people who are being photographed. It does not happen to us in Australia. How often would you be asked by a tourist if they could take your photo? I know I probably miss out on bringing a lot of images back to Australia for AFO due to this stance.

My main reason for the photo rave in this blog is that I was taken out to visit some of the families assisted by a courageous Khmer/Aust NGO called New Hope. New Hope is situated right at an old army camp on the edge of town and seems to be a place that people like to pretend does not exist. I marvel at the energy and commitment of this project and hope that there will be more we may be able to do with them in the future.

I was taken to meet four families who are in most need of new houses or roofs (wet season is upon us) and one woman whose house had collapsed the night before I got there. She has eight children and is living under the most extreme circumstances. The money my friends and I have provided will build her a new wood/bamboo/thatched home for her and her children. New Hope (and a wonderful sponsor from the UK) will provide her with rice, baby formula (as she is unable to provide breast milk to her child) medical assistance, clothing and education for her children.

I was almost physically ill after visiting this woman and her children and wonder what is to become of them. I marvel at her strength under so much adversity and was proud to be able to assist New Hope to provide her with a new shelter. Kerry is an amazing Australian woman and I do not know how she continues to put in the level of commitment she does. New Hope is directed by a local Khmer man Kemsour and between them and their staff and volunteers, they assist people who have the hardest lives.

I assisted with a few of their children’s English classes whilst out there. These are a bunch of bright kids whose opportunity to quality education is slim. I fear that my view of how education is taken for granted by adults and children in the west will be forever tainted. Education in developing countries is a gift and most children will never have the opportunities that our children have. We sometimes struggle to get our kids to school where these children (and families) give up everything to keep their children at school. Here, education is a future. As one woman said to my friend Robyn who works at New Hope “An education is one thing that no-one can steal from her children”.

I have also spent a lot of time with Tania, Rem and the team at Green Gecko and Billy and Sey from This Life Cambodia and am so grateful for all of the support and friendship the Australians working in these NGO’s have shown me. They have welcomed me into their projects and introduced me to many amazing people and of course I want us to be able to assist them all to continue their fantastic work.

Tania and Rem and their workers provide a warm, stimulating, supported environment for children who previously spent their lives living on the streets. The changes in these children in tangible and they are a group of lively, clever, happy children thanks to Green Gecko.Thanks for the inspiration and sage words of advice Tania.

Billly is focussing on education and I have spent many hours having the most wonderful conversations about how This Life Cambodia is approaching helping children stay in school and the integration of their families in this process. I will go away so inspired by this project and hope to be able to visit the scholarship students out in the village again. Billy and his team are not only assisting these students but are helping other Cambodian NGO’s get a good start. Thanks for all the chats and inspiration Billy.

I have realised that to plan to do too much in one day is exhausting. As in Africa everything tends to take twice the amount of time and energy as at home and you learn to pace yourself. I love a cold shower over here (at least 2-3 per day if possible) and if I can fit an afternoon nanni nap in I take it.

It has not been all work though. I have had a couple of foot massages again and of course there is the amazing food, yep it is so easy to gain weight here. Last night we ate at the local street stalls the tastiest noodles that cost $1usd per plate, fantastic.

I have been on a quad bike trip (ok, ok pick yourself up off the floor, I know this is so not like me) out to the local villages and watched the quintessential sunset over the rice paddies which is so SE Asia. I was a tad nervous but after the first 500mtrs I got my bike legs in and was speeding along lanes with the best of them. Definately a must.

So, today I say goodbye to some new friends and leave to go back to Phnom Penh in the morning. I am heading back out to New Hope for Cambodian Children outside PP until Saturday and then fly to Bangkok for a couple of days where I hope to visit the tiger temple and hang out with some elephants before I fly back to Brisbane and reality on Tuesday.

I have to say I am not looking forward to it. I need to find a job so I can afford to do some more study (relating to working with NGO’s in developing countries) and travel again. AFO will be working hard to raise money for our new supported projects in Cambodia and our existing projects in East Africa. If you would like to help us with our massive fundraising task please email us or ring me. We would love all the help we can get and have some great ideas to make it fun and worthwhile. We will make sure the money gets to the projects.

I promise to get lots of photos on the website when I return (it is a bit hard here) and of course we look forward to seeing the images Ashley produces from his stay in Cambodia. Excellent work Ash.

Loveth Janelle (Gibson)

Written by Janelle (AFO Committee)
I am in Siem Reap, Steve and Ashley left for Phnom Pehn on Thursday so I am winging it on my own now. It has been a crazy couple of weeks as we have fitted so much in. I have changed hotels and got a good deal on an Australian owned place as it is low season, its a little further from the centre of it all but the staff are devine (I am helping some of the girls with their English lessons) and it is quiet.

Today I am trying to relax into it a bit more, do some emails, hopefully update the website for AFO, drink iced lime juice etc but I fear that my ”I have to be doing something useful” way of working will win over and I will end up at one of the projects.

We visited two projects in Phom Pehn, one that I really like in a village outside that is run by an American couple, this village setup is home for 180 - 200 children, predominately living with HIV and they also assist another 800 children to live in their homes. Most of these children (apart from two) are orphans and it was only fairly recently that projects were willing to take children diagnosed as HIV+. I loved the home setup for the children and of course some of the stories broke my heart. This couple is so completely devoted to assisting these kids. I am hoping to spend a few days there again before I leave Cambodia.

The other project is a French organisation that predominately caters for deaf and blind children (with other projects being for street kids and protection homes). The deaf school was sublime, the children so happy and the teachers animated and engaging. Loved it…

We also spent a day visiting the genocide museum and the “killing fields”, the legacy of pol pot. It was so distressing and I could have done without that day. It does give you a greater understanding of the culture of Cambodia though and makes you a lot of aware and tolerant of some things…Horrific.
Phnom Penh is a pretty crazy busy place, although as it is low season it was a lot quieter than I remember from my visit three years ago.

We then caught a bus to Battembang but only stayed a couple of days to meet the young Aussie guy who is responsible for the running of another children’s village. Such an amazing guy, who at 23 has such insight, empathy and passion for helping these children. I dont know that I could do it. They have a great set up but as with all the projects we have seen, ongoing running costs are the issue.

In Siem Reap we have visited three projects, all as deserving of assistance as one another….Of course we want to help them all. Some projects are better set up (infrastructure wise) than others but all are providing for the needs of children and their families and I am in awe of the amount of passion and energy they have for what they are doing. A couple of days ago we went to assess a new project (for Aussies for Orphans) at a pagoda inside the walls of Angkor Wat, 25 children living with the monks who require improved living quarters and school supplies and a teacher. Devine children (only two girls), no English language and a portion of them are budhist monks in training so the photos we have taken will be amazing. I had to remember the restrictions placed on us (particularly women) when approaching and interacting with monks but they are still children. It was an amazing experience.

The Cambodian people are lovely and cannot do enough for you. After being in Africa I did not think I could imagine finding children more beautiful but I have to admit that the Cambodian children are devine and yep I have fallen in love all over again. Travelling in Cambodia has been so different to Africa, so much easier really. The closeness to Australia makes a huge difference to the NGO’s that work here and the type of aid that is provided. Having said that there is sooooo much poverty and need, especially when it comes to the needs of children and lack of education.

It’s hard to write about it all and not get caught up in the rhetoric of poverty and children’s needs that I am sure you have all heard before but if the universe provided 2 million dollars to me today I would have no problem finding the right places to put it in Cambodia and Africa…Its good to dream huh..

So…….I have another couple of weeks here and will be re-visiting all the projects and helping out where I can. Thanks to some wonderful people in Aus I have enough money to provide some really basic need items to children and families and I will let you all know what I have spent this on…Reading back this email sounds a little boring, maybe it is the heat (although this wet season business is not neally as bad as I imagined)…I think I am on my way to find a hotel swimming pool this afternoon. Just wanted to touch base and say hi. I hope everyone is well and it is not too cold in Aus.
Janelle

Phew, hard to believe it is almos the end of April. The year is just flying past and we have so much we would like to achieve.

PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY AFO UPDATE

HOME OF HOPE, SRI LANKA - We have recently spoken to Alfie as email access has been sketchy. It is planned that Steve will visit Sri Lanka in October this year to re-assess their needs for repeat funding in the future. 

MBAGATHI FARM SCHOOL, KENYA - Please see previous blog for a update letter from Judith at the school. AFO is assessing another round of funding for the school as they are with all their projects. This will soon be posted on our online wishlist.

ADZIWA ORPHAN PROJECT, MALAWI - We receive regular updates from Steve in Lilongwe. The two families living in the AFO funded homes are settled in and construction of the primary school blocks are well under way. The economic situation has taken a toll on the construction costs but the school will be completed. Once it is finished the children who are currently going to school in a very bare church hall will move into the new school building. We will then re-assess the needs of the projects and add these things to our wish list.

KESHO LEO CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, TANZANIA - All overseas aid projects have their challenges and this one is no exception. They are doing a fantastic job however and you will be amazed to see how far the building has come along, with the first of the accommodation wings and the clinic/managers residence completed and currently being fit out. AFO is attempting to source further funding for the fitout and initial running of the clinic and we will post a list of items that still need to be purchased on our wish list. The board of food,water,shelter anticipate that the first of the mamas and children will be settled into Kesho Leo village within the next month.

NAKURU BABY ORPHANAGE, KENYA - Nakuru has also had its share of onsite and personal dramas this year and we have been providing all the support we can. Ivan has been working hard with the local labourers to construct the first three nursery classrooms (funded by AFO) in their new academy and it is looking fantastic. They have also received funding for water tanks and have been  installing these in the local community at a furious pace before the next rains come (due in May). AFO helped collect items to be sent in two shipping containers to the orphanage which of course included school supplies. To be able to successfully send shipping containers to developing countries is a huge deal.

We are very proud of our involvement with all of these projects. New photos can be see on our photos page http://www.aussiesfororphans.org/photos/index.php

AFO COMMITTEE

As you can see from the projects above we will be busy finding ways to raise enough funds to assist our current projects and the children they support. We are also making a trip to Cambodia (self funded) at the end of May to assess new projects for possible funding. Cambodia will be the first SE Asian country AFO will move into.

I am sure it is no surprise to anyone that there is a huge need to support the children in Cambodia and fortunately for AFO we are finding that there are some amazing organisations doing so much already. They just need a hand. Aussies for Orphans ensures that they thoroughly assess all projects before providing funds. We have tax deductibility status through the ATO and 100% of tax deductible donations go to the projects. We ensure that donated money provided goes to where it is intended and we will supply all donors with feedback on what is happening.

In January we had two lucky breaks as far as media coverage goes. The long awaited episodes of Hot Property went to air and locally we had a very professional, heartwarming article featured in the Coastal Living Magazine. We were surprised and grateful to have so many emails sent to us offering encouragement, donations and assistance.

We have also been so fortunate to have some new volunteers offer to help us. AFO would like to welcome Kim, David, Tara and Ellice in Manly; Ashley, Jennica, Louise and Diane in Lennox Head, Kristie in Coffs Harbour and Chelcee in Lismore. These amazing group of people have bought much needed new ideas, energy, skills and experience to AFO and we are so excited about working with them to raise much needed dollars and awareness for what AFO is doing. Our aim is to have lots of groups all over Australia helping us achieve more for children’s projects in developing countries.

So, lots happening and I am sure I have forgotten so much. We hope to have regular news updates happening soon so please register for your newsletter on our home page. We welcome any suggestions or questions you may have and you will find all our contact details on our contacts page.

Warm regards, Janelle Gibson - on behalf of the Aussies for Orphans committee.

                                                    

  

                                                                 

                                                      

                                                              

LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL

Dear Pharmacists, Aussies for Orphans and Friends,

Here in Kenya we are eagerly waiting for the rains that are due at the end of March, the air tells us they are very close.  Last seasons crops failed in many areas due to poor rains, many people are hungry in the country.  Only recently the eldest of two brothers in Class One said to a teacher on a Monday, ‘Do you know the last meal I had was the one I had at school last week?”.  Some families can reach a point where they cannot get enough food to give to their children, this is difficult to imagine.  

Our school continues to grow, our girls boarding is overfull with some extra girls in each room and some in the common room downstairs, despite this the area is spacious and they are happy to have a safe and secure place to be.  The children are bubbling with health.  The children that benefit from the girl’s boarding house are thirty-four; they come from a wide variety of backgrounds. There are six girls living in our girls boarding, they initially came from the slum area of Kawangware in Nairobi.  They are doing well.

We have other new children who have come from extremely difficult backgrounds; we have a little girl called Faith who comes from Kiambu.  She was brought to our school by a community woman’s group because of her difficult situation at home.  Her father died of AIDS in 2003 and her mother is HIV positive.  Faith is HIV negative due to careful management after birth; she did not breast feed at all.  She has joined our Class One and she is happy to be with us.

We also have a girl called Mary who was also brought to our school due to her difficult background.  Mary’s parents both died of AIDS when she was four years old, she is from a family of three but her younger sibling died, she has an older brother.  Mary lives with her grandmother during the holidays, her grandmother is now very old and her conditions there are hard.  Mary is in Class Five.  We also have two girls from Mogadishu who joined us last year with their two brothers.  Their uncle found our school and managed to get the four children out of

Somalia.  They were living under the sound of gunfire, often having to move to safer areas, their school life was continuously being disrupted.  They are happy to be with us.

All our children are grateful to be in the boarding, so much so that many day children wish they were also boarding!

The children’s daily routine is to be up by 6.30 a.m. then breakfast is at 7 a.m. with freshly baked brown bread from our wood burning energy saving oven with a drink of cocoa.  The school day starts at 8 a.m. at 10.30 a.m. all school children receive a millet porridge called Uji.  At 1.00 p.m. all school children receive a hot lunch and fruit.  The school day finishes at 3.30 p.m.  By 4.00 p.m. the boarders receive a snack and a drink of cocoa.  The children then have their shower and at 6.00 p.m. they have their evening meal.  Study times starts by 7.30 p.m. and all the children should be in bed by 9.00 p.m.  At the week-ends, children help clean their rooms and different areas, there are activities, walks or outings.  On Sunday mornings the children are taken in the school bus to their local town of Ongata Rongai where they attend church.

The school is also developing with increasing number of children joining us.  We now have 270 children in the school.  We have applied for funding to the German Government to build two more classrooms, a kitchen, verandah as well as the second wing of the girls’ boarding house.  We will know hopefully by May if we are successful, if so we would plan to build in September 2009.

We very much hope that some of the pharmacists who helped Aussies for Orphans build our girls boarding home will one day visit Kenya and see how their money has made such a difference to the lives of many children.  Your initiative in supporting projects is admirable and important, keep it up.

We send our greeting to you all from our School here in Mbagathi Kenya and thank you. Best wishes, Judith - On behalf of our School Community.

Written by Janelle Gibson on behalf of the AFO committee

For Christmas this year, Aussies for Orphans (AFO) would like to give you the gift of knowing just how much you have contributed to changing the lives of so many children, women and communities in East Africa.In January this year we auctioned our beautiful Aussies For Orphans house in Ballina Heights NSW. As you know, we were absolutely thrilled that all of ‘our’ hard work paid off in such an amazing way, with a profit of over $100,000 being raised to go towards AFO projects in East Africa. We could not have made this fundraiser such a success without the assistance of so many generous businesses, community groups, friends and people from our local community.

Our journey through the house auction project was filmed by the Chanel 7 show Hot Property. After numerous phone calls chasing up Channel 7 this week, they have informed me that they are “almost sure” (don’t you love that) our filmed piece on Hot Property will go to air on the 11^th and 18^th of January 2009. Unfortunately we have no control over this but all going well the program will go ahead. We have experienced that it is not all glamour being TV stars and we have certainly learnt a lot from this experience. I think I could probably do without my 15mins of fame (when you see it you will understand why) but we are all hoping it will have a positive effect on what we can continue to do to assist children in need.

I have recently returned from my second six month stint in Africa (self funded) and this time was joined by Sue, Steve & the kids (Lewis) where we all visited the new projects in order to ensure that all the money contributed by this fundraising project went where AFO intended. I was also able to go back and spend some time at Mbagathi Farm School in Kenya where AFO (with the assistance of the Nadglen Pharmacy Group) built a home for boarding students from vulnerable backgrounds in 1997. I could not believe how much the children had grown, not only in size but also in confidence. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me that they remembered and called out my name the day I first came back to the school. Yes there were tears.

I hope you enjoy the report I have put together. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. My passion for the children and AFO projects is very well known and I never tire of talking about them. The Aussies for Orphans team are very proud of all of our supported projects and we look forward to continuing to provide funding to many more. Your contribution to AFO assists us to continue to support these projects. Merry Christmas from all of the members of the Aussies for Orphans committee and the children we support.Asante Sana (thank you so much),          

Janelle Gibson  info@aussiesfororphans.org                 PH: 6687 6004   M: 0434 025933 

AFO committee = Sue & Steve Lewis, Oscar & Violet Bakos, Bob & Lyn Grivas, Deanna Savage, Janelle Gibson, Jenny Stuart and Margaret Shaw 

See link for new photos

http://www.aussiesfororphans.org/photos/index.php

PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2008

ADZIWA PROJECT – MALAWI , EAST AFRICA

This successful project is situated in the slum village of Kauma, which borders the capital city of Lilongwe in Malawi.

Malawi is rated as the 4^th poorest country in the world and the situation for children is dire. Reports estimate that over 70,000 children in

Malawi are orphaned each year.

AFO was approached by an Australian family living in Malawi to assist with a project aimed at providing homes for extended families, land to grow crops and a school/community centre for training. After careful deliberation AFO agreed to provide funding for 2 x 3 bedroom homes to house ten children each in a family situation and four classrooms in the school. Monies raised from the sale of the house have allowed us to complete this stage of the project and plans are in place to re-assess further funding opportunities. Our second assisted family moved into their house earlier this year and Sue, Steve and their children were there to help them celebrate.

NAKURU BABY ORPHANAGE (MIA) – NAKURU, EAST www.nakurubabyorphanage.com

Nakuru Baby Orphanage (Mission in Action) was opened by an Australian couple who now permanently reside in Kenya with their family. They have over 40 children who have been given the opportunity to live in a healthy, supportive, loving environment. We spent a week at the orphanage and I have to admit to being exhausted at the end of it. I am not sure how the family and staff do it 24hrs a day, 7 days a week but I have seen households with two children which are more chaotic.

MIA put a proposal to AFO for a nursery school as their children and many local community children are reaching pre-school age and the opportunities for schooling are limited. The commitment of this family, to these children could never be doubted. They are also very involved with assisting the local community in the form of clinics, housing, crops and very basic needs. During this years election crisis they worked so hard to provide welfare assistance to many people displaced by tribal fighting. I am in awe of their bravery during this terrible time.The nursery school building is well on the way and although there is still so much to do (and pay for) Ivan hopes to be able to enrol the children in 2009 (a huge goal). I look forward to helping out in the nursery school next time I visit and can just imagine the many photo opportunities and stories this will bring.

FOOD,WATER,SHELTER – TANZANIA , EAST AFRICA www.foodwatershelter.org 

I found this fantastic project whilst surfing the net for an alternative destination to Kenya when I left on my trip in January this year. Kenya was in the grip of political violence but as the ticket was already paid for I changed my plans and was invited to volunteer in

Tanzania until the Kenyan situation was more stable. ‘Kesho Leo’ children’s village is located 7km outside Arusha in the village of

Sinon. The aim of this eco-friendly village is to provide a self sustainable life for sixteen mamas (single, widowed or vulnerable women) and five children each (a mixture of their own children and orphans). This project also acknowledges the importance of forming strong community ties for these women so the project will also offer training and assistance to local farmers in organic farming, courses for women and youth, nursery school and health classes to name a few. A clinic is also being built to provide for the women and children at the village and eventually the wider community.

AFO has committed funds to build six sleeping bomas to accommodate a mama and five children and the building process is going well. FWS hopes to have the first round of residents settled into their new home by January 2009.Thanks so much for reading, Merry Christmas and a fab New Year…Janelle New photos can be found on the link below

http://www.aussiesfororphans.org/photos/index.php