Daughters of Cambodia

I'm seeing more and more the way the country is held together by NGOs (non-government organizations). One of these which we were able to visit and learn more about is called Daughters of Cambodia and provides training and employment to support women out of sex trafficking.

We first went to the Daughters shop, which is filled with beautiful bags, jewelery, clothing, wallets, tablecloths and more--- all hand carved, sewn, embroidered, etc. What's really neat is that the women are given free reign over the design, so each item is truly unique. Above the shop is a small cafe where a couple of women are employed and trained in baking, serving, cashiering, and other skills needed to run the business. While we sipped delicious smoothies, we were able to talk with some of the girls there and a couple of others who are helping to manage the organization. Though Daughters is still dependent on the generous support of outside donors, it is seeking to move away from that in order to be lasting and self-sustained here in the community.

The shop is in a relatively touristy area (which is actually good because it enables them to charge a fair trade price) so after visiting here, we went to the slum area where brothels are rampant. Nestled in the heart of it is the Daughters center. Each room has a different focus: training, jewelery, cutting and design, sewing, carving, and packaging; it was so interesting to walk around and see the beautiful products in each stage. In addition to teaching these women skills and providing them employment, the center also offers counseling, medical care, creative classes, and optional Bible studies. There is also childcare as well as ante-natal care available as they really encourage women to keep their children and so help them learn to love and provide for them. It's sad to see so many young pregnant women who probably have no idea of whose child they are carrying; yet it is inspiring to see them choosing to walk away from their former lifestyle and to know that resources are available to help them in this.

Check out more at http://www.daughtersofcambodia.org/


(a self-portrait done by one of the girls during a painting lesson and later displayed along with others at an art show)
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Tomorrow we start our projects. Everyone is doing something slightly different: Stephanie will be teaching First Aid, Alex will be showing school teachers crafts they can do with their students, Vince will be spending Mon-Fri in one of the provinces teaching English, and I'll be shadowing Tigor and so doing a little bit of a lot of things... none of which I really know right now.

However, this is what the schedule looks like:

Monday: Working at Morning Star Center- a place where kids and teens from a poor slum area can come when they're not in school to hang out, study, and learn music, computer and other skills. I think I'll be helping Tigor teach computer as well as working with the teens.

Tuesday: Tigor's day off so not sure what that looks like for me. If I'm not needed elsewhere, I hope to use it to get lunch/coffee with some of my English students (the Khmer teachers). In the evening I've been asked to join their Bible study (though I'm pretty certain it's all in Khmer...)

Wednesday/Thursday: I'll spend the night in Kampong Speu (a nearby province) and spend both days teaching English in the village there.

Friday: Back in Phnom Penh helping some of the elementary teachers at the ACTS school with their English as well as assiting with the children in anyway I can

Each evening I'll also continue to teach English to the Khmer teachers.

If I've learned anything so far, it's that all of the above will probably not be what I expect and even if it is, it's subject to change at any given moment... :)

I'm excited though!