Aroha: love, affection, compassion, tenderness, inspires us to go the extra mile
Rebuilding youth in Cambodia
Hi, I’m Annie,
“Life is short, love what you do.” That was the closing line of a letter my late husband Craig wrote me the week before he passed away.
This encouragement has stayed with me and I have chosen to live out his words by moving from the comforts of New Zealand to volunteer here in Cambodia - inspired to live generously, with joy and purpose.
With a focus on supporting tertiary education, the last 9 years have seen me mentor, guide, encourage and walk alongside many underprivileged and orphaned youth.
I'm witnessing cycles of poverty, illiteracy and neglect being broken every day.
But to continue this work, I need your support.
Aroha Project partners with Global Development Group, Edge Kingsland New Zealand, The Wave Church Opunake, Followers of Jesus Church and Living Seeds Community Church of Phnom Penh.
Goal: To improve the education, business literacy and employability of young people.
To achieve this, we have implemented the following activities:
1. Tertiary scholarships – three scholarships annually.
2. Vocational training scholarship - graphic design, finance & banking, mechanics, hair & beauty - three scholarships annually.
3. Business Mentor Group for Young Women - up to 10 young women - monthly training.
4. DayPro Shoes - small business in Phnom Penh that helps fund the project.
Goal: To improve the living conditions of local village people by responding to urgent and emergency needs.
To achieve this, we have set up an emergency community response plan. This includes:
1. Food parcels.
2. Medical interventions.
3. Monthly rental support for the elderly.
4. Bicycles for students to allow transportation to school.
“I would be so down now and not strong like now. I have no parents and I grew up in an orphanage but nobody can see that I didn’t have the same as them now because I am so strong now and feel so blessed to live in the Aroha Project with my mum”.
Letters from Annie
