EASTER TWENTY TWENTY TWO
Hello all my family and friends,
A short newsletter to wish you all a happy Easter and update you on life in Cambodia. It’s been 4 weeks already settling back in and finding my rhythm here again. It’s the hot, humid and dry season here so I’m also trying not to melt – thank goodness I no longer need to wear a sling. My broken bones are about 90% healed and I’m feeling strong again. Again, many thanks to all of you who helped me over this last 4 months with various needs and support for me. It was a hard time, but we got through.
Special request
I’ve decided at 57 I shouldn’t be hooning around on the back of a motorcycle so as some of you have encouraged me I have set up a givealittle page to help me raise some finances to get a small car. It would be such an asset to the project especially for the shop picking up stock and deliveries etc. and a blessing for me to take the students out and about safely, for traveling to the province to interview families and do the weekly delivery of food supplies. Here is the link and of course, any amount will really help. Cars here are expensive because of the high tax so I just can’t afford one.
Leadership Home and DayPro Shoe shop
The project has been busy. English classes are in full swing…they are so fun, and the students are so excited to learn which makes it a pleasure to teach them. Every week the classes expand 😊 we mix between grammar one night and conversations the next. I’ve included some little testimonies above from a few of the students.
The shop has started to pick up business a little with the trickle of foreigners coming back into Cambodia. The ongoing war in Ukraine has naturally affected the petrol prices here though (as in the rest of the world I’m sure) and so the economy is struggling as a result …I guess we can only hope for a slow but sure recovery post Covid too. Cambodia is one of the earliest countries in the region to fully open its border with no pre departure Covid tests and no quarantine hopefully this will resuscitate the tourist sector and we can sell some shoes and welcome some of you to Cambodia on your next holidays!!!
Community
Recently we gave out some supplies of stationery and small gifts to the local Jesus school students. It’s always such a delight to do anything for the kids here as any small giving makes such a huge difference to them. With Khmer New Year this week (similar to our Christmas) everyone is super excited about travelling to their home provinces to visit their families and friends for 4 days of water fun. So the gifts have started the excitement for them all as the last two years their celebrations haven’t happened because of Covid. I love that the project can give them some joy in this season.
Scholarships
Thank you to those of you continuing with supporting some of the students with scholarships. Although study now is slow going because of the lag with Covid we are starting to see some promising changes in the school system here. The students are doing their best and this year we will hopefully see a few graduate.
FINANCIAL INFO.
For those of you who would love to partner with us financially –no gift is too small! Whether through offering a scholarship for a student or for general support here are the details:
To claim donation tax (through GDG) in the USA, Australia or New Zealand click here. You can set up a one off, monthly or yearly payment towards a project goal of your interest.
Alternatively, pop your money in any one of these accounts and it all goes directly to the Aroha Project.
Australia ANZ Direct Deposit: WILSON 016141 299685840
NZ ANZ Direct Deposit: WILSON 06 0383 0164749 04
Direct Deposit: Edge | 03 0155 0451009-000 and reference 'arohaproject'
Well that’s all for this time around. Hoping you all have great Easter holidays and continue to be in good health until we meet again.
Here’s to new adventures.
Life is short, love what you do.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Arohanui, Annie.