There has been so much happening since I wrote the last newsletter it always takes me a while to gather my thoughts and get them written down. There is so much to tell you and thank you for. As I write this, I’m sitting at the graduation of four of the students we have been supporting. It’s an exciting day for me seeing the result of 8 years standing here today.
The saying about affecting one life is so true and to see the smiles on the faces realising that they made it to this point… because that’s not an easy thing in Cambodia.
Introducing the graduates
Manday
Been with me since day one in Cambodia. I have watched him grow up into a gentle and kind man with a passion for business. He will soon be running our little DayPro Shoe shop full-time. Growing up an orphan with very little opportunity he is now graduating with a degree in Business Management. Proud to stand beside him today.
Leak
We’ve been supporting Leak for the last two years through the project and today she graduates with a degree in Business Marketing. She comes from a good family, but without the scholarship, she would not have been able to study because the family have very limited finances. Leak graduates with an Outstanding Achievement award.
Pisey
Three years of a half scholarship today Pisey graduates in Business Management majoring in Accounting. Pisey married one of our other scholarship students last year and they now have a little baby boy to join their achievements haha!
Peakaday
Married to Pisey and presently working as a bodyguard he has been the other half of the scholarship with Pisey. He is also graduating in Business Management today and will plan to change work in the near future.
You are all part of these success stories today. All the donations for students are shared out to support them as best we can to keep them in their studies and now we have four graduates. I want to say a huge thank you for making today possible. We are literally changing Cambodia and changing lives together one life at a time.
I was thinking with this group graduating, maybe I can relax a little bit but seeing this result here today and knowing we can affect lives this way makes me so excited that we could do this for more people underprivileged and orphaned youth in Cambodia. Every week I receive requests for help from families wanting to keep their children at school or universities so please help me…
Help me raise up some educated successful students... help me change some lives… help me get them some opportunities to get out of poverty… help me teach students with nothing and grow them into a successful adult.
Community
Some of you knew about the family who house burned down a couple of months ago. With the emergency relief we were able to help provide the basic needs for this family and over this latter part of the month they have now moved into a small cottage on a piece of land (donated by another organisation). They are very grateful to the Aroha Project for helping them through such a traumatic time.
The other emergency call was for one of my students who had a motorbike accident and received a severe concussion. It was definitely touch and go for a while if she would recover. We were able to pay for some good doctors and surgeons which enabled emergency surgery to relieve a blood clot on her brain and she has now made a full recovery. Again – thank you to those who gave and prayed!
As I mentioned in my last newsletter my main needs for this year is for
1. Education:
Continuing support and partnering with me by continuing with scholarships and supporting poorer students with their extra classes.
One student is USD$50 per month for extra classes and for each scholarship student, one teacher is USD$300 per month.
2. Community:
Support for the backpack appeal - $25 will buy a backpack full of necessary school supplies for young students in need.
We have been asked to provide 80 backpacks (at $25 each) to two schools in the Kampong Cham province (very underprivileged students) so hoping to raise enough over the next month to do this.
This project brings significant results. If your business would like to sponsor a school or a certain amount of backpacks please let me know… we usually require about 30-50 packs per school and you can have it as a tax deduction!
3. 50-50 project:
Help me meet my goal of 50 people committing to $50 a month so I can do more.
My goal over the next two years is to find 50 people who could give $50 a month (or more 😊).
This would ensure that I have enough money every month to pay the needs of rent, transport, insurances, health needs and just general expenses I face here. I’m asking you to sponsor ME to ensure that I can live here a little while longer with a little bit less stress, knowing I have enough to live and give from. I think you’ve all witnessed by now, I genuinely strive to give what I can from all that I get, so I sincerely ask that you could consider this.
A recent letter from the Pastor at Living Seeds Community Church Phnom Penh:
First of all, I thank God for His provision through Aroha project.
Aroha project is rendering regularly assistance with extra classes fee to our high school students and salary to one of our English teacher.
This provide them with opportunities to make another extra mile in school and make better progresses.
With a teacher, many little students can come and study at iyr church for free everyday.
The support not only go to them, but also partly help with family financial burden.
We are praying that these students will continue to grow spiritually and walk God's way all their lives.
There are more students who is in need of help, pray that God will provide for them also.
Currently, we expand our classes as number of students go up. We are in need of some more tables and chairs, whiteboards and school materials.
Lastly, I would love to express a heartfelt thank to my good friend, Annie. She has a heart and ears of gold. She has done many great things according to God's Will and she deserves love and kindness in return, yet some people failed her and hurt her. To me, she is more than a good friend, she is a mother of many orphans, a sister who willing to talk anytime, a counselor who provide a lot of wisdoms. With her, your heart melt and your day is bright.
May God bless you and provide for all your need for yourself and your family while you are serving and doing greater things in Cambodia. Sending love and a bear hug that almost break your bones. From all of us! 💙❤🧡🧡💚💜🤎🖤🤍
We have two students desperately requiring help to continue at school. Here are the translated messages from their application.
I would love to apply for a scholarship from you. I am in much need of money for extra classes as my family faced financial problem.
In the future I want to be a police woman.
Horn Riya
Hello, my name's Sary Liza. I'd like to apply for a scholarship of math and
chemistry. The reasons: As my family is struggling and the money is tough for us right now. So, this scholarship will be a big help for me and I
need it to support my study as well.
Thank you for your consideration,
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'
Life is short, love what you do.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Arohanui, Annie.
