Life amongst the graves

We paid a little visit to the community living in the slum of Smor San ! The particularity of this slum is that it is situated on the exact location of a cemetary. Indeed, its inhabitants installed their homes and live amongst the colorful graves of an old graveyard ! Important to know here is that no Cambodian people are buried here, since the khmer culture is opposed to cemeteries and preaches that people should be burned.

We began with a distribution of hygiene supplies: some toothpaste, toothbrushes, some soap and clothes. We had enough goodies for at least 120 people, everybody was thus very happy because they all could manage to get something of their own ! 

Then, we went to the house of a disabled family taken over by Shanty Town Spirit, including a grandmother, a mother and her four children. We talked with them for a while and they showed us around their little habitation. The oldest boy and the grandmother are the only members able to bring money to the family. The grandmother washes dishes and the boy manages to find small jobs around the area, despite his disability. Maira, with the help of Shanty Town Spirit, provides them basic supplies to support them (clothes, hygiene products, medicine, food). 

After that, we met another grandmother from the community, who told us that she had problems with her eyes and that she needed help. We noticed that she might be needing a cataract surgery. We spoke with her and managed to get her one since then. It is thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of the donors that grandmothers like her are able to be healed and to live freely in dignity ! 

Everybody deserves the right to have access to hygiene, health products and decent clothes. 

                                                 One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

    words by Matthieu Membrez

Happily studying with Maira !

We went to visit the community of Pre Tacom with Maira, as she does every Sunday. Pre Tacom, which was formerly situated on a river that is now dried up, is one of the slums whose children are taken care of by Maira. 

Every Sunday, she goes there to teach the smallest kids of the community various subjects, such as little stories from the Bible, painting and drawing, or crafting little objects. 

On that day, the kids learned the story of queen Esther, and they all made a little drawing of her, which they adorably gave to the volunteers ! They were all very concentrated to make the most beautiful and colorful drawing ! 

Then, it was time for the distribution. Indeed, the volunteers had come with hygiene products for every child, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and soaps. We had also brought some donated clothes for the kids. They all received their little something and were very happy ! 

It is such a marvelous feeling to see all these children gathering together and playing, drawing and laughing with each other while learning new things ! Every kid deserves to go to school and to learn in a safe, comfortable environment. 

                              One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

    words by Matthieu Membrez

The excellent school results of the Boeung Trabek kids !

We paid another visit to the Boeung Trabek community ! Indeed, we had some donated clothes to distribute, and Ermine needed to see the kids of the community to check on their school results as well ! So we were first welcomed by Sokear, one of the first children that Ermine took care of, and then joined by Srey Net, Srey Nith, Srey Lip, Ron and Terry’s grandmother ! They were all very happy to see us ! 

We first began with the clothes distribution, which were mainly girls’. In these moments, we have to remain as fair as possible so that every child gets about the same amount of things. We let the girls pick what suited them best and they were all delighted with what they received in the end ! Everyone deserves to have decent clothes and to feel good-looking in them ! 

Then, it was time for Ermine to check on the kids’ school results, as she does every month. Everyone handed Ermine their grades of the month and she gave rewards to the children who had worked well and progressed since the previous time. It is important for Shanty Town Spirit to keep a little stringency regarding the school results, so that the children understand the importance of school, education and hard work in life ! Because every kid has the right to go to school ! 

We were very happy to note that almost every child is below 10 in the class ranking !

It is always a very precious and joyful moment to go visit the community of Boeung Trabek a few times a month ! The kids always welcome us with big smiles and warm hugs ! 

                                              One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

                                You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

                                                           Click on Make a difference

                             OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

                                                          norodomermine@gmail.com

                                       Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

                                                            arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

                                                           words by Matthieu Membrez

Sokear’s dream job !

Ermine and some other Shanty Town Spirit volunteers including Maïra paid a visit to the Boeung Trabek community: we didn’t come over empty-handed ! Indeed, Nathy has very kindly donated her bike to Sokear, one of the very first kids looked after by Ermine who is now almost 20. Sokear was very happy about that since he was actually in need of a bike to go to work and to school ! 

Sokear took us to his house to see his family and his friends: Srey Nett, her grandmother and Srey Nith were there and they kindly invited us to stay a moment with them. So we talked for a little while: they told us about their school results, their job and how the children of the community were doing. Then, we talked about what they dream to become later. Sokear, for example, wishes to become a lawyer and is about to enter law school ! Thanks to his faith and his determination, and also thanks to the work of the donors and the volunteers, Sokear can get closer to his dreams ! 

After that, we visited a few of the usual families of the community, all always delighted to see us ! On that day, we came with bars of soap, toothbrushes and clothes for the kids ! All the children were able to get themselves one of each ! It really was a wonderful moment ! 

                                     One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

 words by Matthieu Membrez

Every woman deserves the right to feel pretty !

With the help of a few volunteers, we visited Boeung Trabek’s community (which is the first community taken over by Shanty Town Spirit). As usual, all the people were delighted to see us coming with gifts. 

We proceeded to a distribution of various hygiene products, school supplies, clothes and a few jewels that had been donated to the association a few days prior by Nathy. Everybody received something special, the kids as well as the women ! The atmosphere was joyful and everyone was smiling and happy ! 

In the name of all the volunteers working with Shanty Town Spirit and especially the women and kids who were able to benefit her beautiful donations, we thank Nathy very much for her generosity. These kinds of moments with the community are possible thanks to all the donors like Nathy and all the volunteers ! 

As we can see on these pictures, everyone was enchanted by Nathy’s beautiful jewels. All the ladies managed to get one of their own, and it suited them beautifully! Because every woman deserves the right to feel pretty and feminine ! 

                                               One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

  words by Matthieu Membrez

NEW UNIFORMS FOR THE KIDS

Thank you to the WIG, Women International Group, to having had the opportunity to deliver new uniforms to our kids from the slums.

The WIG is an active group who bring a diversity of resources and experiences together for social, cultural and educational enhancement. They raise funds and donate these via grants to worthy community projects in Cambodia.  They represent a huge number of women, from various countries, who meet together every week and try their best to help the others.

We receive a donation from them.

Sokea helped us to build the list of the kids, age, heigh, school grade,  etc…  It represents a lot of work, because if sometimes the uniforms are not the correct size, Sokea help them for the exchange.

Each of them need 2 uniforms per year.

They are so happy when they receive their uniforms, it is a real gift for them to receive new clothes.

They use it on daily basis to go to school but also when they need to be well dressed.

This year, 65 kids received their uniforms, but we need more.  There are a lot more of kids who need the uniform each year.  One uniform costs 10 dollars.  Help us to be able to help more children.

                                       One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

Nathalie Bonpain: +855 (0) 15 652 691 (English and French)

  bonpainnathalie@gmail.com  

                                                         words by Nathalie Bonpain

                           --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LES NOUVEAUX UNIFORMS POUR LES ENFANTS

Merci au WIG, le Groupe International de femmes, établit à Phnom Penh, qui nous a permis de donner de nouveaux uniformes aux enfants des bidons villes.

Le groupe des WIG, est établit à Phnom Penh depuis de nombreuses années, groupe actif, organisant diverses et nombreuses activités afin de pouvoir collecter de l’argent et d’ainsi aider de nombreuses associations sur Phnom Penh.  Ce groupe est composé de femmes de toutes les nationalités, et elles organisent beaucoup d’activités pour arriver à mettre en place ces activités et donations.

Nous avons eu la chance de recevoir une donation de leur part

Sokea, qui est un des jeunes que nous suivons depuis le début, nous a beaucoup aider pour définir la liste des enfants.  En fonction de la taille, de l’âge, de leur niveau scolaire.  Sokea les aide également quand les uniformes ne sont pas de la bonne taille, donc il va procéder aux échanges.

Chaque enfant reçoit deux uniformes par an.

Chaque enfant est particulièrement heureux de recevoir ces uniformes.  Ce sont des tenues qu’ils sont très fiers d’arborer.  Ils les portent pour aller à l’école et également lorsqu’ils ont besoin d’être bien habillés.

Cette année nous avons pu délivrer 65 uniformes, mais nous avons encore beaucoup d’autres enfants pour qui nous ne pouvons pas encore leur fournir ces habits.  Donc nous devons trouver encore plus de fonds pour cela.

                                     One Spirit, One Heart, One Community                                      

      You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:

Click on Make a difference

                   OR contact  Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)

norodomermine@gmail.com

           Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)

    arun.aenorodom@gmail.com

Nathalie Bonpain: +855 (0) 15 652 691 (English and French)

  bonpainnathalie@gmail.com  

                                                         words by Nathalie Bonpain