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

Making later life a little easier

Shanty Town Spirit supports families- this means all generations that make up a family unit. Elderly grandparents are often part of a family and have special needs. We have been supporting eight community elders until two of the grandmothers passed away this year.

We cover the costs of medical and dental check ups , treatment, medicine, surgery if required, hygiene products, along with household needs like blankets , mosquito nets, clothes and rice. We also provide small monthly allowances to make life a bit easier in replacement of a pension and to help them see out the rest of their lives with dignity.

For those in ill health, there are no hospices in Cambodia. 

Recently we lost Mrs Ret, 72 year old the grandmother of three children who was taking care of them because their parents were away working to earn money for the family.  We were assisting with her medical care and paying a modest allowance for general day-to-day living. She died in hospital after surgery for an intestinal infection.

Mr. Ret and Ermine share a moment

88 year old blind and handicapped Mrs Thorn also died recently. We tried to make her last few months more comfortable with help from her neighbours who took care of her like she was their own family member.

Mrs Thorn

We paid for both these ladies' funerals. If you would like to contribute to an elders life, please see the details below:

                                   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 Jessica Sander

Caring & Respecting the life of Elders

In Khmer the word for grandmother is "Yiey". Elders are highly respected in Cambodian culture and it is common for them to live with their adult children. Grandmothers play a particularly pivotal role in the family, acting as nannies and house keepers, providing a cornerstone of support to their children. In addition, they teach the younger generations about cultural traditions and pass down knowledge and experience about the "old ways".

Princess Ermine with one Yiey 

There are no elders pensions or formal retirement schemes in Cambodia, leaving adult children to inherit the care of these elders, often placing extra burden on finances. The scars of surviving the genocide taking their toll on their mental and physical health later in life.

This grandmother is blind and spends all her time in a tiny shack caring for her many grandchildren.

The families that Shanty Town Spirit helps, often have "Yieys" who are suffering from illness which is antagonized by the unhealthy surrounds of the slum. Our program chooses to support these women who have endured so much, given so much and deserve to receive care and consideration. 

This elder has full-time care of her two grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law are abroad working in factories.

Shanty Town Spirit where possible, pays for medical care including operations and treatment, as well as providing a modest pension to help increase their quality of life. For example, last year we covered the costs for surgery for one of the elders to have a gangrene toe removed due to diabetes and all post-surgery medicine, along with cataract surgery for another elder. With the generous support of our magnificent donors we have repaired, furnished and purchased household goods for some their homes. Shanty Town Spirit will continue to care for elders in the communities we work with. Words by Jessica Sander

Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Those who walked before us have given so much and made possible the life we all enjoy.

John Hoeven- Senior US Senator

                                     One Spirit, One Heart, One Community.                                        

You can help these elders

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

Jessica Sander: jessicasander87@gmail.com (English)

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

Arun.aenorodom@gmail.com