I’ve spent 5 of the last 6 weeks in the town of Siem Reap, Cambodia, over the course of 3 different visits. In between I ventured to Battambang, Phnom Penh, and
Taiwan, but just couldn’t resist coming back for more, especially to help with the fantastic work being done by friends on behalf of various NGOs in the town.
On one of my recent visits back to Siem Reap, I visited a school / orphanage, introduced to me by fellow Canadian and new friend, Tammy Durand. Founded in 2010, ABCs and Rice offers various food programs and free education in English and Khmer to the impoverished children in the Poom Sala, and Kroligne Village area.
There are currently 153 students at the school aged from 4 to 17. The curriculum includes Khmer reading, writing, cultural and morals programs, English studies, music, art/craft and sport and are focused on retaining attention spans and providing effective, productive learning.
ABCs and Rice is currently developing Full Belly Farm, which will house chicken and fish farms and also grow vegetables and bananas. This food will provide highly nutritional provisions for the Breakfast Club and the monthly food drops to families. Any additional food will be bartered or sold with proceeds going back into the organisation.
In addition to the Education Program and sustainable Food Program, ABC’s and Rice also offers personal support and development to the children and their families including medical and dental care.
The children were so grateful and so adorable, I literally wanted to bundle them up and take them home with me! They make the most of what they do have and have inspired me to help support such a great cause; I’m hoping to collect a bunch of children’s books and supplies in Vancouver to take with me the next time I visit.
Please help me to take part in contributing – it would truly mean a lot to me, and it would mean so much to these amazing little children.
To donate, please visit my ABCs and Rice fundraising page.
To follow along with the school’s & program’s progress, please like the ABCs and Rice Facebook Page.
Thank you.
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