As we begin the 5th month of 2008 I would like to share with all my friends and supporters my last Pay It Forward experience from 2007.
After Paying it Forward in Pakistan last November, I traveled to Cambodia to visit the Centre for Children’s Happiness (CCH). The Centre for Children's Happiness was founded in 2002 and it provides a home and education to approximately 150 children. The children are either orphans or belong to parents who cannot take care of them due to illness, disability and poverty. These children previously worked as garbage pickers at the Steung Mean Chey landfill in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
After hearing about CCH through a good friend back in 2006 and seeing the short documentary now posted on the PIFP page, I knew I had to get involved and at least make a difference in the life of ONE of these children.
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After spending 15 days in Pakistan buying cows, I couldn’t wait to go to Cambodia! It was a magical moment when I walked into CCH; the kids, would run up to me with their arms open, beautiful BIG smiles, filled me with hugs and welcomed me as if this was my new home. I have never experienced such a moment, feeling at home in a place that I have never been before.
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I met with Mr. Sokha, Founder of CCH who made PIFP’s visit fit to the kid’s busy schedule. The next day I had a chance to visit Steung Mean Chey landfill outside of Phnom Penh. This was also an experience I will never forget.
There are no documentaries or pictures that can truly convey what it was like to be there. The odor, sounds of trucks coming and dumping trash...the sound of kids laughing despite all that was going on around them. In the few years of humanitarian labor I have been involved in, I have NEVER seen ANYTHING like this, to think that there are places around the world that are worst than Steung Mean Chey is hard to believe. For the first time in a while, I felt such an immense sense of frustration knowing that we were able to ONLY rescue one child…
The visit was not long, as hard as it was to walk around the dump site for an hour; it was harder to understand how these little souls can stand to grow up in such an uninhabitable place. In moments like these, it is difficult to grasp the concept of making a difference “just†one soul at a time. Remaining focused had to be a priority, also seeing and feeling the outpouring of love from the CCH children, reminded me that one little soul at a time does work!
The frustration went away within the next few days, as I followed the children from CCH during their activities. Saturday after school was one of the many memorable moments as the CCH children were informed that a “visitor†(PIFP) from America was taking ALL 150 children out to dinner and the fair. Yes, 150 kids were ecstatic to know that the outing would also include ice cream! (a luxury for these kids). The ENERGY that 150 kids can generate from feeling blessed and truly happy can honestly “move mountainsâ€.
Another one of those moments was the very next day when I followed them on their “road trip†as they visited a nearby village to do an educational play for other children. Here is where I met Vuthy Nou a fellow humanitarian who had been teaching children in a small community because there were no schools nearby and children were not getting an education. Among these children was a very special 14 year old disabled boy named Piseth, who was not only literally dragging his feet on a make shift wheelchair, but who had also lost his father and sister to AIDS and his mother was also dying of AIDS. With only his grandmother to care for him, his life is full of challenges.
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The children from CCH brought a sack of rice to give to Piseth and his family after their play. While visiting at his precarious house we had the chance to speak to him. He was very shy and did not want us to see his mother as she was very ill. When we asked him if he needed anything other than the rice he couldn’t think of anything else he would need. That is when we realized that a more suitable wheelchair would really help improve his life! After talking to Vuthy and other visitors we drove him to a nearby institution that Vuthy had seen a few times when driving by and knew that we could purchase a new wheelchair for approximately $50.
Much to our surprise, when we arrived at the rehabilitation center, we found out that Piseth qualified to receive a FREE wheelchair! This would teach us all the power of action and just getting involved, no money was needed to change the life of this14 year old. Seeing Piseth in his new wheelchair helped reinforce the fact that lack of money should never be a reason for lack of action. Since the wheelchair was free, PIFP donated $150 to start a small library for the kids in the village where Piseth lives.
Finally, let me introduce you to the little soul we were able to help during our visit to CCH. Her name is Channy, she is a 4 year old whose dream is to be a teacher, and her favorite foods are fresh vegetables and fruits. She was rescued last July from garbage picking at the dump. When I found out that there was no one to pay for her to continue her stay at CCH I knew that PIFP had to step in and help her, so we did. PIFP committed to pay $700 per year until she turns 18 years old in order for Channy to have the life that she deserves.
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To think that it only takes $1.91 per day to change Channy’s life, only reinforces the fact that lack of money should never be a reason for lack of action.
Thank you for taking the time to read how Pay It Forward Project is making a difference ONE little soul at a time.
With Love,
Denise =D
www.payitforwargproject.org
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Building shelters in Pisco, Peru together with NGO "UN TECHO PARA MI PAIS ~PERU~"
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PAYING IT FORWARD AROUND THE WORLD 2008:
• Mexico
• El Salvador
• Argentina
• Peru
• Pakistan
• Cambodia
To learn more about each one of these projects please visit our website www.payitforwardproject.org
OR
you can visit our blogs
Choose to get involve and make your contributions TODAY!!!
NOTE: - To designate your donation for a specific fund or purpose, please enter a description of how you would like your donation to be used under the “Designation†part of the form, such as Pakistan, El Salvador, etc…
PIFP is a Non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Consequently, gifts, contributions and grants of cash are tax deductible under U.S. Federal or State law.
Our Mission
Our Project has been established to assist in rebuilding the lives, self worth, and the spirit of individuals living in developing nations. The donations collected from our fundraising efforts will personally be delivered to the neediest individuals, families and organizations.
The money will be put to use in the most economical, culturally appropriate and advantageous way for the recipients, whether it is to help them with their health, livelihoods or education. The intention being for the recipients to in turn establish and implement grass root programs with the aim of developing self sufficiency.
100% of monies donated to our organization will go to the individuals who are in need of our services. All travel and transportation expenses will be provided by the board members out of their own pockets.
I truly believe in the power of one; that everyone can make a difference and when this is complemented with a team, GREAT things can happen!! I used to think that something tragic needed to happen to get people motivated to do something or to simply find a purpose in life. I no longer think so, I now know that we all have a choice, and I choose to get involved!
Please visit my webpage at http://www.payitforwardproject.org
