SUNRISE CAMBODIA MARCH - JUNE 2018

Geraldine Cox AM

Founder, Sunrise Cambodia

A note from Geraldine Cox AM

Greetings to all our Sunrise friends.

Since April, I have been very busy with fundraising, presentations

to existing (and hopefully new) sponsors, and, most enjoyably, time spent with the Sunrise children.

As the school year draws to a close, I will be occupied with mentoring the children who passed grade 12 by offering them guidance on university options. Those who decide to go on to vocational training will also be offered an array of opportunities to choose from so that they can work in the field that is of interest to them.

I love this time of the year. It is truly wonderful to see how optimistic the Sunrise children are about the possibilities in their future. I have also been working on plans for new projects for the Sunrise

children and their communities, and I look forward to sharing these with you very soon.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know so many generous sponsors, all of whom have a real sympathy and understanding of Cambodian children and their needs. Your loyalty means the world to me and the Sunrise communities. Knowing that you are there supporting us gives us great hope. My oldest “boy” is now in his forties with a family and a successful career. There are so many success stories that you should all be proud of helping to achieve, including two Sunrise children, one of whom is now employed as a banker (with ANZ Royal Bank) and the other a lawyer.

Of course, there are so many more success

stories in the making. Without you, these children and their communities would never have the standard of life you have given them. Over one thousand Sunrise children have you, and only you, to thank for the better lives they are now leading. It’s an incredible feeling to know your generosity is there – okun (thank you) from the bottom of my heart.

Please keep giving as there is so much to be done.

Love and light,

The gift of mobility speaks volumes for children living with a disability, who often say that they feel inadequate to be a part of the community. Your generosity helps to eliminate these false perceptions and assists them to

have a prosperous childhood as everyone deserves.

Ra has been with Sunrise’s residential care programme since

she was seven. She suffers from cerebral palsy and was saved by an Australian visitor who found her being forced to beg in Siem Reap. Ra was poorly treated as a young child.

Her life turned around significantly since she has been under Sunrise’s care. 19-year-old Ra attends school and is performing really well. She was not able to speak until she began weekly speech therapy lessons with the first qualified speech therapist in Cambodia. Just listening to her pronounce consonants truly warms your heart as you see your generosity come into fruition! She was equally thrilled when she received her new wheelchair and can be seen speeding around the learning centre. She has no shortage of people helping to push her. Ra is really loved amongst her fellow students and she is treated just like everyone else.

Samuel came to Sunrise from Mother Teresa’s charity as they could not afford a full-time nanny for his disabilities. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which requires round-the-clock care that is only made possible through your generosity. These funds also cover the cost of speech therapy, his wheelchair and wheelchair accessibility around the school, helping to improve his standard of life. Just like Ra, he is deeply loved and spends time playing and engaging with the Sunrise children every day. He has now progressed in his speech therapy lessons and can count to 10 very clearly!

Okun (thank you) for supporting this vital work.

sunrisecambodia.org.au

S U N R I S E S U C C E S SON THE MOVE

Above: Ra and Samuel thrilled with their new wheelchairs!

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Thanks to the generous support of Revival Interiors and Valet Finance (Project Gen Z), the worn and damaged abode in Kamnor Thmor belonging to Rin Sokry’s family has been replaced. The new 4m x 6m house was built as part of the House of Hope Project, complete with concrete columns, a steel framework, a tinned wall and roof and wooden floors. The total cost to build the new home was US$3,000, consisting of a large, multi-purpose space and a toilet.

After completion, the Sokry family’s health improved. They could sleep more comfortably during the rainy season and felt safer in their home. The children could also concentrate on their studies and their parents no longer had to worry about funding for a new home. They can now purchase food and other necessities, as well as focus on building the family business.

Six families in the Kamnor Thmor community were given a personal toilet each, a US$2,200 project generously funded by Brendan and Bronwyn Richardson. The purpose of the project is to help improve hygiene and sanitation amongst impoverished communities, improving the standard of life.

Close to Home

E D U C A T I O N M A T T E R SCareer + WiseSaran Neang’s journey is a story

that we love to share with our supporters, particularly when describing her optimistic flair to

apply herself to her studies and achieve her goals.

Her optimism is a stark contrast from a childhood plagued with uncertainty, where Saran did not have the means to attend school. Before the age of seven, her parents moved to Thailand. Since they migrated there illegally, they were not able to return, leaving seven-year-old Saran to somehow earn a living to support her elderly grandmother, younger brother as well as herself. Saran did not have the money nor the time to enrol in school.

Saran was living with her grandmother when Sunrise first learnt about her circumstances. After meeting with Geraldine, she became a part of the Sunrise community at the age of 12. Saran says that after living at Sunrise her life has changed for the better.

“I have a chance to go to school, I have a chance to play sport and I have a chance to have a lot of friends at Sunrise,” she said.

Her most prized memory at Sunrise was first meeting Sunny, the Sunrise family dog, whose friendly nature made settling in to Sunrise much easier. With her studious approach to her education, made possible with your support, Saran was able to learn skills to support her through life.

“Before, I could never imagine where I am today, and I never thought I could speak English. Sunrise has taught me how to learn, how to work, and how to live my life better,” said Saran.

All that hard work surely paid off when Saran came to visit Geraldine to tell her that she had passed her four-year Bachelor of International Relations university degree.

“She is over the moon as you can imagine. I will try with my contacts in Foreign Affairs to get her a job there, which is where she wants to work. This has made my day,” said Geraldine.

Saran extends her warmest okun (thank you) to all the generous supporters who have made her journey possible:

Dear Everyone, Thank you so much for all your kindness, congratulations and cheering. A special big thanks to Mum for everything. I am so happy to step into this chapter of life. I have learnt so much, including how to manage my time with working and studying, how to support myself and other valuable lessons. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am now ready to go on to new chapters in life and never give up.

I love you all. Love,Saran Neang

Above: Pure joy! Saran smiling proudly after completing her Bachelor of International Relations degree.

sunrisecambodia.org.au

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Y O U R G E N E R O S I T YThe House of Hope Project

P R O J E C T T . A . BAll Systems GoIn mid-2017, Sunrise Cambodia Kandal

teamed up with student-initiated voluntary programme, Project T.A.B (Transcend Across Boundaries), to

commence sustainable initiatives that benefit the wider community. Travelling all the way from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, this group of dedicated students installed two hydroponic systems during their first visit, hoping to establish an ongoing partnership with Sunrise.

Sunrise were very fortunate to have them visit again to install a second hydroponic system with the help of a local hydroponics company. This involved building a hydroponic greenhouse and providing training for Sunrise to run and maintain the system. The unique farming method facilitates the growth of plants without the use of soil, which results in a greater yield and a faster growth rate of 30 to 50 percent compared to a soil plant grown under the same conditions. This effectively provides sustainable development and additional financial support for the Kandal community, providing a platform for the students to be inspired and become trained in beneficial farming skills.

Project T.A.B’s hydroponic system is a resourceful initiative that coincides with Sunrise Cambodia’s core mission of sustainable community development. Their vision is to not only to reach across

physical boundaries, but to overcome barriers developed as a result of underprivileged backgrounds. The group also engaged with local students in cultural exchange activities. As a firm believer that education is an empowering tool to help break the poverty cycle, Project T.A.B have taught Sunrise children English, science

and art to nurture their interest in learning.

We would like to extend our warmest okun (thank you) to the university’s OCIP (Overseas Community Involvement Programme) Committee for providing the opportunity for voluntary activities to take place in the Kandal community.

sunrisecambodia.org.au

Above: Project T.A.B and the Sunrise students in front of the hydroponic system they installed in May this year. Student-initiated projects are a wonderful way of showing support towards our cause.

Family is dear to Sunrise Cambodia’s work and with the assistance of local authorities, we are able to identify the needs of each family in the community and act accordingly. Our community development workers are continuously in discussions with the Provincial Department of Social

Affairs and community leaders to action urgent needs within the community, which includes providing housing, education, food and medical assistance. They established the House of Hope project as a means to address these critical issues.

Kamnor Thmor and Dam 94 in the Ampov Prey village were two communities that were selected as target areas for assessment. The social workers found that 12 families are living in poverty and in unsafe housing, some of which are rented. The House of Hope project is now one of Sunrise’s most vital initiatives in providing aid.

The estimated cost in funding a new home for 12 families is US$36,000, complete with a kitchen and a bathroom. Your support is needed to continue this vital work, and we encourage all contributions to help make a difference. Please visit https://scv.secure.force.com/donate/sunrisecambodia and be the change-maker today!

Okun (thank you) for your generosity that aligns with our vision to build a brighter future for Cambodia.

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We love hearing from our supporters.Please contact Sunrise Cambodia if you have any questions or would like to share stories and feedback. Our office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

K E E P I N T O U C H W I T H S U N R I S E

Email: hq@sunrisecambodia.org.au

Website: sunrisecambodia.org.au

Post: PO Box 2266 CLOVELLY NSW 2031

Phone: 1300 894 591

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunrisecambodia

Head Office: 39 Burnie Street CLOVELLY NSW 2031

A B B A S M E H R A N

ART WITH A HEART

Left: One of Abbas Mehran's Cambodian-inspired oil paintings entitled 'Culture Within'.

Above: Abbas Mehran and the Sunrise children with the butterfly mural he painted for the school.

Making a lasting impression in the art world is worth its weight in gold and in the case of Abbas Mehran, this is no

exception. With such a competitive space to affix the gaze of art lovers, it now takes more than artistic flair to make a good impression.

And by ‘good’ we mean really good.

Iranian-Australian painter, Abbas Mehran, commenced his artistic journey with a vision to create artwork that is culturally-rich and hope-inspiring. He has lived in Iran, Argentina, the USA and Australia, and draws his inspiration from a medley of cultural experiences deeply etched in every aspect of his work. However, it wasn’t until he taught art to children in Cambodia that he truly understood the significance of creative stimuli that inspires change and brings hope for the future.

“Observing, experiencing and reflecting upon lives of such children within different and distinguished environments provided me with additional and valuable ingredients – raw materials, which are indispensable to my art practises,” said Abbas.

Upon closer assessment, Abbas’ work is more than just oil paint on canvas. His paintings inspire a vision through a lens intonated by his unique insights into the human condition and traditional subject matters that speak of culture and life at large. His artistic creations are worth their weight in not only gold, but in compassion.

“Spending time with the children provided me with an exceptional opportunity to gain a more profound and reflective insight into and an understanding of the bewildering human nature and complicated human conditions,” said Abbas.

“I could observe those children every day and see how they are away from the world’s cruelties and corruptions; passionate and enthusiastic to learn, to live and to be,” he adds.

After spending some time with Geraldine and the children, Abbas was able to drive the children’s artistic flair on to fresh canvas and encourage them to follow their passion for the arts. It was clear that he was instrumental in the decision of two Sunrise students who went on to study Fine Arts degrees at local universities. Without a doubt, Abbas left his mark in

both the beautiful mural he created for Sunrise as well as the students’ hearts.

“Through his kindness and desire to teach art he has shown the Sunrise children that there are others in the world who are dedicated to ways to improve their lives and to assist them to grow in ways they could not ordinarily do in Cambodia without the commitment of people like Abbas,” said Geraldine.

“He truly inspired the Sunrise children, and I hope that you will see the love that has gone into his work and that you support his project,” she adds.

Abbas currently has 12 paintings from his Cambodian Children project available for art lovers and sponsors to acquire. 70 per cent of the sale price goes towards supporting Sunrise Cambodia’s education and community development initiatives. To view and/or acquire these artworks please visit: https://abbasmehran.com/art-projects/cambodian-children/

If you would like more information about any of Abbas Mehran’s artworks, please contact him directly on +61 400 611 376 or contact us at Sunrise Cambodia.

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