Richard Page
HOPE Cambodia 10k Run
Fundraising for HOPE - Harnessing Opportunities through Play and Education
Story
Thank you for taking the time to read about our effort to raise some money for a very good cause.
Last year I visited Cambodia and during my time there I found it to be a truly incredible place and was really moved by the countries natural beauty, its people and how welcome I was made to feel. I came away feeling inspired by the spirit of the Cambodian children and thought a lot about what opportunities they would have as adults. Very many children there do not have the opportunity of education and I decided with my friends Areeba, Shaher and William to support them by trying to raise sponsorship through doing a 10k run.
On coming home I reflected on what a positive experience it had been, especially given the horrors experienced by this country in its not so distant past. I strongly urge anyone that does not know about the modern history of Cambodia to spend a little time reading about it. In very brief summary, after the Vietnam war a power vacuum was left which led to one of the most horrific losses of life and cases of suffering seen in the twentieth century. The Khmer Rouge administration, under Pol Pot, caused the death of over 20% of Cambodia’s population, about 2 million people, in just four years. Many died through starvation or being worked to death whilst others were tortured and put to death by more direct means. One particular group that was actively targeted for death and torture in this way were those that showed signs of an education.
Only since the 1990s has Cambodia really started to escape its past and only now are some of the people responsible being brought to justice through the current war crimes tribunals. Many people are still suffering from the aftermath of these atrocities, with large scale poverty and many suffering from lack of education. The children I met in Cambodia were an inspiration because they had such a strong desire to work hard and to learn, working to earn a dollar or two a day to fund their schooling by selling to tourists or acting as guides. Not all children, however, have these opportunities to get into education.
Hope (Harnessing Oppurtunities through Play and Education) for Cambodia is a charity which provides the opportunity of education for children that otherwise would not get it through the Sangkheum Center for Children. It also provides the means for these children to support themselves after finishing education and integrate into society in a productive way through the Sangkheum Program for Young Adults.
http://www.hopeforcambodia.org.uk/projects/sangkheum
http://www.hopeforcambodia.org.uk/projects/youngadults
We hope that you will join us in supporting this charity and the great work that they do. A typical teachers’ salary in Cambodia is $25-$50 dollars a month so your donations will go a long way in making a real impact.
Thank you for your support,
Richard, Areeba, Shaher and William.
Last year I visited Cambodia and during my time there I found it to be a truly incredible place and was really moved by the countries natural beauty, its people and how welcome I was made to feel. I came away feeling inspired by the spirit of the Cambodian children and thought a lot about what opportunities they would have as adults. Very many children there do not have the opportunity of education and I decided with my friends Areeba, Shaher and William to support them by trying to raise sponsorship through doing a 10k run.
On coming home I reflected on what a positive experience it had been, especially given the horrors experienced by this country in its not so distant past. I strongly urge anyone that does not know about the modern history of Cambodia to spend a little time reading about it. In very brief summary, after the Vietnam war a power vacuum was left which led to one of the most horrific losses of life and cases of suffering seen in the twentieth century. The Khmer Rouge administration, under Pol Pot, caused the death of over 20% of Cambodia’s population, about 2 million people, in just four years. Many died through starvation or being worked to death whilst others were tortured and put to death by more direct means. One particular group that was actively targeted for death and torture in this way were those that showed signs of an education.
Only since the 1990s has Cambodia really started to escape its past and only now are some of the people responsible being brought to justice through the current war crimes tribunals. Many people are still suffering from the aftermath of these atrocities, with large scale poverty and many suffering from lack of education. The children I met in Cambodia were an inspiration because they had such a strong desire to work hard and to learn, working to earn a dollar or two a day to fund their schooling by selling to tourists or acting as guides. Not all children, however, have these opportunities to get into education.
Hope (Harnessing Oppurtunities through Play and Education) for Cambodia is a charity which provides the opportunity of education for children that otherwise would not get it through the Sangkheum Center for Children. It also provides the means for these children to support themselves after finishing education and integrate into society in a productive way through the Sangkheum Program for Young Adults.
http://www.hopeforcambodia.org.uk/projects/sangkheum
http://www.hopeforcambodia.org.uk/projects/youngadults
We hope that you will join us in supporting this charity and the great work that they do. A typical teachers’ salary in Cambodia is $25-$50 dollars a month so your donations will go a long way in making a real impact.
Thank you for your support,
Richard, Areeba, Shaher and William.
Apologies for late notice but Vicki is no longer taking part in the run.