After almost 12 months to the day of our fundraising event we are heading over to Cambodia at the weekend to see the finished school and attend the official opening!
I want to again thank everyone for your support to date, and there have been so many ways that you have supported, by those that were our key speaker/entertainer on the evening, by being a sponsor, by attending our evening, by donating, by adopting a toy to send, by donating a recipe for the upcoming fundraising cookbook - everything and every way is fully appreciated and going to such a great cause.
Today for me will be a day of last minute tidying up of things I need to do before I go and making sure I have everything in order - visa's, medicine, first aid kits, invoices for all the shipments that have gone....and before I even get any clothes in my suitcase I have about 13kgs of rugby rippa flags and waistbands to somehow get in!
The shipping side of things has been a big task - and again thank you to Michael and Chris at Midlands Seed Limited, Ashburton, who have done this big job for me and the Company for so generously sponsoring this side of things - by no means an inexpensive exercise, the paper work has been immense and the taxation for entering Cambodia has been a learning curve - even when itemized for charity! All the cartons have been sent to Auckland from here by road, and held in storage, and will fly tomorrow so as they will arrive just before we do.....fingers crossed! ....so there was minimal time for them to be stored minimizing risk.
Temperture wise we will be heading into a temperture range of late thirties and above, not to mention the humidity, so we will definitely need to keep the fluids up and the sunscreen on - and with me being blonde and fair skinned and having two auburn haired children we will need sunscreen in bulk! - Apparently with the malaria tablets that we need to take it causes hyper-sensitivity to the sun so we have got the highest degree of sunscreen we could get our hands on!
The official opening of the school will be starting at 8.30am to try and get finished before the intense heat of the day hits, so on that particular morning a very early start to travel to the village, with all the cartons of backpacks, toys, sports equipment and gifts and un-packed and organized. I can't wait to see the light go on in these children's eyes - that will make everything worthwhile.
Twelve months ago, I stood in front of the people that came to our fundraising evening and made a speech, and in that speech I said "life isn't about sitting back and thinking that as an individual you can't make a change, because if you see an opportunity and have a belief in yourself, you can and will make it happen" - I said it then as I believed it, I believe it even more now.
Wish us luck!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
On the countdown!
Just 3 weeks to go until we head to Cambodia to open the new school - who would have guessed that 12 months ago almost to the day we will be there and opening the new school - unbelievable!
I have always tried as a mother to teach my children that even as one person you can, if you take the challenge, make a difference - and we know that a difference has and will continue to be made here in the small village of Makak, and in the future in other villages.
I can't comprehend at this point how emotional this journey will be it will be hugely life changing not just for me but for my children.
Once again a huge thank you to everyone who has in the past supported this venture, through attending our charity function through to the "adoption" of one of our toys - every dollar has made a huge difference!
We hope that all our supporters will join in with our new fundraising venture - the publishing of a cookbook - all it takes is an email to me at green33@xtra.co.nz with your favourite tried and true recipe - we do the rest! All details can be found for this on the left hand side bar under "fundraising cookbook" - please join us and share the link with as many people as you can!
We have such a passion for what we are doing and with our upcoming trip to Cambodia it will be a valuable insight to us on where the true needs are and what best way we can as a Charitable Trust facilitate this.
As those who follow us on Facebook will know 16 very large cartons of sports equipment, toys, backpacks, gifts etc were shipped over last week - and all going to plan - will be there on our arrival ready for us to disperse. Desks and stationery will be purchased upon our arrival and all will be given out on the day of the official opening.
Looking forward to sharing some of the photo's with you so you can all see the results you have helped create!
I have always tried as a mother to teach my children that even as one person you can, if you take the challenge, make a difference - and we know that a difference has and will continue to be made here in the small village of Makak, and in the future in other villages.
I can't comprehend at this point how emotional this journey will be it will be hugely life changing not just for me but for my children.
Once again a huge thank you to everyone who has in the past supported this venture, through attending our charity function through to the "adoption" of one of our toys - every dollar has made a huge difference!
We hope that all our supporters will join in with our new fundraising venture - the publishing of a cookbook - all it takes is an email to me at green33@xtra.co.nz with your favourite tried and true recipe - we do the rest! All details can be found for this on the left hand side bar under "fundraising cookbook" - please join us and share the link with as many people as you can!
We have such a passion for what we are doing and with our upcoming trip to Cambodia it will be a valuable insight to us on where the true needs are and what best way we can as a Charitable Trust facilitate this.
As those who follow us on Facebook will know 16 very large cartons of sports equipment, toys, backpacks, gifts etc were shipped over last week - and all going to plan - will be there on our arrival ready for us to disperse. Desks and stationery will be purchased upon our arrival and all will be given out on the day of the official opening.
Looking forward to sharing some of the photo's with you so you can all see the results you have helped create!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Yum Yum Kids - we love you!
Check out these gorgeous backpacks that we are taking with us to Cambodia in July...they are just a few of the gorgeous designs we have purchased from Kate at Yum Yum Kids in Auckland.
There are 166 of these cuties sitting in my lounge ready to be packed up and shipped to Cambodia - each student will receive one and I am told they have never had one before so I am sure they will be very loved!
There are gorgeous designs for girls and boys, big and little, I have to say my favourite would have to be the "princess" - how cute is she and believe me the colours are even more gorgeous when you see them first hand!
Kate went above and beyond with her service, finding more stock when I needed such a large number, giving us a fantastic deal on the price, and also getting her supplier on board with the freight - thank you all so much it is very much appreciated and I know there are going to be some very happy little children!
If you have littlies in your life go and check out Kate's website at http://www.yumyumkids.co.nz/
How cute are these??
These little sweeties are just a sample of the many styles that we are taking with us to Cambodia in July to give to the children of Makak. I have over 230 soft toys in my lounge at the moment ready to box up for shipping!
I am putting these sweet toys up for "adoption" on Facebook,(you can find us by logging into Facebook and searching "Kids for Cambodia Charitable Trust" and then pushing the "like" button to follow along with us - we hope you will!) and also on our blog here - if you would like to help towards the cost of these toys you can by donating $5.00NZD to our charity and we will put a tag with your chosen toy saying it was donated by you, you also get to name your chosen toy whatever you think suits! Its a great way to put a smile on a little face - I can't imagine seeing the children's face when they get a toy of their own!
If you would like to help with these toys please email me at green33@xtra.co.nz adding "Toy" into the subject line!
These toys are so cute and everyone who has seen them here at home loves them!
Take a look at the entire "family" over on our pages on the left hand side of this blog!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Update on new cookbook!
Hi everyone, as you know I had posted a while ago requesting recipes for our new fundraising cookbook which was due to be published this year.
Following the devasting earthquake in February we have decided to postpone the publication of our cookbook until next year.
We are however still accepting - and now have a longer lead in time - for collating your favourite recipes so please keep sending them in, we have already received some fantastic recipes, and some from well know celebrities as well!
So please send them through to green33@xtra.co.nz and also ask your family and friends to send them through as well - a fantastic way to help a great cause!
Following the devasting earthquake in February we have decided to postpone the publication of our cookbook until next year.
We are however still accepting - and now have a longer lead in time - for collating your favourite recipes so please keep sending them in, we have already received some fantastic recipes, and some from well know celebrities as well!
So please send them through to green33@xtra.co.nz and also ask your family and friends to send them through as well - a fantastic way to help a great cause!
Just add windows and desks.....
Hi everyone, just a very short blog post today to show some new images sent through to us on the progress in Makak, Cambodia of the new classrooms.
As you can see they are almost finished, windows to be added, desks to be purchased etc...its all getting very exciting to see the progress and of course the countdown is on to the official opening in Cambodia on July 21st!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
It's nearly finished!
What a proud, proud moment to see these photo's sent through to me from Cambodia by Piseth Luon our "wonder man" who has been overseeing the building of our classrooms in the village of Makak. Without his knowledge and committment we would not have been able to achieve what we have in the time frame it has been - there aren't words to express our gratitude to Piseth and the people of Makak.
Photo 1: Sophie and the RR team on a brick passing line at the beginning of construction! - Sophie is in the brown pants and navy shirt - covered up for the fierce Cambodian sun!
Photo 2: Sophie (L) and friends helping with basic english in the classroom
Photo 3: Plans for our new structure.
Photo 4: In the early stages.
Photo 5: Ready for plaster.
Photo 6: side view.
As many of you will know, not even 12 months ago when our fundraising evening took place, little did we know how much the community would be behind us in what we were trying to achieve, and the initial goal of raising funds to build some play equipment was well surpassed, then came the dream of maybe raising enough money to build a classroom, that too was surpassed and as you will see the village of Makak now has a brand new building housing two classrooms to add to the existing classroom.
You will see the construction is brick and plaster and I have two bulging photo albums here at home with photo's from the beginning of construction to the stage it is at today. It has been built in brick and not wood as the original structure is, to withstand the intense conditions a cost we were prepared to make to have a structure that would be standing for many years.
There are 166 students attending the school - 95 boys and 71 girls - and at present we are working on new school uniforms for each of them. It was very important to me that as much opportunity for the wider community of Makak was involved - in the building etc, so we have the uniforms being tailored in the village - and I have heard it has been a source of great pride for the children to line up and have their measurements taken ready for their new uniform!
On their shirts will be printed our logo "Kids for Cambodia Charitable Trust" - these are going to be printed on a label here and packed in our suitcases and sewn on when we arrive there....which brings me to the exciting part!
The official opening for the school will be July 21st 2011 which we will be attending - we are all very much looking forward to being there, seeing what has been achieved and meeting with the children that Sophie has told me so much about.
We will be working at the school before the official opening, and hope to have the builders ready to make a playground for the children - things that NZ children take for granted - swings, sandpit etc - Piseth has told me the children will be very excited to have it as they haven't had one before, and I know my 9 year old son is very excited about being part of it all!
We will be taking some time to shop in Siem Reap for back packs - all 166 of them! - to fill with new stationery, pens, pencils - and maybe a few surprises!
I can't imagine what an emotional journey it will be, and what a proud, proud moment of a lifetime we will share and I can say to everyone that has been a part of this by sponsoring, donating, or attending our fundraising evening you can all be proud that you have been a part in changing lives half a world away.
Photo 1: Sophie and the RR team on a brick passing line at the beginning of construction! - Sophie is in the brown pants and navy shirt - covered up for the fierce Cambodian sun!
Photo 2: Sophie (L) and friends helping with basic english in the classroom
Photo 3: Plans for our new structure.
Photo 4: In the early stages.
Photo 5: Ready for plaster.
Photo 6: side view.
As many of you will know, not even 12 months ago when our fundraising evening took place, little did we know how much the community would be behind us in what we were trying to achieve, and the initial goal of raising funds to build some play equipment was well surpassed, then came the dream of maybe raising enough money to build a classroom, that too was surpassed and as you will see the village of Makak now has a brand new building housing two classrooms to add to the existing classroom.
You will see the construction is brick and plaster and I have two bulging photo albums here at home with photo's from the beginning of construction to the stage it is at today. It has been built in brick and not wood as the original structure is, to withstand the intense conditions a cost we were prepared to make to have a structure that would be standing for many years.
There are 166 students attending the school - 95 boys and 71 girls - and at present we are working on new school uniforms for each of them. It was very important to me that as much opportunity for the wider community of Makak was involved - in the building etc, so we have the uniforms being tailored in the village - and I have heard it has been a source of great pride for the children to line up and have their measurements taken ready for their new uniform!
On their shirts will be printed our logo "Kids for Cambodia Charitable Trust" - these are going to be printed on a label here and packed in our suitcases and sewn on when we arrive there....which brings me to the exciting part!
The official opening for the school will be July 21st 2011 which we will be attending - we are all very much looking forward to being there, seeing what has been achieved and meeting with the children that Sophie has told me so much about.
We will be working at the school before the official opening, and hope to have the builders ready to make a playground for the children - things that NZ children take for granted - swings, sandpit etc - Piseth has told me the children will be very excited to have it as they haven't had one before, and I know my 9 year old son is very excited about being part of it all!
We will be taking some time to shop in Siem Reap for back packs - all 166 of them! - to fill with new stationery, pens, pencils - and maybe a few surprises!
I can't imagine what an emotional journey it will be, and what a proud, proud moment of a lifetime we will share and I can say to everyone that has been a part of this by sponsoring, donating, or attending our fundraising evening you can all be proud that you have been a part in changing lives half a world away.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
