Three of Mike Armitage's Seven Children!

CCF UK's original founder and Chair Mike Armitage has sent us this image of three of the girls he sponsors.  They are pictured with their father and siblings.

From the left the 3 girls are Channa,Vanna and Vanny

Sceptical Surveyor visits Dump Kids

Earlier this year Belfast surveyor Nick Rose stumbled across an article in the Sunday papers about the successful (Scots) Hollywood film producer Scott Neeson who wandered into the area around the Municipal Dump in Phnom Pehn whilst backpacking in Cambodia. 

What Scott saw would change his life, a forgotten community living day to day by scavenging anything they could sell from the dump.  The experience haunted Scott and the following year he sold his house and cars, moved to Phnom Pehn and set-up the Cambodian Children's Fund.  That was 6 years ago and the Fund now provides clean water, food, shelter, heathcare and basic education for over 700 kids.

Nick has two young kids himself and the article touched a chord but Iike many people Nick is sceptical that donations to such charities actually reach the front line.  His initial investigations were positive - low administration costs and a maximum score for transparency from www.charitynavigator.org. 

Nevertheless, Nick wanted to see the charity in action and a planned trip to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand provided the perfect opportunity. 

These are his own words and photographs:

It is Monday lunchtime Cambodian time and I land in the sweltering heat of  Phnom Pehn. 

Scott Neeson is away fundraising and his right hand man Patrick McKinlay comes to meet me - a diminutive ex-army scotsman who came to visit as a sponsor and didn't leave.  That was 4 years ago and he won’t be leaving anytime soon.  Patrick says everyday is a challenge here and he would be bored at home.

We visit two of CCF’s five facilities in the poorest parts of the City - they are very basic but functional and clean - space is clearly at a premium, with rooms used as classrooms during the day and for sleeping at night.

I notice that Patrick and the Cambodian staff are all softly spoken with the kids.  He explains that many have suffered abuse or rejection from parents and they are slowly learning to trust adults again.

 We head off on foot into the areas where CCF have a presence and I see deprivation on a level that is difficult to describe.  The mud lanes are difficult to navigate and there is garbage absolutely everywhere.  

Groups of kids recognise Patrick and come out from corrugated metal shelters to say hello.  Their smiles are infectious and the warmth towards Patrick is palpable.

Patrick and I sit down to talk.  My immediate question is why the Cambodian  government is not doing more to help these kids. 

This question also troubled Patrick when he first arrived but he suggests you cannot look at the situation through European eyes. 

Cambodia is a poor country with a troubled past and no welfare state.  Whilst education is technically free teachers are badly paid and need to be subsidised by parents.  This creates a poverty trap that is almost impossible to escape.

We chat about the financial situation.   A major funder has just gone bust but they are optimistic that the money will be found from somewhere.   I suppose you have to be an optimist in this environment or you wouldn't get out of bed in the morning.

I ask what would happen to these kids if CCF closed it's doors tomorrow -  “someone would step in” he says but the look in his eyes tells a different story.

I leave Cambodia charmed by the kids I have met and humbled by the people at CCF - truly good people doing good things in very difficult circumstances.

Since returning from Cambodia, Nick has set-up  HYPERLINK "http://www.justgiving.com/friendofCCF" www.justgiving.com/friendofCCF

His aim is to use the power of the internet and social media to get as many people as possible to each donate just £1 by texting DTGC58 £1 (or some other amount) to 70070

Thames Path Challenge Registration

Phew!  Got the A TEAM together just in time to meet the deadline for the Thames Path Challenge - Putney to Runneymede or Henley - on September 29.  In addition to our TEAM of six - Susie, Kate, Davy, Juliet (Trustee) and Red Hot Liz and Katie - we have three other walkers walking independently two of whom - Michael and Billy - dedicated to the 100 kms.  More updates to follow!  There's still time to sponsor the Team by donating to Just Giving.

New Boy at CCF

Posted on FB on 29th July 2012
"I had to share this photo (feel free to do the same).
This little one wandered into one of our external food programs on Friday night, hungry and a little lost. I located his shelter today and, if all goes to plan, he will be enrolled in our Day Care program this week.
Watch this space as I will post another (happier) image once he has been with us a few weeks."