Scott Neeson featured in Scottish Sunday Express 21.4.13

Click on the image to read the article

International Women's Day at CCF

 "You can tell the condition of a nation by looking at the status of its women."     

These are the words of former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

CCF in Cambodia has put together a special video campaign around International Women's Day (which falls on 8th March 2013) to show some of the amazing women and girls involved with CCF, as well as to highlight some of CCF's programmes with a specific focus on women. 

 

Please click on the linked words above or follow the link below to view the videos:

https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/women

Adopt a Granny

A recent CCF initiative we love is Adopt a Granny.  Sadly, Scott's adopted 'Granny' recently died.  The kids at CCF created this moving film, a tribute to her life.  Please take the time to watch it and perhaps consider adopting a Granny yourself ...

 

Taylor Johnson in Net-a-Porter edit

And here is an extract from the interview our UK Patron Sam gave in the Net a Porter Edit:

“When I had Angelica, I TRIED to do it all and it was too much. I gave up a lot to try to prove I could be everything” 

Mother to four daughters, Angelica, 15, Jessie, six, Wylda, two, and Romy, one, Taylor-Johnson was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to the arts. Nominated for the Turner Prize in 1998, she is one of the most important contemporary female artists working today. Her first feature film, Nowhere Boy (which she fought hard to be chosen for), received four BAFTA nominations, and introduced her to her now husband who took the movie's starring role – the 23-year age gap between the two (he is 22) generating headlines and a great

deal of envy. But perhaps it was her dignified divorce, from art dealer Jay Jopling in 2008, and two battles with cancer (colon then breast), both in her early thirties, that really marked her out as someone to be reckoned with, someone to be admired, someone with spirit.

Her children got her through that ordeal, she tells me later, once the props have been packed away and the sun is setting on the Hudson. “Having children has given me that sense of, 'I have to get through whatever challenges I face, because there's no option',” she explains. “People say, 'Oh, you're a survivor, you must be so strong,' but there are definitely times when you don't feel so strong. And, really, family is what kept me going.”

Shirt and skirt by Stella McCartney; earrings by Ileana Makri; necklace by Diane Kordas

Sam Taylor (Wood) Johnson in Vogue March 2013

Our glamourous and respected patron, photographer and film maker Sam Taylor Johnson - who married actor Aaron Johnson in 2012 - as featured in the current issue of British Vogue below.  Sam has been one of our Patrons since early last year.

Happy Chinese New Year!

The Chinese celebrate their New Year by handing out red envelopes with money inside.  Please feel to do the same to CCF UK!  Meanwhile, to all our supporters:

DI John Geden Visits CCF

In November 2012 UK trustee John Geden took his family to Phnom Penh and visited CCF as part of their holiday in SE Asia:

“I was a little nervous about taking my family to Phnom Penh, not because of any danger that I thought they might face but because I did not know how my wife and children would cope with seeing such stark poverty amongst the people and their daily struggle just to stay alive.  Through my work I have witnessed the terrible things that happen to children across the world, but my wife and children have been protected from this.”

“It was fantastic to see how the children are flourishing under the  care of CCF and for my family to visit CCF an organisation that I have worked with in a professional capacity and for which I have the greatest respect.”

“I had managed to persuade my long-suffering wife Jo – an experienced cook - that it would be great fun to teach the older children to cook five classic European dishes . However things don’t always go to plan in Cambodia and it was soon apparent that we would struggle to find all of the ingredients we needed. Also, the word had spread at CCF and on day one we were presented with 50+ CCF kids all wanting to take part in a cookery lesson with many more who wanted a ‘taste’ and a kitchen that lacked many of the modern catering conveniences Jo was used to!”

“We quickly hatched a plan to teach four separate groups to cook a classic Italian ‘Spaghetti Bolognese’. So for the next two days we visited four separate CCF facilities and cooked ‘Spag-bol” both morning and afternoon for around 50-60 on each visit."

"The CCF kids threw themselves into and any language barriers were soon broken down. Jo did really well and both my daughters Ellie (16) and Mollie (12) got heavily involved and showed the CCF kids how to prepare the ingredients."

"Ellie is currently doing her A levels and is keen to be a teacher and enjoyed the opportunity to help the Khmer children with their English language and spelling. Mollie also helped the kids with their English and spent a long time helping one little boy how to advance through a computer game on Patrick’s tablet!"

"The highlight of the week was watching my two daughters interacting with some of the CCF girls, all singing along to a One Direction song. That one moment evidenced the fact that no matter what their country of birth, kids across the planet are all the same and love having fun and deserve to be safe and loved. It really was a special moment."

"Since returning home Ellie has continued selling the CCF ‘Tote’ bags made by the local women in a CCF run workshop which she had the chance to visit and speak to some of the local women who make them."

"We left Phnom Penh exhausted and with heavy hearts, Mollie and Ellie met some very special kids at CCF and I know they will never forget the experience….neither will Jo or I."

HELP Make a Difference ...

CCF UK is currently seeking volunteers to help implement the many exciting strategies planned for 2013.  We are also looking for one or two people who believe they have the experience and skills to join the Board of Trustees and can add value to the UK  operation.  We feel that anyone who has visited Cambodia, or has a connection with the country, will feel a particular affinity to the children and people and will support the UK Charity - either as a volunteer or a trustee - with the passion we are seeking.  If you would like to support CCF UK please send an e mail with your cv to enquiries@CCF-UK.org

Honoured with the Ahimsa Award by UK Jains

Founder of CCF, Scott Neeson, was honoured earlier this month at London's House of Commons with  the Ahimsa Award, presented annually to an individual who embodies  non-violence and compassion.  Previous recipients include Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.

Ahimsa Day was invented by the British Jain diaspora and has been celebrated annually at the House of Commons in London since 2002.  It was created to underline the universality of Jainism - with 6 million followers in India alone - and to publicly identify it with the concept of non-violence, Ahiṃsā Day is marked by all Jains in the United Kingdom. It is added to traditional Jain religious festivals and is a new sign of the Jain presence in the UK.

Image by Ravin Mehta

Great News for the UK and the Kids at CCF!

It's been a good few weeks for CCF UK.  With two Trustees and six great supporters walking 400 km in one day over £6000 was raised by and for the Charity.  Well done the A Team!  
Additionally, we've just received an extremely generous donation of £15,000 - earmarked for CCF's Nutrition Programme - from the Taylor Family Foundation The objectives of the Taylor Family Foundation are to help and support children and young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in the areas of education, health, recreation and the performing arts:  The Taylor Family Foundation. 
Without the generous support of organisations such as this, many of CCF's programmes would no longer be able to run.  Our grateful thanks to the Foundation!
Additionally, last night ABC Australia broadcast Poh's Kitchen, a cooking programme which focused on CCF in Cambodia for this episode.  We can't upload the video as it's not up on YouTube yet but check out the link below for an eye opening view of the work the Charity undertakes.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/pohskitchen/video/default.htm?pid=player2&src=/tv/pohskitchen/xml/s3597459.xml&title=Cambodia&GenreID=41

 More hot news to follow shortly!