Plant a Garden, Give a Cow, Read a Book

Some of the village people in Peak Sneng are unable to grow enough crops to feed their families and still make money.  While we couldn't teach the whole community good gardening techniques (We wouldn't know how to plant rice or anything anyway) we could start a small garden at the Primary School to encourage the kids to learn it early on.  Vivian was our wonderful mentor in this department.  As soon as the team started clearing land to get it ready some of the local women came to help.  It was really amazing.  Digging with a hoe, spreading manure, planting seeds.  Problem solving with the kids on how to keep the chickens out of the garden and what would be important and good to plant.  It was a group effort that Vivian did a wonderful job mentoring.  With the rain every afternoon there were some seriously filthy people at the end of the day! 

The Micro-finance committee worked hard to fundraise a lot of money for the "Cow bank".  31 families had the chance to apply for cows, pigs, or chickens (plus their immunizations); then attend classes to learn about the program, brainstorm ways to take care of the animals, and problem solve together.  There was also a plus element of health lessons that my medical committee jumped in to teach.  We taught nutrition, HIV, first aid, and general hygiene and were able to give them some supplies that will help their families.  Next month Sophanet our in country contact will be teaching them about the reusable feminine hygiene kits which will save them money. Our last day in the village we were able to pass out the pigs and chickens.  The look on their faces was a humbling reminder of how much this can change their lives.  Britnie wrote an amazing blog post about working with this group.  I highly recommend you read it by clicking here. 

The education committee's big project was to stock the beautiful but nearly empty library at the primary school with new books.  Education and Medical had that joint benefit concert to raise money in May.  With the money they raised, they were able to buy a lot of books in English and Khmer.  Some of the children's books are a little naughty once translated...our personal favorite was The Cruel Elephant.  It was supposed to have a good moral but to sum it up.... a momma bird asks the elephants to not step on her nest; a mean elephant does it anyway; the momma drops the F-bomb and seeks revenge by having a crow poke out the cruel elephants eyes, bees sting him, and a frog croak to lead him off a cliff.  Um, yikes!! Of course I had to buy a copy to bring home.

It's amazing that such simple things can dramatically change lives.  I know just seeing it change mine, I can only imagine how it will change theirs.