What started as a series of interviews at CPO turned into a sea of new knowledge, one I am finding hard to express in words to friends and family. One has to, ideally, experience the reality firsthand to fully understand the depth of poverty we were exposed to, and to recognize the "happiness" that truly exists in such conditions.
I'd like to start with information divulged through initial interviews with Sohm Ahn, the "director" of the orphanage. A Cambodian's salary typcially averages anywhere from $30-$50 a month, equivalent to $360-$600 a year, depending on the type of work performed. Keeping this in mind, CPO pays $120 for their land rental and $30 for electric, both per month. With 33+ children, "staff" members, the director and her husband all needing to survive, you may wonder how they actually do? With rice pricing at $30/bag, and needing 8 bags per month to able to feed every mouth three times a day, their monthly bill is almost $400! Needless to say, they eat limited amounts of pork and eggs for protein, and morning glories are the common vegetable, or should I say weed? That's what it appeared to be, but the taste is delightful. As we pressed on with questions, we found that a Japanese group supplies 4 bags of rice per month and also assists with the land rental fee. Apparently this Japanese group visits CPO 1-2 times per month now, and the two have been associated with each other for quite some time, back to when CPO was a small shack of 4-5 kids, located in the slums. The help has been consistent, necessary, and truly a blessing!
Every child attends the government school, when age appropriate, with grades 1-6 attending 1/2 day sessions and the high school students attending full day sessions. With a well on site (yet desperately needing some H2O), the children bathe and wash their clothes regularly; Every child fends for himself. (the little guys needed some prompting to keep clean, and when we could convince them to come bathe, there's nothing sweeter than smiles, wide eyes, and tan behinds glistening in the Cambodian sun)
Needs, needs, needs...I commonly use this language with Axel-"you may want it, but you don't NEED it." Needs expressed consisted of the following: a small enclosed room to teach English, money for rice, snack money for the children when at school, a extension of the roof to prevent leaking onto the stage/sleeping quarters, and running water. To consistently provide money for food, several select students are very versed in traditional Khmer dancing, and they hold performances on their stage. The local village is invited, entrance fees support the orphanage, and every once in a while the group travels to perform at local weddings and celebrations. One step towards self-sustainability! Yes!
Lisamarie immediately decided to fund both the roof and the governmental running water:
Roof: $180
Water: $190
Smiles on their faces: priceless
Beginning Stages
The roof materials were purchased that very same day, and construction began the next. Witnessing this event, a "taken-for-granted luxury back home," filled my heart with the utmost gratitude for my own life. Picture the Grinch, not saying that I'm the Grinch, but the moment in which his heart swells in his chest to ten times the normal size...that's what this moment felt like, and it's the best way for me to describe it.
So, I guess I've overcome the "speechless" situation I was in...
xoxo
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