Micro-enterprise

So much of what CHO is doing here in Cambodia could be labelled 'micro-enterprise'. And Tearfund is a key partner in his aspect of the work of the Cambodia Hope Organization. People are being enabled to move out of poverty into self-sufficiency, to be trained in skills and to be seed-funded for starting up a new livelihood. We saw a great deal of this today. Vien who had lost a limb in a landmine accident had been enabled to start up a little shop in his village. Young people who had learnt sewing skills at the Safe Haven were making garments right through from scratch to the finished product. Or young lads were dissecting, fixing and re-inventing motorbikes- the ubiquitous form of transport here. They were taking and amazing pride in what they were doing, and even have CHO numberplates on many of the vehicles.

This afternoon, we visited several horticultural and agricultural projects which I will ask Joino Pirece to write about in the next blog. These were amazing. People are trained in skills, helped find land to rent and given seed to sow. Then they are helped to market their produce. All of this over  a three year period, at which stage they are expected to be self-sufficient. All of this is hard work, especially for those who do not have irrigation, and who have top carry 50 watering cans of water to from the river every day!

Today ended with a visit to a safe house - a place where three children were being cared for. Thesekids have not seen their father, who is in Thailand, for years, and are looked after by a wonderful Christian leader.

The church here is certainly serving the community and valued by the comminity. The many certificate on Chomno's wall are testimony to that fact. But, more than that, the heart of God is blessed.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Water Festival, a three day holiday at the end of the rainy season. More to report soon......