In October 2019, I applied for the opportunity to represent Navitas at a rural school opening in Cambodia. At the time, I had just booked my fourth trip to Nepal. I intended to visit Sumitra, a girl I have been sponsoring there since 2013, and also to explore additional ways of supporting education in Nepal. In reading about NET partnerships, I discovered the ADARA Group has an office in Kathmandu so I made contact with them and arranged a visit to meet with them while in Nepal.
On learning I was successful in my application for Cambodia, and a chance to meet and spend time with two NET partners in a short space of time, I was very excited about my start to 2020!
I had previously read about Classroom of Hope and their inspiring work through their website; a link from a work colleague to their ‘Wise Owl’ initiative that ensures ongoing engagement with donors. This connected me with the story of Bunrith Thy (affectionately known as ‘Racky’), the founder of CAD (Children’s Action for Development); the driving force behind the school opening I would attend.
Battambang is a large rural province to the North West of Phnom Penh.
Like many other parts of the country, it suffered extensively at the hands of the Khmer Rouge and Racky is a child survivor of that time with his own extraordinary personal story. His enthusiasm and commitment to educating the children of his country, combined with an irrepressible smile, are reasons enough to contribute to the work of his NGO.
While they employ as many local staff and volunteers as possible, there are numerous opportunities for volunteers to participate in lessons teaching English and other life skills to children to further advance their future prospects.
Following the school opening in Cambodia, I made my own way to Nepal, a country close to my heart. The ADARA philosophy of working alongside remote communities to develop sustainable practices that improve people's lives is evident in both completed and current projects.
Their achievements are outstanding in such challenging environments. I would like to thank the Kathmandu team very much for their warm and generous welcome, and the gift of their time and knowledge was much appreciated. I had read on the ADARA website about their history of saving 136 children, some as young as four, from trafficking in 2004.
I can only call it sublime serendipity that my visit coincided with Audette Exel (the organisation founder), reuniting with some of these children she was so instrumental in saving from a very different future 16 years ago. My travelling companion and I had the privilege of joining some of these joyful, young people for lunch to share language, laughs and selfies and learn of their career dreams! This experience remains a memorable highlight for me and continues to warm my heart.
ADARA’s commitment of support over 10 years, representing the school life of a child, made complete sense as a key factor in ensuring the success of their goals. My connection with Nepal began seven years ago and will now continue into the future.
Meeting these two NET partners in three weeks, and witnessing first-hand how education truly transforms lives, has further driven my personal aspirations to actively volunteer both time and money to improving the lives of children around the world, who do not share our privilege in Australia of free, quality education in a safe environment. This can only make our world a better place for all.
13