Your Stories


I was inspired by your article that I read in a Press weekend supplement .I commend you for your vision, energy and commitment .

Barbara



A few months ago, I read the article in the Dominion Post which started with the story of saving starfish on the beach. I was very moved by the wonderful work being done by Denise, a New Zealander, a lawyer and a mother who had travelled to Cambodia and was now changing lives through the work of the Cambodia Trust. It made me feel that it was possible to make a difference even in a small way rather than being overwhelmed by the terrible situations that exist in many places around the world, particularly for vulnerable women and children.


So I offered to help. I sponsor a girl and am selling some of the beautiful products made in Cambodia and trying to get the message out about the work of the trust. I am a part time teacher and I have been doing some work with a year 6/7 class who have been able to establish email contact with a class in Cambodia. We are hoping to extend this to some fundraising next year. I also hope to organise a fundraising event in my area.

It is a privilege to be a part of something which works to help children gain an education, and safeguards girls within their families. I hope that all the children of Cambodia will one day have the right to an education, and freedom from the fear of trafficking. 
I am full of admiration for Denise and her team who are doing such a great job. The fact that every cent which is donated goes to help is fantastic. The regular email contact means that you know that your contribution, however small is there, making a difference straight away. That is amazing.

I just want people to know that supporting the work of the Cambodia Trust is so worthwhile and so important. $12 can change a life. There's not many other ways you can do that.

Jacqui   



The task of fighting poverty is simply daunting and easily put in the too hard basket. That was my view for quite some time.  


Upon returning from a work trip to Asia the hope and opportunity of the region was mixed with the challenges and the poverty that is a fact of life for so many.  The dispair in the eyes of those in need was still with me when I opened the "Your Weekend" article titled "Saving Starfish".  It highlighted the work Denise had started and I was moved by the efforts of a small few and the comment that "she can't help them all, but Denise is doing what she can to save one starfish at a time".

Sometimes to see change you need to be willing to be part of the solution and I decided to find out more.  What I found impressed me.  People dedicated to making a difference, determined to ensure all funds raised goes towards it intended project.  The Trustees are volunateers and give their time and more. 

Why Cambodia? 

I work for ANZ and we have a strong and growing presence in Asia, including Cambodia.  We also have a Corporate Responsibility Policy supportive of our local communities.  Therefore I saw the Cambodia Chartitable Trust as an opportunity to personally support my wider community, to give something back and hopefully over time make a difference.

If many do a little then it can become alot, there are certainly synergies at play with the supporters of the trust. 

Dean Spicer



I became interested in the Cambodia Charitable Trust after reading about it in a newspaper.  Believing that I could help with the sales effort for Cambodian products, some  enquiries were made. However the idea proved to be unworkable.  A big disappointment.

The projected marketing costs of this proposal were then given directly to the trust.  At the charity dinner on September 16 more was learned about the needs, and at the expense of other causes donations were doubled.

"Over the Hill Hal" Hamilton



Well I went along to these "Wonder Woman" events & heard this amazing funny lady talking about her passion.


Helping Cambodia, specially young girls in Cambodia. And Denise you personalised it. You told stories of families & how they struggled & you had photo's. Suddenly it all seemed very real & here was I living my very privileged safe life. What could I do.

You made it easy, a great web site, click on this button & you've donated to a great charity. And unlike most other charities 100% of what you've donated goes to Cambodia.  Then there's the continual updates, more stories so as a donor I feel like I really know what is going on & where my money is going. And the market at Dive Crescent where the goods made in Cambodia are sold is another wonderful example of "walking the talk". All my family & friends are getting gifts with "heart" this Christmas. And I love how you said " we don't barter".

Now suddenly your passion is my passion & shared by many others.


Thank you Denise, I'm very happy to be a part of this journey to try & give some hope & equality back to ordinary families in Cambodia.
 

Kind regards
Sue


As a company we believe that we have a responsibility to share some of the success we have been fortunate enough to achieve so far i.e. to whom much has been given, much is also expected. So we have always set a aside a percentage of our profit to invest in areas where it can do the maximum good.


The Cambodia Charitable Trust appeals to us as we can see 100% of our giving being used on the ground, and we know that we are dealing directly with the people making the decisions and directing the resources.

It also appeals in that it is an International project, and we are an International company. Hence it helps our staff and clients understand just how fortunate they are, compared to the great majority in the world, and perhaps get’s them thinking about their own response.


Cheers
Chris

Nothing special - just sharing
 

I am a widower of 75, not particularly well off (I was a Chemistry teacher in a High School in the UK) and have lived in NZ  for 2 years where I have two children, one on the North Island and one on the South, with one in the Orkney Isles off the North of Scotland.  My wife died just before we were due to emigrate.  She had been a Breast Care Nurse and great supporter of a Charity for that cause. 

On coming here I was asked to join Rotary and have been involved with a few charitable causes, often with time rather than money,  and feel that I can afford to and should donate to one or two charities.  I have therefore donated to charities involving clean water, better eyesight, education and cancer, often in SE Asia or Pacific Islands, countries with which I had little knowledge before emigrating to NZ.

Nothing special I'm afraid - I guess just sharing a bit of what I have.

Richard



Why Cambodia?


I want to help people in Cambodia after travelling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in February 2010.

During my Cambodia trip I visited Angkor Wat, ate spiders and explored the markets.

Gradually I started to notice a more serious side of the country I was in and I started to feel less comfortable. This was my first major trip outside of New Zealand, and I was starting to appreciate the things at home I had always taken for granted.  I felt really lucky to be from New Zealand, and I really started looking around me and what I saw  didn't sit well with me, behind the tourist brochures and warm smiles were many issues that moved me to want to help.

I was often approached by women and children begging for food and money, as well as people with injuries and amputations. It bothered me that children were out working instead of being in school.

I fell sick on my trip and felt guilty that I had funds to access medicine and visit a pharmacy. I started to appreciate clean drinking water.

S21 and the killing fields were too much for me to visit and the atmosphere of those places disturbed me.

I had a truly amazing trip.

How I got involved?


I got involved after returning from Asia, I was not content sitting around and wanted to help.

After seeing an article about the Cambodia Trust in the Sunday paper, I took the chance to introduce myself to the Trust and Denise.

After that I started planning fundraising events in Wellington.
 

Why the Cambodia Trust?


I support the Trust because I believe it can deliver on its promises to send 100% of its resources to the communities it supports. Also I believe I can help the trust too with fundraising and procuring help to deliver its projects and programmes.


Thanks
Hayden


There are so many people in this world who find daily life a real struggle but sometimes it’s hard to know how you can help. 
 


My daughter introduced us to The Cambodia Charitable Trust and to Denise, and both my husband and I felt this was an organization we could support.

100% of our donations go to the projects supported by the Trust and we are excited about these projects.  One in particular is the initiative to keep the children in schools, especially the girls.  Educated girls grow up to be mothers who make sure their children are educated, eventually breaking the poverty cycle. 
 
Thank you Denise for your dedication to this worthwhile cause.

Roger & Christine



How /why I connected with Cambodia Trust


Thirty years ago I volunteered to nurse in Cambodia with SCF as starving people flooded out of the country with horrific descriptions of ‘life’ under the Khmer Rouge. I’d worked in Vietnam with SCF so was not phased by a Vietnamese presence there. However, I was sent to Sa Kaeo Refugee camp for ‘Illegal Kampuchean Immigrants’ in Thailand. It turned out to be largely dominated by Khmer Rouge leaders – that’s another story.

In February 2010 a friend and I went to Cambodia to visit NGOs, spending most time with NZ volunteers at VSA projects in schools in Takeo Province and a Child Protection Centre for trafficked and abused girls in Svay Reing. We donated funds for school bikes, vocational training (sewing machines, computers), libraries, toilets, classroom repairs and a playground. Wanting to support libraries beyond VSA’s four ‘model schools’, I was thrilled to be referred to by ECPAT founder Ron O’Grady to Denise Arnold of Cambodia Trust. Denise was about to leave for Cambodia and requesting ‘funds for library books’! Perfect!

I am concerned about poverty preventing school attendance and would like to support grass roots development projects such as animal banks to support food production and income generation for such families in Takeo, as well as a healthy schools focus on tuberculosis which affects 64% of the population, so that the children we support survive and thrive.

Frances Palmer