LIA Family Homes
Within the next five years Love in Action aims to have three homes in operation ranging from children, students and young girls at risk.
We have reached our intended goals in this area of LIA homes within three years. We now have four LIA homes operational for children and young people.
We prefer to call our orphanages Love in Action (LIA) family homes, as that is the atmosphere we create in our homes. They are homes where the children are loved, supported and cared for as a family. Each child is recognized as an individual being encouraged in their talents and gifts. They are supported and understood in any shortcomings in the journey to know themselves.
The children are educated in Khmer/English private schools (where possible) amongst their own culture and given extra tuition in the English language, music and social etiquette at home in Love in Action. This all assists toward their growth educationally and individually .
As the children progress into early teenage years we start to see them trained toward the area of work they desire. There may be opportunities of work experience in areas of computers, mechanics, sewing, cooking, housekeeping and other areas of interest. Others will continue studies toward university to be doctors, nurses, lawyers, accounting and teachers etc.
We encourage the children to make their dreams a reality and build hope within them.
Some interested children will be trained to be employed within the work of Love in Action.
The vision is to see the children of Cambodia given back to their own country for it's overall benefit and betterment as trained, equipped, caring citizens.
The country of Cambodia has had to be rebuilt from the ground up after recovering from the terrible era of Pol Pot the dictator who killed and crippled many families both physically and mentally robbing them of their right to be educated equal citizens. To this very day every family is still affected directly from this destructive ruler.
We desire to see confidence and hope regained in the wonderful people of this country of Cambodia.
Love in Action has already commenced a home in Phnom Penh which has forty wonderful individuals ranging in age from three to fifteen years old.
Many have never been to school. They commence as soon as they come to Love in Action and are put in a class appropriate to their level of learning.
Love in Action works in conjunction with a network of other non-government organizations such as the Sisters of Mercy (mother Theresa’s work within Cambodia).
Our Founder and President Ruth Golder personally collects and escorts the children from these other works and welcomes them into Love in Action. We find that within a very short time the children settle in and start feeling like it is their home.
Some of the children are brought personally to our gate at LIA by members of their family who cannot care for them or by neighbours or freinds. The parents of some children have died, others have been found neglected and brought to us at LIA
Many children of Cambodia are sold into prostitution and child labour at such a young age. We want to be a part of saving as many of these children as possible from such a destructive lifestyle.
Here at Love in Action we build a happy, healthy and safe environment where children can be just that, children.
Many have had to grow up so quickly and be out in a big world not only caring for themselves but also younger siblings and/or sick and dying parents. They are forced to be old people before their time. One of the saddest things to see is when a mother has to give up her children because she cannot care for them.
Upon arriving at our Love in Action home each child is monitored carefully and given counsel in areas as needed. They are educated in appropriate behaviour fitting for children or young adults.
At all times child protection policies are put in place for staff and anybody visiting the Love in Action work.
Love in Action has rented another premises three hours from the Vietnam border in a town called Srey Reing. This is a very poor country area of Cambodia. This house accomodates university students as there is a large university in the town of Srey Reing. This is our second Love in Action family home were young adults can have a safe place to call home as they study during the week and return home to their villages sometimes on weekends. This helps the poorer families, young people travelling daily such long distances.
The location of our third L.I.A family home is yet to be determined. There is a great need for a home in Siam Reap as many young teenage girls become pregnant and have nowhere to live and are forced to sell or give up their babies. This home would provide a safe place where young girls can be oversighted and educated in childcare.
Medical Clinics
Medical clinics are another arm of the work of Love in Action. Over the next five years we are looking at running these medical clinics throughout large areas around Cambodia. Many people die or are debilitated by such simple illnesses. If treated with appropriate medication in time, there is no reason why they should lose limbs, sight, hearing etc, even die in some cases.
At present we have three clinics at Srey Reing where our other L.I.A home is located.
We travel down every four weeks where we provide medical aid for a variety of ailments as well as distribute vitamins. More serious cases are assessed by a nurse or Khmer doctor who we employ to come with us. We try to get these people to a hospital or monitor them more closely.
Basic medical care and cleanliness is most necessary in many situations. We treat up to three hundred people during these three clinics around one town in one day. The need is so great. The medical care is provided free of charge and is only made possible by donations of giving people from all over the world. Of course there is always need for more.
As in any organization, donations keep it operational.
Much work is done by caring volunteers that come from other countries to assist for short periods of time.
Training
In this area of Love in Action we train our own staff in childcare and business principles so they can run the extended area's of caring for children and poverty assistance area at LIA. Our staff are trained upon employment at Love In Action and therefore this training is being self perpetuating in job creation for the betterment of the Cambodian economy and people.
Each paid staff member we have is Cambodian and where appropriate lives at the Love in Action base.
Our aim is to put our young people through training programs in many areas of skill to equip them for a greater future.
Love in Action is a non government organization and therefore receives no funding of any kind from any government. It relies solely on the financial giving of organizations, companies, business and individuals that desire to help. We are truly grateful for the people that partner with us.
We long to do more to see this vision grow so we believe for greater giving.
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