... group of representatives, including Vic, Sven and Terry, visited some of the projects.

The 'Sew Empowered' team were pleased a number of T Shirts were purchased.



The TLC team and children in the afternoon session received a visit ...



... as did the new site at CRDP.



Although the team were only in town for a short time, we had a number of meetings over the few days to discuss the projects and various aspects of operating in diverse cultures throughout the world.

... team have attended meetings and discussed various aspects of the project and orders.



Various projects have been assigned to the team ...



... and all are enjoying the variety of products they get to work on and the convenience of bringing their children when they need to.





Everyone was amused when we discovered that the measurements on a number of the rulers we had were inaccurate.



This was only discovered when the team made up jewelry pouch samples in various sizes and it was obvious that something was amiss with the sizes.



The skills of the team continue to develop as they deliver a variety of quality products.





The team were delighted to receive another large order from Calypso Costume's Fiona and enjoy producing the assortment of children's costumes.



We greatly appreciate our partnership with Calypso Costumes.

T Shirts are now being stocked in a gift shop ...



... and the ladies are very excited about that.

... had the privilege of having Jude, an early childhood expert from NZ, visit the centre to observe the program.



We thank Pat, from Destiny Rescue, for the introduction.

After assessing the current 'Kindy Kids' program, Jude later returned ...



... to share strategies to enhance the whole TLC program with all of the team members.



Remedial classes are conducted to assist those ...



... who find it a little more challenging to comprehend the content of lessons ...





... while those who attend the main stream classes ...



... continue working on their lessons in classrooms with their peers.

... provided the perfect environment for the team to grow, develop and relax.



The team, including our interpreter, Leap, headed to Sihanoukville for the first week ...



... where the team members were put through their paces during the presentations ...







... and activities ...





... both in the training room ...









... and out on the beach.





The team visited the team and children at a local orphange and presented an item to them ...



... followed by audience participation ...





... which everyone obviously enjoyed.



The schedule included times of worship and quiet reflection.



The team returned to TLC for the second week of the seminar for more training ...



... and lesson planning ...



... which completed the 2009 seminar and retreat.

... with the various ministries related to the Community Relocation & Development, Educational and Income Generation Projects continue to require scheduling in our diaries and we are privileged to have Phol assisting us ...



... with the necessary introductions and documentation.



Registering the projects has been and continues to be, the biggest Government registration process we have undertaken to date and includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. In addition to these two ministries, we continue through an approval process with the offices in our office and project locations, including the sangkat, commune, village, district and provincial sectors, related to the registration of the individual projects.

... children were all treated to a check up when a visiting medical team from Korea set up a clinic.



It is such a blessing to have the professionals offer their services to the children in the projects.

We can't do what we do without people offering to volunteer.

... Jim and Pat is always a treat when they are in the country and on this occasion we had the added pleasure and opportunity of meeting Lisa ...



... who has joined the RE team and is based in India.

On the way to lunch and with no room to spare in the Tuk Tuk, Jim opted to seat himself up near the driver ...



... and on the way back Patrick decided it was only right that he should take his turn.



This team impacts the lives of so many. It's an honour and privilege to call them friends. www.relevantexpeditions.com

... business was on the schedule ...



... with Jim and Kathie (www.unitedtorescue.blogspot.com) in the country for a round of meetings. Prior to the board meeting and together with other Board Members, we visited the Teen Challenge Centre at Takeo ...



... about 80km south of Phnom Penh.





It was both a wonderful and yet sad occasion at the same time. Wonderful to see the great work God is doing through the Staff at the centre ...





... and yet sad to see that some of our students ...



... as young as 11 ...



... have come from a life of living on the streets and have addiction to all manner of drugs and substance abuse. There are currently 18 students in the centre.

It is an honour to serve on the Board of this Organisation which is now and will in the years to come be responsible for changing the lives of many young men who have found themselves without hope due to their addictions and poverty.

Here is a testimony of just one of them:

Life on the streets

Chea, 20 years old, was born in the city of Phnom Penh. His family was very poor and his parents died of AIDS several years ago. Chea has four siblings and he is the second child in his family. Since his parents’ death three of his siblings were separated from him. Chea and his siblings used to live on the streets for almost 9 years. He begged for money and scavenged through the rubbish as a means of supporting himself and enabling him to use all of kinds of drugs with other street children. Sometimes Chea stole things from his neighbors. From time to time he got beaten up until he was almost dead.

After spending so many years living on the streets in the city, Chea was caught by the Phnom Penh Dept of Social Affairs and sent to the Teen Challenge Centre in Takeo Province.

Since arriving at the Teen Challenge Centre Chea has been able to experience a life changing second chance: Chea says this of the centre ...

'For me, I think Teen Challenge is very great because I have a new life through Teen Challenge. Before I could not understand much but now I have knowledge and skills that I can use. Teen Challenge led me to know the Person who can give me hope for the present and the future, that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Teen Challenge Center helped me a lot, and so I want to say thank you to Teen Challenge.'

'I really would hate to go back to my old life, and I am afraid of that. I am very grateful and blessed to be in such a program like this. I wish I could at least be a volunteer staff of the Teen Challenge Center in the future. I want to use my God given gifts and the life changed by God, to help other students to get rid of drugs and their bondages.'

... monthly birthday celebrations always brighten up everyone's day and as it was the kids last day before TLC closed it's doors for the annual two week break, the team were excited. However, the children would rather that the centre doors remained opened! Vireak was very animated as he called each of the kids who celebrated their birthday during the month to come to the front.



Sochea had also celebrated her birthday during the month and joined the kids for the group photo ...



Tokla expressed how much she was looking forward to the upcoming Seminar & Retreat ...



... while Patrick and Sochea got down to the business of finalising the month's accounts ...



... and the kids took to the stage for an impromptu performance ...





... before slowing down long enough to watch a movie.



Getting a photo of this little one with Patrick took a little longer than expected ...



... as others were also keen to get in on the act.



Once the kids left the centre, the team rehearsed their performance ...





... which they were going to present to children at an orphanage during their Seminar & Retreat.

... is paramount for Cambodian children and youth and it is such a privilege to see those in the FOH project achieving such a high standard.



This project certainly has an edge over other education projects, as the students obviously receive a higher quality of education in the private primary, secondary and tertiary systems.



While the expense of the project is greater than the costs associated with enrolling children in the government school system, the results speak for themselves.

... dental appointments were on the schedule ...



... and the kids enjoyed their time in the waiting room ...



... but for some their visit came a little too soon after the last one.





Consequently, the memories were still very fresh and for some the tears flowed ...



... and it was then that we knew it was time for us to leave the experts to it.

I met Srey Touch in 2003 while she was working as a teacher in a children's centre.



After presenting a session on 'Dreams & Visions' the following year, Srey Touch approached me to learn more because she had a dream to become a Pastor, but didn't see how that was going to come to fruition. A plan and support system was put into place and with studies complete, Srey Touch now serves as a Pastor. Excellent!

... have been enjoying the variety of projects they have had to work on, as well as visits from guests interested in the sewing project. On this occasion, our guest was fellow Australian, Craig ...



... who has a business which provides a market for products made by Cambodian people working in projects. Check it out at www.oneseed.com.au Craig, through one seed, is making a difference!

It was a time for Veasna and Nimul to 'go it alone' with the T Shirt silk screening ...



... and both did a great job of going solo ...





... and Mom was happy to get involved in modeling the shirts ...



... after completing another project.



Sochea was also happy to take part in a photo shoot for the benefit of the project!



Fiona from Calypso Costumes has reported that the sales and marketing of the children's costumes is going well with items having been purchased from Germany and Singapore, as well as various locations throughout Australia. www.calypsocostumes.com.au

The project has also received another order from the jewelry business in the States, so the ladies are all very excited.