Seeing 'Sew Empowered' women enjoying the opportunity of empowering less fortunate women (and a man) from the slum ...



... through vocational training ...



... is truly inspirational and although it's only a small drop in the ocean, it fits Millennium Development Goal # 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, as well as Millennium Development Goal # 3 - Promote gender equality and empower women.

It's interesting to watch as everyone focuses on the task at hand and concentrates on getting the treadle momentum just as it should be ...



... in order to get the machine stitching just as it should. While the seven trainees were doing their thing, others gathered to watch ...



... including a mother whose 2 week old baby was enjoying drinking his milk through a new teat on his bottle which is especially designed for babies with cleft lips. The baby is also scheduled to have the Smile team of doctors perform an operation on his cleft lip within a couple of weeks.

Take a minute to think about this little baby boy who was born with a cleft lip, living in a slum in the developing world, about to receive a free operation that will change his life, from Doctors who are prepared to travel around the world to perform this life changing operation. Free operations on cleft lips for children in developing countries - What an excellent service!

The 'Sew Empowered' team in Toul Tom Poung always enjoy having visitors, so it was good to have Peter and John visit.



The team continue developing their skills ...





... as they complete orders and monitor stock in stores ...



...and work on new samples to present to the market.



The 'Sew Empowered' initiative greatly assists women in the developing world, who are usually more disadvantaged than men, as it provides them with an excellent environment in which to work.



Depending on the team members literacy levels, the project offers capacity building options that include, but are not limited to:-

~ Book keeping
~ Time management
~ Marketing
~ Sales
~ Purchasing
~ Stock taking
~ Manufacturing costings
~ Financial planning

It is great to be a part of a project that empowers the women ...



... as it challenges them to learn, develop and grow, with a goal to manage a sustainable business.

... continues on the Koh Krobey site ...



... as Mission Direct's Team 2 ...





... continue working alongside the local team of construction workers.









The great new undercover area, which is included in this stage of the building, will provide us with an interim facility that will greatly assist us in expanding our vision to reach out to develop the whole community, as we offer a range of seminars and services that will include, but are not limited to the following:-

~ health care
~ sustainable solutions
~ capacity building
~ micro enterprise and micro finance
~ vocational training
~ children, youth and adult programs

How exciting! In the meantime, the team ensure that there's always time for some fun in the trenches ...



... and on the playing field ...



... and a change of plans on the plan ...



... and a quick smile for yet another photo shoot!







And all this is taking place while we entertained and networked with our guests, Barry, Lesley and Rithy ...



... from Partners Against Poverty. It's great to have the opportunity of getting together with like minded people.

The kids ...



... enjoyed playing on the construction site ...



... and this little guy put his bricklaying skills to the test ...



... after Paul ...



... kindly gave him a quick lesson after setting him up with the necessary resources.

Kate certainly looked as though everything was going according to plan and if the construction manager is happy, then I guess everyone is happy!



The team are so excited and waiting expectantly for the time when they will be able to use the new facilities, especially the multi purpose undercover area. Excellent!

Jessica also visited the site ...



... where she was put to work ...



... and took time out to get down and get dirty as she played with the kids who were making the most of the opportunity to play in the cool damp sand under the shade of the tree.

... continue to equip and empower individuals, as we offer holistic programs for the disadvantaged.

We are encouraged by the people's response, as we play our small part in promoting the enrollment of children in primary education and by the ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education in our projects, in keeping with Millennium Development Goal # 2 - universal primary education and Millennium Development Goal # 3 - gender equality.

It was casual day at FOH ...





... as the students gathered to celebrate ...



... with those enjoying a birthday this month.



...

Our MC for the afternoon did an excellent job ...



... and following the presentation of gifts we all enjoyed a lovely meal together.

At TLC ...



... the children enjoyed a fun learning experience with Mission Direct displaying their talents off the building site ...



... and in the English class ...



... while others concentrated on the computers capabilities, as well as their own.



Their are those who are in no hurry to leave the class in order to linger longer with the teacher in order to gain the edge over their peers ...



... and those who want to meet the guests, Peter and John ...



... and Jessica ...



... and those who manage to score a lift to the centre in the Tuk Tuk.



Shani added great value to the project, as she conducted a number of sessions on health care for the parents and children during her visit ...



Matt and Paul ...



... were keen to assist as they offered their acting skills to take part in a skit that depicted the difference between the performance of children who had eaten breakfast, as opposed to those who had gone without.

Paul also assisted Shani in getting her message across on the importance of eating breakfast ...



... by positioning himself in the audience and generating a number of questions that begged just the right answer from Shani, that all the parents needed to hear! What a duo!

Through the academic and learning centres, we are committed to providing the parents with training directly relating to the Millennium Development Goals, especially the goals related to maternal health, reducing child mortality and promoting gender equality, just to name of few.

Scheduling visits to the homes ...



... of the children attending the centres ...



... provides us with a great opportunity to share a laugh ...





... and to hear the testimonies ...



... passionately delivered by the children and parents ...



... as they express just what it means to the family ...



... to have their children enrolled at the centres.