Woke up really early today and again I decided to meander round the vegetable market around the corner. I didn't take my camera with me because I find it attracts too much attention but there was this wrinkled old lady sat on the ground between the stalls wearing filthy rags and begging for scraps. I can't imagine what she's been through but my guess is that she was a slave just 30 years ago. In our western world, she'd have been awarded a medal and a book deal. Over here in Cambodia, she's just a statistic.

Two new Cambodian friends.Two new Cambodian friends.

We share a strict rule to never give money to children begging in the street because this would give the impression that begging pays. Whereas in fact, it feeds the poverty cycle rather than ends it (I prefer to give them a Playmobil toy instead), but my heart goes out to these victims of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge not any younger than my own dear mother, so I gave her the change I happened to have in my pocket. She looked at me through milky cataracts, clasped her hands and bowed low in gratitude and I had to turn away. How cruel war is. The ripples of destruction are felt for generations and generations and my guess is that the children of Syria and Gaza will suffer for years to come.

Lessons at LRDE were great and today a group of about eight young children who scavenge and sleep around the Russian Market who only watched us suspiciously yesterday as we gave our high-energy lesson decided that, “hmm, it might be safe to join these loons after all!”  And join they did. With gusto.

Hats off to Katherine Brown for getting a group of 55 street kids to successfully perform a Helen O'Grady Academy play about a problem shared being a problem halved. Of course she was a mess after her morning segment - but that is the sign of an excellent teacher and we all know what we signed up for.

Unfortunately, we had to forego our session with the SFODA orphanage today because they are still in the arduous process of moving to their new premises. We are prepared to give them a double dose of everything when we meet them tomorrow.

Instead, we were taken to yet another project set up by LRDE. Proek Kdam is a poor area on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. The main industry is ornate sculpting of brass and copper pots which will earn the sculptor a meagre $0.50c for labour.  LRDE provides food to this community and even gives over 40 children a total of $15 each month - on condition that they go to school. This contribution is possible through a sponsorship programme organised by LRDE and the DO Cambodia sponsorship scheme is based along these lines.

Makara's family at work on their copper sculptures.Makara's family at work on their copper sculptures.

The standard of English of these children was excellent for the most part and it was a joy to hear about their dreams to become tourist guides, teachers, doctors and one eight-year-old year old who wants to become king of the world!

Joking apart, dreams for a better future and motivation to improve their lot is what we would like to nurture. Meeting these children and interacting with them is a clear indication that we are on the right path with our own projects. Education is really the only way these children will be able to crawl out of their abject poverty.

A big thank you to a young boy named Makara who led us by the hand, through a temple and a across a brown pond and into the shack he calls home. His mother, sister and brother looked up from their work carving yet another intricate bowl long enough to welcome us with wide grins and genuine Cambodian hospitality.

This afternoon served to remind us just how good we have it in Malta. I remember reading somewhere that back home, not being able to take a week's holiday overseas is considered to be living in poverty. I don't mean to discredit that in any way, but over here in Cambodia, babies live in filth, with no access to running water, basic hygiene, medical care and, unfortunately, education is often far down the list simply because the next meal takes priority.

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