WHERE HAS TIME GONE ?!!

Melinda's Update on Things to do at Wat Opot

Please check out and click on the link at what Melinda's update has to say about  Crafts and jewellery at Wat Opot....... I am so impressed how creative the children are.

Click here for link to 'Jewellery Time'

Wat Opot Trip September / October 2012

Hi to all and any of you following this blog.   Tomorrow on the 11th September I am flying out to my beloved Wat Opot Childrens community  in Southern Cambodia for 5 weeks. It has been two years nearly to the day that I was last there with the children teaching Jewellery making skills.  As you might be aware the length in between my last trip has been mostly caused by the impact of the Christchurch Earth Quakes of 2010/2011. 

This trip I will be taking with me  25 kilo's of beading supplies and wire. From the progress reports I have been getting from  Wat Opot  /   Jewellery making for profit and   Aunt Winnies Boutique , the craft project is moving forward with enthusiasm.  It is so humbling to see that something positive has come from this all.

It helps when you have the wonderful enthusiasm of Melinda Lies who has predominately based herself at Wat Opot for the past two and a half years and has been continuing to inject energy into this project at Wat Opot and into the lives of the children there. 

This time I will also be bringing with me another type of Creative Empowerment skills for the children to learn and have fun with through Sound and movement.  It should be a blast!

So stay tuned and I will try to update the blog with photo's of craft endeavors while I am there.

I would like to say a special thanks to Jena McKenzie who has donated to me $500NZ to be put towards supplies for the craft project.  It will be well spent on supplies on my arrival.

When I arrive I will spend 2-3 days in Phnom Penh and have arranged to meet up with Melinda so we can get to work buying more supplies and looking at more places that the children's Jewelley creations can go to be sold in Phnom Penh.   Then it will be off to see the children and get re acquainted with them.

So until later this week

Signing off to finish packing.....

Getting Back On Track & Just Look at what they are doing at the Wat Opot Craft Project

Time is passing by and it has been awhile since I have posted anything on this blog regarding updates with the Craft Project . The reasons for this are, Earth Quakes, Over stretched , Exhaustion both mentally and physically ( last year) and was needing a total realignment in my intentions and directions of my heart.

So Here I Am!!!..... Rested, Realigned and Rearing to go with a stronger more passionate heart for the things that matter very much to me in this world...........The biggest one of them being Wat Opot Children's Community Southern Cambodia, and my continued efforts and resolve in helping give the children opportunities to keep growing their confidence and self empowerment through learning the skills of art and crafts and in turn, them sharing those learned confidence's and skills and inspiring other children with personal growth.

Since my last visit in October 2011 the children's craft room/shop project has had the most amazing support and direction added to it by a woman who I have the up most respect for 'Melinda Lies". Since my last visit in 2011 when it was supported that a permanent room could be  allocated  for the craft project, and with the team effort of children/volunteers (visiting at that time that) and one monk, the craft room was painted and sewing machines repaired and an area for the made Jewellery to be show cased was set up. It was a special time for us all at Wat Opot......Lots of learning, lots of fun and lots of smiles.

AND NOW...........Wow!! ......with the continued enthusiasm dedication and support of  the fabulous Melinda Lies and the wonderfully dedicated Wayne Matthysse (Co Founder of Wat Opot's Children Community), the Craft project has now moved into another stage of growth and development. Not only for the Children but for it's presence and positive contributions that Craft and Art room is giving to the live of the children and teenagers at Wat Opot's Childrens community. 

Today I have received yet another email of photo's and update's on how it is all progressing forward for them at Wat Opot and their Jewellery creations.   Here is a link to Melinda's  Blog that will update and fill you all in....please click on the following links to learn more:

Creative Empowerment Project Cambodia / Aunt Winnies Craft Boutique.

Creative Empowerment Project Cambodia 

And some more Photo's to look at of what these most Talented Children have been up to with their creativity.................. I am so in awe of them...........

An old saying goes " Give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day. Teach a man to fish and he can feed his family for a life time".

Fish? Jewellery?  Same Same but different!

I look forward to my return in September / October of this year...........and hopefully with some Sponsorship as well..........
There is nearly 60 kilo's of donated Beads and Jewellery components to ship off tho Wat Opot's children's community over the next year.....so if anyone has some inspirations or idea's on how this could be achieved then please email me : Fiona Newsome    feebs@clear.net.nz

Thank You for taking the time to read and share in this experience of what Wat Opot's children are up to in their part of the world.

Creative Empowerment Project Cambodia

Hi Please watch the following video link to see what CEP is about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIvTlN8rRwI

Hoping this will inspire you to become a follower of this blogsiteBecome a follwer today and stay connected to Wat Opot.

Stay tuned to future posts on this brand new blogsite.......

Buy a New Zealand Paua Flower and Help Wat Opot Cambodia.

Hi all ........ This is a great opportunity to not only own, but buy as a gift...The Original Paua flower. These (Hand made in New Zealand) beautiful creations, especially designed and made to help Wat Opot, come as a brooch or in a bunch of flowers....And you can even buy a Single stem! Every one should have one...surely......

When you place an order for a Flower and pay for it via the internet ...Wat Opot Children's Community Cambodia will get all the money directly.

To Order simply click on this link to http://pauaflowerpower.blogspot.com/

• Choose from the Product list...
• Send your order via email to one myself or Choose one of the other options on the Contact details list...........
• Await for an email with the total amount to pay in your country's dollars......
• Pay your order amount via credit card to Wat Opot's Paypal option. Putting "Flowers for Cambodia" as a reference.
  
• Once I have confirmation from Wat Opot I will send your beautiful Order to you via the post. I suspect this should take no longer than 5 days maximum after the day of posting it from New Zealand....( unless you might live in Timbuktu....then that might take 6 days??)
  

I know Wat Opot would really appreciate you purchasing one or more of these flowers.........So with out delay...ORDER NOW!

Thank you ...................

Let's Get Playing......

So with the work room ready and tools materials from the 2009 visit with materials supplied from this visit.......we got the beads out..........and the children came.................


First one by one, then two by two, then by the mass..................fortunately Melinda was on hand with helping the flow of play with the little ones (her speciality) and me the bigger kids ( what I find easy). I was worried that the children from 3 - 5 were at risk at putting these beads up
noses and or down ears.........which I was sure Wayne would not have been too happy about having to fish out.

All was good and the only problem was, with most of the children, that they tended put Beads in their pockets ( for later ....of course). After a few days of passively dealing with this, Melinda and myself started the FBI game and all the children either voluntarily turned their pockets out on leaving the craft room or their pockets were patted down for bead contraban........ Melinda and myself even let the children pat our pockets down too...just so they could see it as a game



Some like Wey here, just had that adorable guilty look that gave them away every time..............

"Who Me??"



The plan was that they could play and make a necklace or Bracelet - one for Wat Opot shop and one for themselves.
Even though this was a playing situation I felt it was good to give guidance to them about structure in the craft room and how they can help out Wat Opt through having fun and creating.


Here is Rit telling us, when he was questioned on how many items had he made for himself.................it was either that or he was blowing us off with the western style fingers......

I truely believe that the first option was what he was doing.............but if you look at what he has on him.....there is 3 pieces of jewellery.................



Okay Okay...... the real answer to this is that, this is what they do in Asia when they are having a camera pionted at them.........its Asia's version for the peace symbol.


We spent about 4 days with the children just playing and making.................bare in mind even though we put up on the display boards even the attempts of the little ones....we did have to recycle some of theirs from time to time.

The time used supervising them with this kind of creativity was full on and at times tiring.....but when you see their faces light up because they have not just made a bracelet but actually were part of a group of children all having fun and creating, and creating something that they chose to put together the way they wanted..........its all just so worth it.

This is why I get so passionate about helping the children at Wat Opot with craft.............this is not just an activity to bust bordom........creating and making and discovering through play is of vital importance to a childs development. I also see its benefits as an Art therapy. In this case you could see many of the children growing confidence through making jewellery and anything else they attempted to make with beads,wire and twine.

Setting Up the Craft Room 2010

Liark and myself painting the window frames
The very helpful Monk!!!

One of our special helpers was one of the Buddist Monks from the Wat next door to the Childrens Community. I first saw him standing outside and watching the children painting.....he lingered for just a few minutes and then the next thing I know he is standing in the room and studying how Melinda and myself were painting the window frames. I managed to catch his eye and smile at him. Well ....that's all it took...it appeared. In a flash this monk grab a paint brush and a paint tin lid with a large blob of paint on it...and started painting the window frames.

He stayed with us for maybe 1 hour and then made his leave. Melinda and I were grinning from ear to ear.....as you rarely see the Monks out of the Wat let alone mucking in and helping......Wow we felt privileged.

The children that came into help ...fairly much came and went when they wanted ............but they did a great job of getting the paint onto the wall and window frames ( with the creativity of sometimes painting the floor with splats here and there).




The sewing machines were in Bad state of affairs.....and after picking the ones with the most remaining parts on them ......I manage to arrange for my Cambodian friend from Opot village ...to take me to see the sewing repair man or people. So in her truck we went and just 10 minutes trip away we arrived to the family who fixes sewing machines. We arranged to get them to come out to Wat Opot to fix the 4 machines and 1 overlocker that I had choosen to be rescued.
And low and bold they turned up the very next day and with out consultation ....inspected them and promptly took them away. I arrived at the room to see the machines (not their tables) being carted off on the back of a moto trailer, not sure if they were ever to be seen again. Hmmm
But the very next day they were brought back to us, all restored to their former Glory. $58 US dollars was the repair price..........which of course I paid and thought it was a good deal......Now to find a sewing teacher??????


I aimed to make part of the craft room into a shop area. This is where the jewellery that the children make for sale can be displayed. So after rescuing some fixtures that I was able to use for this area.....I arranged for Peeip the handy man to make up 2 large display boards that were free standing and could be used either side if required. So Peeip sent me off on another adventure to the main town of Bati. With Arun's help again and her trusty Toyota truck!! we set off to go see the wood man.......we ended up going to two wood men to see if we could get a good price for the wood but it turned out that when a Westerner is standing there prices seems to be high. So $89 US dollars later we had all the wood and Bamboo matting that Peeip requested and I also managed to pick up some plastic baskets for Beads and Materials and 2 lock up tins and some floor mats ( that are really Cambodian sleeping mats)...so I did bring in an element of Western world by putting them on the floor for when the little kids
were playing with beads on them.

We were ready to start!!! Let the beads be free and the children come forth.................and believe me they did!!!!!

First Week At Wat Opot 2010

On My Arrival I spotted Wayne Mattyse Founder and Director of the children's communinty.

He was over in an area that was being worked on. Upgraded living quaters for Adults with HIV living in the community and helping with the everyday running of it.

It was great to see Wayne again and he seemed in a motivated spirit.

Wayne filled me in on the progression of the Jewellery project from last years beginnings and on some of the areas it fell down it, also the state of it at that point.

He explained that after the tempory project manager, who had been appointed to help it along, had left just two months earlier...all the tools and materials that were left were put into a locked cupboard awaiting my return. He also explained to me that the project manager had become such a perfectionist around the product being made that she had become very stricked on the children to make the jewellery perfect...hence the children no longer enjoyed the process of what they were apart of.
Wayne also advised me that the jewellery project had got moved from one space to another a fair bit...due to the changing needs of the Childrens Community.

So with this information all registered into my brain, I was now able to look at what was needing to be done to reignite interest in this craft project.

.
First I located all the tools and Materials and then I then discussed and negotiated with Wayne for a new space to set up the project again. Wayne happily came to the party for me and allocated a rather spacious room to be of use...........the only catch was that it would be one week before I could get into this space to set it up.......as One of the woman living with HIV was using it as her sleeping quarters until her newly made one was being completed. Who was I to be the westerner and start being demanding........

But I found that this was going to turn out to be a week of reconnecting, not only with the children but some key people I felt guided to talk to.
I also used the time to formulate what was needed to be done to the room to personalise it and make it into a space where it not only could be used as a space for Jewellery Making, a shop for selling the product made to visiting volunteers .......................but a space that was somewhere the children could come to try their hands at any crafts that volunteers would like to teach at a given time.



I looked at the room provided with a Cambodian friend and we both agreed that a new color of paint was needed to brighten up the room...also I felt it would give the craft room an identity of its own and less likely that it would be moved.......but we'll see.
With monies I had raised from fund raising efforts back in Christchurch.
I purchased 4 litres of white paint, 6 tins of tint and paint brushes and a roller for the children who wanted to help with this activity. So by the end of week 1 of 2010's visit we started preparing the room for painting. It started off with just me and Peeip the empolyed handy man and one of the boys who he recruited and within just a couple of hours I had the wonderfully helpful and enthusiastic volunteer Melinda and many of the children were showing interest in what was going on in this room.




.

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Getting back to the Jewellery Project 2010

I had just boarded my flight from Auckland to Bangkok...............not only feeling very shattered by experiencing sleep deprivation from the 7.1 Earth Quake that hit the Canterbury region two weeks earlier.....I was excited and nervous as what to find with the jewellery project I had started and nurtured into fruition back in July / August 2009. Here I was off back to The very community that has seemed to have captured my heart and my attention to want me to help them in the best ways that I can.
I arrive in Phnom Penh to the familiar sights and smells of a city with many people in it, many in poverty, especially comparison to the poor of New Zealand. Hundreds of people riding or being transported by the Moto or Tuk Tuk to work or school. Trucks with the back try crammed full of people going to work in the garment factories.

I am picked up from the airport from the driver I try to use when in Phnom Penh. Mr Sok. Its good to employ Sok for a few hours , as he has good english I am able to pick up any supplies needed for the Jewellery Craft Project before heading off to Wat Opot.
I have 2 days in Phnom Penh to get the supplies and try and get over any jet lag etc before my stay with the children.

Mr Sok was able to help me locate a place where I was able to buy rolls of copper wire. Cambodia is a place that uses all the resorces they have to create new resources. The place I was taken to, was a place where they pulled apart or rebuild electrical items....these items having cooper wire in them is handy for my needs. So after some pigeon discussion and good translation of Sok I was able to buy 2.5 kilos of various sizes and lengths of copper wire. Only $38 US dollars.......

I also had Sok take me to where there are Art Supplies and Paper. I wanted to get some supplies of Art pencils , acrylic paints and the likes for the Art students at the Childrens community.

Like wise I got Sok to take me to the russian market to see if I could get some sand papers etc for the Jewellery project.

The morning of Day 3 in Phnom Penh I headed for Wat Opot Community.

Trip to Wat Opot 2010

Another year of fundraising went by and before I knew it it was time to book my next visit to help at Wat Opot. This was booked for departure from NZ on the 21st September for a visit of one month.

Earlier in the year 2nd May 2010 I found myself busy not only making and selling Paua Flowers but also undertaking yet another fund raising golf tournament, of which I was able to raise $900. see Golf Tournament Link.

After this was achieved I realise that this kind of fund raising that I had under taken and solely organised myself would take its toll and left me feeling quite exhausted. I put it out there to the big wide universe that......If it was divine and right for me to be doing this work with Wat Opot then it was just simply not possible to be doing this alone. And low and behold it was only just 3 weeks after a supportive article in the Bay Harbour News, for what I am doing with Wat Opot and the Golf Tournament, that I received a phone call from Ronald Rodger from Christchurch Polytech College of Film and Documentary.

Ronald heads this department of Polytech and he said to me that he was very touched by what I was doing for Wat opot in Cambodia that he too felt compelled to help. So after some fundermental conversations it was agreed that he would come to Wat Opot Cambodia during the time I would be there. His mission was not only to film some of what I was doing there with the Craft project but also to Capture Wat Opot childrens community and in doing so hopefully a a special documentary would take shape to share with New Zealand.

So here is 2010's visit back to Wat Opots Children's Community.... Follow the post I put on this for a more indepth understanding of this children's communit, and this time I will share some of the individual children's story's of which I feel privaalged to know and feel heartened to spend time with these children on my visit of 2010.

FOUR CORNERS (NZ)

The Lastest Business to come on board with Donate a bead is Four Corners (NZ) in September 2010.

Four Corners (NZ) is a New Zealand owned local business, run out of Christchurch. They specialize in importing and wholesaling fashion Jewellery around New Zealand.

Four Corners has set the wheel in motion to support the Donate A Bead Campaign by promoting the project through their established client base. They are asking their customers to donate any unwanted beads, to go to supplying Wat Opots Childrens community with more beading resources which in turn the children make product to sell to the local tourist market and therefore more income for their Education and the orphanages daily expenses for the 79 children that may live there at any one time.


On Fiona Newsomes most recent trip back to the childrens community in September 2010, to assist with the next stage of the project, she was donated 11 kilos of beads by Four Corners (NZ) for the WatOpot Childrens community.

see http://www.fourcornersnz.co.nz for more information

Thank You !! Biba for your kind support with Donate a Bead campaign.

DONATE A BEAD

Hi and Welcome to 'DONATE A BEAD' New Zealand.

What is Donate A Bead: This is where you can donate your old beads, necklaces to a good cause. Wat Opot Childrens Community Cambodia.


Donate A Bead was started by Fiona Newsome at the end of 2007. The company The Bead Shop Christchurch New Zealand was the first to come on board, and it gave people the chance to donate their old Beads or purchase beads for donation to the Jewellery making project of Wat Opot Takeo Provence Cambodia. In July / August 2009 Fiona went to Wat Opot Childrens community to set up the jewellery project. With Donate A Bead she was able to Take with her 25 kgs of Beads alone. Since then The children of Wat Opot have made and sold to the local tourists market and earned themselves $1500 US dollars. The retailing NGO Rajana has been stocking product made by the children of the Wat opots Childens Community and to date September 2010 is still sell it.

Donate A Bead has also been contributored to by the following groups and businesses.

The Bead Shop .....................Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown shops 2007, 2008, 2009

Nelson Bead Gallery................... 2008, 2009

Womans Inner Wheel........... Avonhead & Rangiora 2009

Hands......................................Christchurch 2009

Many personal donations from the Christchurch region and Diamond Harbour.

The newest Business to come on board is Four Corners NZ Ltd for September 2010.

For any businesses or individuals wanting to be part of this then please email Fiona in the first instance feebs@clear.net.nz and she will be able to advise you where the Beads can be sent....

All beads and old bead jewellery accepted as every bit of the resouce can be used to craft a new product.

So check the cupboards and jewellery boxes and craft rooms for all the unwanted beads or beading craft supplies and Donate it today!!

Raffel 2 July Results

Hi Everyone sorry for the delay of posting the results of the winners for the fund raising Raffel.

My excuse: I have been so bogged with work I some how felt I had already posted the results and now realise my error.

First Prize was number 22 Miss B Bedi from Sumner Christchurch

Second Prize was number 16 J Radford Christchurch

Third Prize was number 33 L Coles from Hornby Christchurch

All winners have been notified.


I would like to thank Tim Whelan from Lone Star Cafe Christchurch for supplying some of the prizes for this raffel.

And I would also like to thank from all my heart all the people who helped promote and sell this Fund raising raffel to help me help at Wat Opot Childrens Community, as your support has been so valuable.

$500 dollars was raised from this fund raising campaign.

Thank you to all of you who contributed your support financial or time.

Love Fiona

Donational Fund Raising Raffle. June 2010

HI and welcome to information of the Fund Raising raffle I am currently running.

This Raffle has only a maximum of 100 tickets and for a $5 donation you will receive a ticket in this Raffle (While Tickets last of course)

First Prize is : $100 Meal Voucher at LONE STAR Cafe & Bar

Second Prize is : Womans Beauty Pack.

Third Prize is: : $50 Meal Voucher at LONE STAR Cafe & Bar

This Raffle will be Drawn at 7pm on Friday 2nd July 2010.

All winners will be notified and prizes will be personally delivered to yhe winners by my self Fiona Newsome.


This raffle is being held to help me get back to Cambodia to Wat Opots Childrens Community to help get the jewellery project off to a new level and start setting up for the new project called Heart and Hope Correspondence, which is a project designed to not only inspire the Children at Wat opot to read and write Cambodian and maybe also read and write english....but will provided for the children a trust worthy friend in the world who can send them kind supportive and loving words and wishes that hopefully the children can have in their life. I am aiming to get back to Wat Opots Childrens Community in August of this year...who knows maybe a little sooner??

If you need to contact me please email me feebs@clear.net.nz
........................................................or phone/txt NZ 021 727 323

Good Luck!!

Sorry for Delay in Information

Hi everyone I am sorry for the delay in updating this blogsite I am still on dial up and my photo sizes sometimes just don't seem to want to load at all ...All a bit frustrating but I will get on top of it all very soon!.....but alos I have but also very busy fund rasing again for my trip back to Wat opot Childrens community for this year............so stay Tuned

Together We Learn - A Workshop of their own

So I decided we needed to set up a work properly some where so we could get into trying some more ideas with the bamboo bracelet concept.

It was also important that I started to have some more formal classes that the children who were interested would be able to attend to learn some of the fundamental jewellery making techniques.During this learning and discovery process, many children came and went in between their schooling and other duties. After a few days a first sample came about. At first sight we were happy with the idea, but a discussion was set forth at diner time with Wayne and myself and we came to the conclusion that the bamboo pieces might look nice and more personalized with some small pictures painted onto them. Wayne even suggested the children could paint some with the words Wat Opot on them to personalize the bracelet.


We first had one half of the sewing room to set up a work shop and so myself, Marijke, the cleaner Serain and two volunteers Jean (NZ) and Jo (Aus) that were there the first week we arrived at Wat Opot, helped us clean up the first work space that we had to use.





We were only able to use our half of the sewing room in the afternoons due to the local communities Governors wife spent the mornings at Wat Opots Sewing room teaching local community girls how to sew to a level that would see them pass the sewing test for the garment factories.
But it soon became apparent to me that with the time frame I was working with and the fact that nearly two weeks had come and gone, it was important that we had a space for a workshop to be set up on a more permanent.

After having a discussion with Wayne about a better space to work and teach the children in the skills of jewellery making...he decided that we could use the room that was the meeting room that Partners in Compassion and the Home Care organisation use on occasion. So I moved the tools, beads and other supplies and set up a new work space in the meeting room.

It was a great space at we could leave everything out at the end of each day and the room was lockable with a pad lock which was piece of mind of nothing going missing and also it was better for me as in the sewing room I was having to keep things in the Volunteers sleeping quaters and taking all the jewelery making stuff over to the room every day and bring it back to the sleeping quarters every night. The days feel warm enough and it takes more energy to teach in warmer temperatures let alone ferrying every thing back and forth each day.

Poor ole Marijke was left trying to work out and get going the sewing machines in the afternoons and after about a week she spoke to me how she felt lonely being over there in the afternoons while we were all in the new workshop space. I suggested that she bring one of the sewing machines over to the new work space but she felt that she may not beable to do so as it may upset the morning sewing teacher.....So me being me and not one to muck around thinking about things (action woman) decided that we would get some of the boys to carry it over in the afternoons to the new work space and get it taken back in the evenings.

This made Marijke very happy to be in the same space as myself and the children learning Jewellery making. In fact it became a great dual space for Marijke and myself and the skills we were able to teach the children.... not only was I able teach jewellery making fundamentals to the children and women, but Marijke was able to get a handle of the use of the tredal sewing machine and also instigated and getting occupied the younger and less interested children with painting on Paper and fabric. Later Marijke turned this into a opportunity to impove some of the young girls hand sewing skills.

This created a fun and active atmosphere in the new workshop space.

Together We Learn - A product of their own.

By the end of the first week, an idea for a jewellery product for Wat Opot to develop had come to light. So without much delay we got some of the children who were showing keen interest to start working on producing a sample. I thought wood would be a great material for what they were to create but was quickly advised that it would perhaps be too costly and time consuming to obtain... but there was lots of bamboo that could be worked with. So when in Rome as the saying goes... I quickly adapted to the idea of working with bamboo. The hand drills that were donated, as well as the drill bits, all came into action. Showing the boys who were there to learn was an interesting time for me... at one stage I stopped to laugh at the thought I was having: How did I become a woodwork teacher?... I ended up with a few drill cuts on my fingers and thumbs from holding the cut bamboo pieces that the boys were learning to drill on. So after about my third to forth cut I decided that it was time for the children to help each other and hold the bamboo pieces while they learned drilling.

Together We Learn - Sorting the Beads

It has now been four weeks since I returned from my volunteering trip to Wat Opot, Cambodia. I went with the intention of sharing/teaching my skills and knowlege of making costume jewellery. I wanted to help Wat Opot become self-supporting by using these newly-learnt skills to make products with their own hands to sell to tourists and vistors to Wat Opot Childrens Communtiy.

I have taken my time to let all that I experienced sink in and integrate deep into my soul. After all the wonderful experiences with everyone with whom I worked and spent time in Cambodia, coming back to my reality in New Zealand I have experienced a feeling of unsettlement.

I made sure that I was conscious of going only with intent and as few expectations as possible... little did I expect or imagine that I would be so deeply touched and broadened by the privilege of being able to spend time and offer my skills to the children at Wat Opot.

Here is what went on...

The first week there it was great just to get our bearings and to get to know the children and adults of Wat Opot Childrens Community.

I thought it a good idea to just break open the 21 kilos of donated beads and set them out on sheets for the children to just have fun with and sort through. First, I thought we could get them to sort them into size and then I thought maybe lets just go for sorting by colour.

I wanted all the children to have an opportunity to connect to and have fun with the beads - as I did not imagine that all of them would be able, or interested, in learning the techniques of jewllery making.

With help from the lovely Marijke Lups, we took out a few bags of beads specifically for the smaller children (ones that were easy for the littlies to play with and sort). Marijke being an ex-primary school teacher was a blessing for her guidance with the under-6 year olds.


Once that was under way I began unveiling the rest of the beads. We used the sleeping platforms in the girls sleeping dorm. Once the beads were out it was such a frenzy of excitement... if all the children were not there at the start, the energy of the activity seemed to be sending out vibes and before we knew it, it was all hands in to help with the bead sorting.

It was hot work for Marijke and myself - not only getting used to the Cambodian heat, but also trying to keep a reign on the excitement and frenzy from getting out of control. It was an amazing feeling being there with these children and sharing their excitement in fossicking through the masses of beads. I would say I was feeling humbled by this experience as I remember thinking who am I to be the one to be here having this experience?

The next day I planned to begin a loose arrangement of teaching some light and fun jewellery-making skills with all those who wanted to participate. Fortunately we were able to use the room where Home Care sector were running a morning sewing class (for local community girls to help them pass the test for the garment factory work opportunities).

Marijke and I got permission from Wayne (the orphange co-founder and overseer) to clean the sewing area up a bit (with the help of two visiting volunteers, Jean from Nelson in New Zealand and Jo from Australia). Then we set up a table to work on. Marijke looked over the treddle sewing machines with dismay as they were not in such great condition and we could not even find bobbins to test them out! Apparently, they lock up the bobbins to prevent them from going missing. This seems to be the normal way to treat tools and anything of value... a sad fact of life in an impoverished society.

The first things the children made were beads hanging which were to decorate the work room and help to inspire all who saw them. These were simple small sections of beads knotted into place on a long strand of wax braid thread. Eventually they were hung up in the window frames of the new Art and Craft shop. Once each child had made a bead hanging, they went on to learn how to make a beaded macrame bracelet.

This went on for two days with various children appearing throughout the afternoon to learn... and occasionally just to sneak some beads into their pockets. However, their efforts to discreetly escape were thwarted by my seeming to have not only a sixth sense, but also eyes in the back of my head.

A Story: When two boys tried to leave with beads in their pocket - without making anything and without asking for the beads (as all normal children in the world have the ability to try...) they were stopped and when they tried half-heartedly to deny what they were doing, I stood with my hand out in front of them until they emptied their pockets and handed back the acquired beads. I explained in a stern tone that what they were actually doing was stealing... and that they were not to do that but instead come and ask me for what they wanted, and perhaps they would be allowed to have the beads.

One boy who I had not seen taking beads, made his way in front of the boys I was speaking to and looking directly up into my eyes handed me the beads from his pocket and immediately lowered his eyes again. I sensed his honest remorse and before he could leave I reached out for him, and said in the best way I could, that what he had done was indeed wrong, but the fact that he had the courage to freely own up to having taken beads when he could of got away with it and to look me directly in the eye when giving them to me had earned him my respect.
I have learned over the years that humans do things that are not always deemed to be right of nature or of heart...but I have also learned that is takes great courage to come forward and admit when one has wronged another and be prepared to accept the consequences of ones actions. For such people I have the greatest respect and forgiveness.

Insightful Moment

It was a great experience and trial for the children of Wat Opot to have an order placed for the product they would be producing over the next few weeks. The Universe brings/supplies the opportunities with the right timing for the right and truest of intentions... Wayne is perhaps feeling a little nervous as he faces the reality of the next stage and his intentions for the Wat Opot children to be producing products for sale in order to become more self-sufficient.

First there was a surprise visit to Wat Opot by Susan, the owner of Butterflies Garden Restaurant Cafe, and her $280 order. Then Wat Opot found out that there will be a Buddhism Tour group or 20 people from Singapore coming on the 8th of August and they would like to stay for the night at the Wat Opot Childrens Community. This will provide another opportunity and test of the children's jewellery-making.

Marijke and I have decided to have four days away in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukeville to show samples of the children's jewellery to NGO organisations who support products made by under-privileged groups. We are planning on some R&R at the beach in Sihanoukeville. Our absence from the Wat Opot project will allow them to start working towards fulfilling and completing their very first order and a chance for them to build on gaining experience of working and relating together as a team. Also they will have to take responsibility for keeping the materials and tools safe and tidy etc. We will return early Friday morning to see how they went. I am sure that no matter what the outcome, it will be a wonderful positive learning experience for each of them.

The team of girls and boys that have come together to learn were excited to see their creations that would perhaps be chosen by their first official buyer... but more abut that in another post!