Merry Christmas! — Fountain of Hope

Merry Christmas!

Reclaiming Her Life

Yourn's life was a harrowing tale of domestic violence, poverty, and despair. Her husband's alcoholism and abuse cast a dark shadow over her family. The weight of providing for her children, often working irregular hours and facing financial constraints, was a constant burden. But amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope emerged. 

Aunt Sopha, a compassionate soul, invited Yourn to join the Life with Value support group. This group became a sanctuary, where Yourn found solace, understanding, and strength. The members, like a family, listened to her troubles, offered comfort, and provided practical advice. Empowered by the support group, Yourn began to reclaim her life. She worked diligently, ensuring her children received a quality education. Her daughter's academic achievements became a source of immense pride. The group also played a crucial role in advocating for Yourn's rights, working with local authorities to address her situation. 

Yourn's transformation is a testament to the power of human connection and the impact of community-based initiatives. The Life with Value support group has not only provided a lifeline to vulnerable women like Yourn, but also empowers them to become agents of change in their lives and communities.

Helping Little Ones Dream

My name is Nita and I live in Tbong Khmum province. I am one of the Joy of Our Children’s teen club members. I always saw other club members serve the little vulnerable children as Buddy companions. The changes I noticed in the little ones motivated me to want to do the same. 

The Buddy System training truly molded my heart. I was willing to help bring transformation into the lives of vulnerable kids whose parents migrated for work and left them behind with their grandparents. Nary is an orphan girl whose father returns home to visit her only once a year. She ate two meals a day, breakfast at 7 a.m. and dinner at 4 p.m. She skipped lunch every day. Her meals are mostly rice with fish paste or fermented fish. Her grandmother is sick and as a result, Nary was often absent from school. I decided to choose Nary from my village as my buddy companion. It took Nary a while to trust my care for her. We slowly became friends. I took her to the kid’s club with me and invited her to the teenager’s club when we had a buddy meeting. She has a dream of being a teacher.  I taught her mathematics and guided her with reading until she became an outstanding student in her class. 

I am thankful that the Joy of Our Children program brought me a good buddy companion, who taught me to take every opportunity to help and care for the vulnerable children in my village. I love Nary with the love of Jesus and desire to see her dream come true. I hope Nary will bring a lot of inspiration from this Buddy System to many children around her in the future. 


Refreshment from Our Friends in the Netherlands!

We had four friends visit our work in the Pursat and Battambang provinces. A group of Christians organized by the Dutch FOH foundation and a Dutch church “Doorbrekers” helped us host a Ministry Day, a heartwarming gathering for 137 children in the Joy of Our children program and 128 Life with Value support group members. The kids loved the fun and games! The support group members enjoyed performances, gifts, and even skincare treatments. One special moment came when a woman tearfully shared, “My hands worked very hard to earn a living to support my family. I never experienced a smooth soft hand. But Jesus knows I need that too.” Even the smallest gestures bring immense joy and comfort to those in need.

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