In an effort to make ends meet, or more appropriately stated, to just survive, children are sent out to work in the rice fields or to stay at home to take care of the siblings so that parents and older siblings can work in the rice fields. Since these kids, even as young as nine years of age, are busy helping support their families in some capacity, they aren’t able to attend school. Children’s health is often overlooked or ignored because the family cannot afford any medical expenses. Impoverished families sometimes live in shacks that have no roof or have holes in the walls, if they have a house at all.
There are a number of organizations and ministries, such as C@R, that have seen the need and are taking action. With C@R, monthly sponsorship provides the following: the child’s school fees are paid, the family receives food, and the child’s healthcare needs are met. This is a 3-year program that hopes to produce the following
at the end of the program: the child is able to regularly attend school rather than having to help financially support the family, the child is healthy, the family has a small business that allows them to be self-reliant, and the family makes Jesus Christ the lord of their lives. What I believe to be one of the cool and unique features of the C@R ministry is that they help the family start a business whether it be raising chickens to sell or planting a garden to sell vegetables on the roadside for income. C@R fronts the money necessary to get the business started and trains the family on proper business practices. During the 3-years and even beyond, C@R works alongside the family to ensure that the business is given every opportunity to be a successful source of income for the family. The most important role that C@R has within the sponsored family is that each family member is exposed to the love God. It is not a prerequisite to be a Christian to be accepted into the program. At least on a weekly basis, each family is visited either by one of the staff or a provincial volunteer where they are taught from the Bible and shown the love of God through the worker’s actions. As of right now, 70% of the sponsored families have broken free from financial bondage and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Hallelujah!
Now, if this blog sounded more like a promotional plug for Children at Risk, it kind of is. As you probably already are aware, children in poor living conditions are not limited to the country of Cambodia. But, I was able to meet some of these kids that are facing the very hardships mentioned previously. Right now, there is a waiting list of kids that need sponsorship. I know that the economy is very bleak right now and money is super-tight, but if you feel God placing one of these Cambodian children on your heart, please check out the website below to get more information or to contact someone from C@R. It could even be that you team up with a couple other people to sponsor one child. If God isn’t calling you to give financially, I would ask that you please pray for the families in Cambodia that spend each day fighting to survive. Please pray that they would turn and believe on God to meet their needs.
