This past month my team worked with Crossing Cambodia.
Crossing Cambodia is an organization in Battambang, you guessed it, Cambodia. It was founded and currently run by Greg Holtz. He was living in Cambodia, working with another organization, when he saw first-hand this need to help kids that live on the streets of Battambang.
The organization has 2 main projects.
First, it sponsors 5 kids from the street to go to school. With a monthly scholarship raised by donations, Greg is able to get these kids uniforms, 2 meals each day, school supplies, and tuition to a private school. When classes are in session, the staff at CC help tutor and counsel the kids in whatever capacity is needed. Starting in August, 5 more kids will join the program.
Secondly, CC has a preschool on site. The ages of the kids range from about 2-6 years old. There were previously only 5 kids in the preschool. The last week we were there, 5 more kids were chosen to join the program.
The month of July was summer break for the kids. It was also the time Greg and others train the staff of Cambodian workers to prepare them for the upcoming year. Therefore, the timing of our arrival was perfect. We were able to provide them with child care while they spent their mornings and afternoons in training classes. They spent 2 weeks training the staff in first aid, discipleship, and in how to effectively teach and support the kids. So much time went into these classes. As an outsider, it was so encouraging to see just how intentional the staff is in giving these kids the best they have to offer.
The last week we were there, the school-sponsored kids were rewarded for their hard work. There was a group from the States that raised financial support to give each child a week-long vacation to the beach. They all got new bathing suits and sunglasses. They were so excited!
Our days were pretty consistent. Greg would show up at the house around 7 am and pick 1-2 of us up. We would then drive around town to get the kids, stopping along sidewalks, curbs, and an abandoned train station. Then, it was back to the base. After a quick bath for all the preschoolers and breakfast for all the kids, the chaos started. We would run around, play with blocks, race putting puzzles together, color, and make sure the kids didn’t hurt themselves…or one another.
Around noon, we would all sit down for lunch. (We had the best cook who would make all our meals!) After lunch was my personal favorite time of the day: siesta time. Due to the crazy heat, the whole compound would get pretty mellow as the preschoolers slept, the school kids kept themselves busy, and the staff would be in training. You could generally find my team at that point camped out in front of fans, napping with the preschoolers (my personal go-to), reading, relaxing, and trying to move as little as possible to not generate any more sweat.
Afternoons were filled with more toys and games. Then around 4 pm, we would load the truck back up and take the kids back to the streets. That was the hardest part of my day. Having to leave them on the streets everyday was rough. Saying goodbye at the end of the month was really difficult too. These kids are rough around the edges. For being so young, these kids have done and seen so much. They work on the streets begging for money. They are independent beyond their years. They would get in fights, using punches as a way to communicate. They fight to survive.
Working with Crossing Cambodia was incredible. The staff has relationships with the kids which extend beyond just a job. They truly love the kids. It is so apparent when you go there to see just how much that love is transforming the kids’ lives. In the short 3 weeks we were there, it was obvious to us just how much the kids are benefitting from being a part of what CC is doing. It was such an honor to be a part of the community for this past month.
I will never forget them.
