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News

Community Meals Program

Each evening CCF Director Scott Neeson accompanied by students in CCF’s care participating in CCF’s Leadership Program, offer a healthy meal to children living in communities based in the Stung Meachey district where the old municipal rubbish dump in Phnom Penh is located. Currently, meals are distributed to approximately 150 children. This program, in addition to providing basic nutrition for vulnerable children, allows an opportunity to engage with the community and assist with ongoing health and welfare issues.

The success of Gift of Hope’s 2010 Upmarket Markets at Rose Bay and Mosman has made it possible for us to provide funding for the CCF’s Community Meals Program for 2011 to ensure its continuation for this year.

Swimming Program

In January 2011 our Director Robyn spent a month with Cambodian Childrens’ Fund during which time she designed and implemented a swimming program for some of the 500 children in CCF’s care. The CCF children range in age from 5 to 18, and some young adults stay on at CCF whilst continuing tertiary studies. These children are amongst the most vulnerable, from Cambodia’s most destitute communities. 40 children were selected to participate in the first roll out of the program, across a broad age range. None of these children had any prior experience of swimming in a pool.

Our program ran for 4 weeks, during which time the children were divided into groups based on ability, with outcomes ranging from overcoming the fear of entering the water, safe entry, submerging, blowing bubbles, then progressing to skills such as floating face down, skulling and, for the most proficient, swimming 10 to 25 metres of any stroke.

The program was a huge success. Although the children were initially very apprehensive, this was overcome by the excitement of their new challenge, and the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar swimwear. Their overwhelming desire to learn made them a joy to teach. Each child would have a 45 minute group lesson. Invariable they would continue to practice on their own afterwards, which would have continued for hours if not interrupted! All children successfully achieved at least one and often multiple outcomes.

Robyn will run a continuation of the program for these children in June.

Hope Stars

We were delighted to welcome Sean and Natasha Scully from SN Scully Jewellers as retailers at the Drill Hall Mosman in November 2010. Sean is a Fellow of the Gold and Silversmith’s Guild of Australia and has designed a beautiful piece of jewellery for Gift of Hope, with part of the proceeds of sale being donated directly to us. Sean and Natasha have a strong philosphy of philanthropy. The

Hope Star makes a beautiful gift, perfect for 18th and 21st birthdays, not to mention Valetine’s Day, Mother’s Day or any other day of the year when a special something is just whats needed.

We love the Hope Star, its even more beautiful in reality than it appears in its images.

The 29 mm handcrafted sterling silver Hope Star with a matching chain is priced at $110 of which $20 is donated to Gift of Hope.

To purchase please contact us or Natasha and Sean Scully direct at www.snscully.com.au or tel 95258065.