Giving Hope

Hi Everyone  It's Kyle McClintock writing again...Hope you all are doing well!

I kept my story below but just wanted to share the latest update on New Hope that came from Kerry Huntly over in Cambodia.  There are monthly newsletters that are sent out and I encourage anyone who is interested in staying involved to go to New Hope's website and sign up for the newsletter.  Hereis the link to the main page www.newhopecambodia.com and below is the linik to this month's newsletter from Kerry.  Again a sincere thank you to all of you who have donated or taken the time to listen.  Updates to come. 

xo Kyle

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=138fb74424c0623b&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D9a90a3ed59%26view%3Datt%26th%3D138fb74424c0623b%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbSaFp8vxr9UGZjoAzO4p6kvtHsUPA&pli=1

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Hi Everyone!

I write you you all asking for a helping hand.  Not for myself, but for the many extremely oppressed, underprivileged, and recovering people of Cambodia. 

I recently returned from a tour through southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.  During this journey we had the privilege of learning about and visiting an organization just outside the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, called New Hope.  This organization was started by a local ex-Buddhist monk, and a generous woman from Australia.  Together they began this grass roots, non-government organization with the goal of giving the men, women, and children affected by the sex trade, genocide, severe poverty, disease, and illness, a chance to get back on their feet and build a stable future for themselves and their families. 

After having traveled through Cambodia, learning so much about their culture, history, and suffering, I developed an incredible appreciation for the amazing positive morale of Cambodia's people, given what they had endured over the decades.  When we arrived to New Hope and saw what it's founders and active managers and staff had done and continue to do for the people, I was overwhelmingly inspired.  New Hope is sustained entirely off of donation and volunteerism.  The people working there for the cause, truly want to be there, so thus there was this resounding feeling of selflessness and caring around the campus.  The main ideal that guides New Hopes efforts is importance of education.  By providing absolutely free education to children, New Hope strives to stop the brutal cycle of poverty and abuse, and give the young population a chance at success for themselves and their families alike.  On the grounds there are other free services such as a fully functioning medical facility and an up and coming dental clinic, both of which are also run by generous volunteerism by medical professionals. 

In addition to being inspired, I found myself extremely humbled. Walking into New Hope we were resoundingly welcomed by the beautiful young faces of the children that go there every day for school.  Most of these children have already endured or seen more horror and heartache in there short little lives than most of us will see in the entirety of our lives.  However, all they showed was utmost gratitude for what they were being given, and motivation to do as well as they could each and every day.  Sam, one of my travel pals from Manchester, England, and I stood in the center of a classroom just after having assisted a local volunteer teacher at the school in teaching an English lesson.  We stood in the middle of the huddle of kids, ranging in age from 7-16 years old, who could not have be happier to have us there.  Most of them walk from their broken houses in the surrounding villages and slums and come to school with a willingness and energy that can't be taught.  The curious little girl that I sat next to upon first walking into class, looked up at me with bewildered eyes and an enormous grin asking" how many years" I was and where in the world I had come from.  These kids are truly unyielding proof that New Hope is succeeding in giving hope, and creating opportunity for these children.  The kids gave me something that day... it was a refreshed and completely new perspective on the privilege of my life...and a humbling appreciation for everything I have. 

So... I want to give back! 

The first step in attempting to give back, is creating awareness.  Hence, me writing to you!  The more people that know about New Hope, the more support it will have.  After awareness it is then through fundraising, donation, and volunteerism that New Hope can keep going, and keep growing.  I plan to head back to Cambodia and volunteer a month of my time later this year, to both medical and educational services at New Hope.  In addition I am sponsoring a family for $30-$50 a month.  That money will give them a chance at additional public education, clean clothing, a protective roof on their house, some food, clean water, and any necessary medical services, which most of these families are in dire need of.  If you too are interested in helping out there are a few ways to do so. 

One, is to donate here through my fundraising page which will ultimately serve to fund my trip back over to volunteer, or will pass on over to New Hope.  Another is to give donations directly to New Hope yourselves, or to sponsor a family as well.  And of course there is always the option to join in and volunteer your time. Please check out New Hope's website www.newhopecambodia.com to find out more about the organization, the mission of the organization, and other ways to give to New Hope. 

Thank you all so much for taking the time to listen.   I'm sure you will be as moved as I was by New Hope and the stories of the people it serves.  If not anything else, please help my efforts to give back to New Hope by spreading the awareness.  In terms of creating hope through New Hope, a small effort of any kind, most definitely goes a long way!

Thank you again! (Ah Khun!) 

Gratefully, 

Kyle McClintock