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September 12, 2007
From Sarin Chan
A House Full of Hope and Smiles
Srey Leap is a playful, smiley and energetic little girl who loves to learn. Every morning she reminds her father that, ‘Its time for me to go to the House of Smiles school Dad!’ and every afternoon she asks her teacher for more homework.
Srey Leap was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that permanently affects body movement, posture and muscle coordination. Srey tried to take her notebook and start at the government school but the principle sent her home saying they had no methodology to train her. Educational opportunities for Srey were nearly impossible until House of Smiles found her.
Opportunities for children with disabilities in Cambodia are very limited and they are often severely discriminated against. Many people and children in Srey’s community do not want to speak or play with her and refer to her as the crazy kid. Many Cambodians believe that disabilities are contagious and a deserved karmic consequence of wrongs committed in a previous life.
When Hagar staff told Srey’s Mother and Father about the House of Smiles they were happy and interested. Even though they are very poor, Srey’s father sacrifices part of his small income to pay for her transportation to and from the House of Smiles.
Srey’s parents also participate in monthly parent community training sessions held at the House of Smiles to facilitate better community understanding and parental care of children with disabilities. Srey’s father comes every month and gives feedback, he comments on Srey's achievements in school work as well as her improvements in personal hygiene and life skills.
Today Srey Leap is part of a loving and friendly community. She is thriving, learning and making friends with other community children. She loves playing dress-up, smiling with lipstick and would like to have her own beauty salon when she grows up.
House of Smiles is one of the few organizations in Cambodia that provides physical therapy, emotional development, and life skills vocational training for children with disabilities. Hagar assesses each child's needs and challenges them to reach their full potential through a combination of specialized care and engaging the community to fully integrate and support their lives.
Currently the House of Smiles facility is very old, frequently flooded and crammed with overlapping demands of educators, therapy, respite care, administrative and residential functions. Hagar has designed a new facility and is raising funds for its construction. This is a purpose built facility for the recovery, therapeutic, educational and respite care of children with multiple or severe disabilities as well as the administrative and training center for a network of community centers around Cambodia.
Join the House of Smiles family and partner with us in helping more children like Srey Leap grow, learn and thrive in their community.
Click Here --- To make a donation for needed HOS school materials, books, computers, desks and a program vehicle.
http://www.hagarinternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=36
Click Here --- To learn more about what you can do to support the construction of the new House of Smiles Center.
http://www.hagarinternational.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=14&func=fileinfo&id=32
Posted by jicafriends at September 12, 2007 12:22 PM