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Generous Contributions to Poor Cambodian Communities

From  August 20-25, Ms. Lesley Byrne, founder and president of a humanitarian company in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the Unite States, made a visit to poor Cambodian communities in three provinces where Heifer projects are being implemented. The purpose of her visit was to see project members’ livelihood and to seek possibility for help them improve their living condition. She also wanted to see how Heifer Cambodia works within communities in villages in partnership project partners. Her mission and company are to educate people about what different organizations including Heifer are doing in the world. But Cambodia is becoming more and more important to her because of Cambodian poor children. During the field visit, Ms. Lesley was fascinated with the inputs provided by Heifer changing the project participants’ poverty to being have more livestock and home garden and building their own houses. This is a huge improvement over their lives and the hope for their children as well. She also had the opportunity to see how community committees worked within the villages and their communities. With Heifer Cornerstones, she was impressed with people and how well organized they were and how much they helped, shared and cared each other by indicating their willingness to sustain their communities. They were not looking for handouts, but looking for help so that they can help themselves in the future. In a meeting with community leaders and members, the significant issue of lacking water in dry season was identified. She also discussed with the project participants on how to get water during the dry season for hygiene clean drinking water and having enough water to seed their crops in kitchen gardens. As a result of the discussion, she agreed to provide one pumping and two concrete wells to the communities for holding water in the dry season. Moreover, she was investigating research about building another pound for a village in Malai District. In this village, she also encouraged the community members to think about their health and hygiene by proving two public latrines managed by two families. Another critical issue identified is education for children in the communities. Contributing to solving the issue, she donated writing booklets and reading books to 300 school kids in Prolet community. In speaking with the Director of Prolet Primary School, transportation was another issue that was discussed. Many of children who graduate from Prolet Primary School are unable to attend secondary school because the school is too far away and they have no transportation. To help the poorest students to attend secondary school, Ms. Lesley has agreed to purchase bicycles to help those students. Ms. Lesley Byrne owns a humanitarian company making chocolates for collecting fund to help poor children around the world. She is also sponsoring two Cambodian poor children through Cambodian Children’s Fund for their education. For more information about her, please visit her website: www.lesleyslifeissweet.com

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