The Green Gecko Project... where kids can be kids and dreams can come true.
Tuesday October 18 2011

Cambodia is flooding... the kids ask "what can we do?"

Many of our friends around the world are just starting to hear of widespread flooding in south east Asia... but the unfortunate reality is much of Cambodia has been under water for the past five weeks.

Siem Reap’s main roads have currents so strong they feel like rips in the ocean - people are struggling against them or being dragged by them as they try to wade their way home. Many people are suffering as a result of the situation, and the death toll is constantly rising. Seventeen of Cambodia's 24 provinces are currently underwater, almost 200,000 hectares of rice fields have been destroyed with another 400,000 hectares damaged by the floods, and 247people have died.

Rem and I drove through Kompong Thom a week ago to see an expansive lake in the planes of what used to be endless lime-green rice fields. Instead, the only thing, as far as our eyes could see, was water. It felt like we were driving on a highway over the ocean.

The rice crops have drowned and there is nowhere for the farmers to tether their cows except precariously on the side of the road. Countless kilometres of make-shift tents line the main road to the nation’s capital. It looks like a refugee camp, except for the thinning livestock – the only assets these farmers have left.

Rem was so moved by the plight of the farmers, he shared what he had seen with the kids in their 'Living Values' class. Affected by what they learnt, the kids began brainstorming ways to help the farmers. One of their suggestions was to reduce their food spending by choosing to eat bananas for their daily snack instead of more expensive fruit. They offered to use their savings to buy rice for the struggling farmers. The children also volunteered to go - one group at a time - to deliver this rice and offer their assistance.

These kids - once hungry themselves - are feeling so excited to have the opportunity to help fellow Cambodians. It’s gestures like this that tug on the heartstrings and make the years of sweat and tears so worth it. If this group of empathetic kids are any indication of Cambodia’s future, then that future looks very bright indeed.

 

Green Gecko kids flood relief initiative | Hotel collaboration

Moved by news of the Gecko kids' generosity, our dear friends at Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Resort and Heritage Suites invited the children to share their concerns about Cambodia’s flood crisis. They asked them to make a proposal on how they would like to help the flood victims and offer suggestions on how our community partners could be of assistance.

While most of the Gecko kids spent their Sunday repairing local roads - ravished by gushing flood waters - four Gecko girls got together to pen their ideas for the presentation. Two hours later, seven of the Geckos arrived at the lobby of Hotel de la Paix ready to make their appeal. Each of our girls took turns presenting their ideas to our community partners, each explaining the benefits of working together in this flood relief initiative.

This is what they said...

“Good afternoon our friends from Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Resort and Heritage Suites. As you know Cambodia is experiencing the worst flood we can remember. It is a sad situation – many people have lost their ability to work and survive.

"Many people need urgent help. Our Gecko daddy Rem has seen two areas that are very desperate. One is local- on the way to the Tonle Sap Lake. The other area most badly affected is Kompong Thom.

"The reason these people need our help is because they have lost their homes, their rice fields and cannot work. Many of their animals have died. Their vegetables are under water. These people have no food. In Kompong Thom the farmers have nowhere to put their cows except on the side of a busy road to Phnom Penh because of all their land is under water.

"We believe what they need most urgently is food to keep them alive. Our plan is to save money from our own food spending to buy rice for them, canned fish, soy sauce and clean water.

"We are looking for partners to join us in our efforts. We believe Green Gecko and Hotel de la Paix, Golden Banana Boutique Hotel and Resort and Heritage Suites would be perfect partners for in this project. We have been friends for six years, we have built trust between us. We have a good reputation and are community partners already.

"These are the reasons we would like to invite you, your staff and your friends and guests to join us to help Cambodian flood victims. We appreciate your consideration. Thank you for taking time to hear us.”

Representatives from the three hotels (both foreign and Khmer) were moved by the children’s kindness and initiative and agreed to collaborate. Within two hours of the proposal being accepted the first drop was made at Wat Svay, when 15 kilos of rice, five cans of fish and soy sauce were delivered to each of the 20 most desperate families.

This Thursday, hotel staff members will join Rem and the kids of Green Gecko to offer support to a further 70 families from the same village.

In all cases, Rem has - and will continue to – liaise with the village and commune chiefs from these communities, meet the families face-to-face and assess the situation in person.

We understand this initiative does not serve as a long term solution; our goals are simply to offer some emergency relief. We aim to provide the most basic of needs in order to reduce the rising death toll; and buy some time until aid organisations have time to reach them.

It is moving to think this project was instigated by a group of children who were troubled by this catastrophe and had the drive and initiative to do something about it.

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Rice, fish and clean water

If you would like to join forces with the Gecko kids and their hotel friends by sponsoring a bag of rice, canned fish or fresh water for families in need.... you can do it easily and securely on our dedicated appeal page at www.razoo.com/story/floodreliefcollaboration. Every kilo is needed and appreciated.

Thanks to everyone for your messages of well wishes, concern and encouragment. We know our newsletters are few and far between – even without the water :) - but please don’t think we’ve forgotten you. If you would like more regular updates, we do have a Facebook page you can check out - you don't even need to use Facebook to view it.

With much Gecko gratitude to all our friends and supporters. We can't do what we do without you.

Tania, Rem and all of the Green Gecko gang.

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For more pics of the kids and the flood scene around Siem Reap, check out our latest photo albums...

- Gecko kids flood relief initiative | Hotel Collaboration
- Water Water Everywhere
- And for some real dirty fun in the mud... Our big bogged bus and trusty Ford ute.                

ENJOY! :)

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Green Gecko... where kids can be kids and dreams can come true.
greengeckoproject.org | former street kids | siem reap | cambodia

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