RW Supply + Design’s mission is that we exist UNTIL EVERY CHILD IS HOME . Since 2020, we have been fortunate to be a part of the work Love Without Boundaries is doing in rural Cambodia. The following was written by LWB, describing the history of their Cambodia program.
In 2016, LWB made the decision to live out our name — Love Without Boundaries — and expand our work to help children in countries beyond China (where we began our work as an NGO in 2003). Helping in another location in Asia seemed to be a natural progression to our work, and CEO Amy Eldridge came across the work of Dr. Robert Spires, an educator who has done extensive research on human trafficking in Thailand.
As Amy investigated the possibility of helping in Thailand, she contacted Dr. Spires, who in return suggested that we consider the work of a young man named Sokleng In. Leng was doing amazing work with vulnerable kids in a region of Cambodia just across the border from Thailand.
Leng had great passion for helping children but limited resources. A major problem in that border region of Cambodia was that many children received no education, their families lived in poverty, and there were very few available pathways out of a difficult life. Incredibly impressed by Leng and his vision, we drew a deep collective breath and devoted ourselves to a new program in Cambodia.
Our Cambodia Education programs began with our first school in western Cambodia — our Believe in Me (BIM) Sokhem school. Once the first structure was built and supplied with furniture and books, a whole host of other needs had to be tackled. And tackle them we did, one by one — because at LWB, “We get stuff done!”
Our Cambodia Education program also provides extra food support for children and their families at home.
Additional food support was an especially vital service during the COVID pandemic when many families found themselves without an income.
Getting to and from school was a huge issue for many of the students attending our Cambodia Education programs. Traveling for miles through hazardous (and often muddy) roads through areas known for trafficking had previously kept many children from attending class.
To solve this issue, tuk-tuks — our version of a school bus – were purchased, and drivers were hired. Other children received bicycles to help them arrive at school on time. Since that time, the program has continued to grow and develop to help more and more kids!
The ability to provide these opportunities…including helping fund this year’s projects at LWB Cambodia…is solely because of the work that each of you do each day!