A crash course in changing the world.
Sunrise Children's Villages & Geraldine Cox
Right before I began playing EVOKE, an advertisement for a news article was showing on tv about an Australian woman who had established several orphanages in Cambodia from the ground up. I missed watching the report, so I have looked further into who she is and what the work she does.
Geraldine Cox has had many roles, from living the corporate life in Sydney complete with Gucci handbag, to a diplomat stationed around the world. She returned to Cambodia in 1995, and subsequently got caught up in the unrest that ensued. Since July 1997 Geraldine has been caring for children, and she has become a well known figure of hope and development for both orphaned children as well as those whose parents are simply to poor to keep them. Known affectionately as Big Mum, she has devoted her life to creating a home for children who are without one. Sunrise Children's Villages are based in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
As a part of the ongoing development and sustainability of the orphanage, the team have begun a Farm Project with the aim of cultivating vegetables and products to sell to the local restaurants and markets, as well as for use at the orphanage. The farm uses the latest growing technology for irrigation and black plastic mulch to reduce weed competition.
The farm recently received the gift of a motorised rotary hoe - in this case providing the farmers with modern technology has alleviated some of the back breaking work performed every day. Sunrise welcomes visitors (though they retain Cambodian carers to provide stability for the children), so its very possible I am able to visit and see the development first hand.
Geraldine is currently in Australia to receive treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer, and I will be tracking her progress and praying for her swift recovery, to continue the great work she is doing.
While my life seems suddenly dwarfed by the courageous action this woman embodies, some of Geraldine's final words in her talk are those which I try to live by every day: don't worry about things that you cannot change. Only do what you can control, and ultimately, that is our own actions - every day.
Listen to a recent talk Geraldine gave here (second piece on the show), or check on the farm project.
Views: 8
Tags: ACT1
-
Comment by Massive Attack on March 29, 2010 at 2:16pm -
Cool project
-
Comment by Elspeth Prince on April 6, 2010 at 6:09am -
Great post - I read Geraldine's book last year after hearing her speak at the Happiness Conference in Sydney - amazing lady who has positively changed the lives of so many children. Sorry to learn she is having to deal with cancer.
Comment
© 2012 Created by Alchemy.
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke