Back in Melbourne

Posted on

24 May 2010

Hi everyone,
Well, we have made it back to Melbourne after an unforgettable experience in Cambodia with Nick, all of his team and especially the kids at the Cambodian Orphans Fund (COF). Were we left off last update, we were getting ready for the party with all the kids at the orphanage – well it was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. We arrived at Lana House and the kids were all there, dressed beautifully and ready to party. They had blown up all of the balloons and had set up the front courtyard of the house with tables and chairs, ready for our dinner.
 
We all sat down together and enjoyed an amazing meal of fish, chicken, rice and fruit. As a special treat we were able to give the kids cans of soft drink and fruit juice which everyone enjoyed. Then the party really started and we all got up to dance and sing Karaoke and generally just have a brilliant night all together. It was one of the most unique and really fun experiences of the whole trip and we just fell in love more and more with the COF kids – all 65 of them actually! They are all so sweet, well mannered and beautifully behaved, and they certainly know how to dance and have fun. So, a great night was had by all!
 
The next morning we got to the sewing centre very early, and the ladies had already been there for an hour before us. They were ready to go and they were sewing like absolute professionals – what you need to understand is that 3 days before they had never even seen a sewing machine, and here they were sewing and chatting and having a ball. We all signed the quilt together which really signified and cemented our relationship together and commitment to each other. I think that they will be producing bags for us to sell a lot quicker than we had first imaged, so look out for them instore in about 6 weeks time.
 
After a while it was time for Dahlia and Jono to leave (Steve and Megan were staying for an extra 2 days to make sure everything was sorted out for the importing of the bags and the final training sessions) so we had a teary farewell to the ladies and went to pack up our stuff to go to the airport. As our flight left after the kids school had finished, Nick organised a very special treat for us and bought all of the kids to the airport to send us off. What a moving experience, so over whelming and generous of them to make such an effort! We spent ages outside of customs hugging the kids and wishing them well and making sure they knew how much we loved them and how much we cared for them.
 
We promised to think about them, advocate on behalf of them, raise awareness into their needs and generally to ‘adopt’ them as our own – this is a promise and commitment that we take very seriously and we will do our utmost to help in every way possible. Already we can see the incredible positivity that our machines have bought them, and the potential for so much more in the future. You can learn more about them, about becoming a volunteer, and generally about the work Nick is doing at www.cofcambodia.org [cofcambodia.org] and please take the time to let more people know about them and their needs.
 
So, our little adventure is over for now – but really, it is just the beginning. We will be selling the bags in every store, we will be raising funds and awareness, and we will be actively looking to replicate this in as many places in need as we possibly can. Please join us in this journey!
 
Thanks again for all your kind words and email – we have really appreciated all of the positivity and energy that it has given us!
 
See you soon,

Tags:  stitch in time

Latest from Cambodia, Friday 21st May

Posted on

21 May 2010

Hi again everyone,
 
Thanks for your wonderful emails and messages of support – we are so thrilled to read them all and pass on all of your good wishes to the people here in Cambodia. It’s been 2 days since we last updated and boy, so much has happened!
 
We got back to the centre early yesterday morning to find 12 very excited ladies waiting ready to learn to use the machines. They were all a little nervous – and so were we! We had a few of the team from the Cambodian Orphans Fund (COF) on hand to help with translations and just generally getting everyone acquainted. After we all said hi to each other, the ladies took their seats and Megan began to teach.
 
Well, within 1 hour every single one of the ladies could wind their bobbin, thread the machine, mark and cut their fabrics and they were all starting to sew up a storm. It was amazing how quickly and how proficient they all were with the machines. These ladies are from the family support program that the COF helps out and their daily life and living environments are very very tough, well below the poverty line. To see them so happy and engaged in the learning and sewing was unbelievable.
 
You could see that with each passing minute their confidence grew, the atmosphere got happier and less serious, you could hear laughter and chatter and by the end of it everyone was feeling proud and energized by the program. In fact, after only 2 hours our first Stitch in Time bag was officially made – and it looked brilliant! You will be able to buy these bags, made by these women, in our stores in a few weeks and all of the proceeds will help to keep this program running, and develop more like it.
 
The COF have 18 families (some with up to 12 family members living together) that they are currently supporting – that is in addition to the 65 kids and 4 English schools that they run, manage, maintain and develop. With more income, of which the sewing will greatly contribute, they will be able to grow these numbers and help many more Cambodians, who desperately need their help.
 
After a few hours it was lunch time so we all headed up to Lana House (the newer of the 2 COF orphanages) just in time to see the kids come home from school. They were so excited to see us and we all sat down together (the kids, the ladies who were learning to sew, the workers from COF and the 4 of us) to a fantastic lunch of vegetables, rice, beef, fish and fruit. It was a very special time for us all to spend it all together. After lunch it was back to the sewing room for more learning, teaching, laughing and togetherness.
 
After such an incredible day we were all buzzing with excitement and could really actually understand what these machines can do, and see the potential that this centre now has to generate some real income that will help to support the orphans, the assisted families and grow the amazing work that Nick and the team at COF continue to do each and every day. If you would like to know more about the COF and see how you can help then please visit their website at www.cofcambodia.org [cofcambodia.org]
 
Tonight we are having a party with the kids – all of them from both houses are coming to Lana House for some dinner and fun with us all together. Better go and get ready, see you soon!

Tags:  stitch in time

Spotlight arrive in Cambodia!

Posted on

20 May 2010

Hi everyone, 
 
Well, it’s the end of day one and we have had an amazing day. I am not sure if you realized but the connection that we have to this program is actually through Vivienne. She was here last year just after we re-opened the Singapore store and was so touched by the kids she met, that she wanted to find out more and see how she could personally help. It was a natural fit for our Stitch in Time program and so we got onto Nick who set up and runs the Cambodia Orphans Fund (COF) and here we are.
 
We started off very early, leaving Singapore and landing in the 32 degree heat (with about 100% humidity) of Siem Reap in Cambodia. We were met by Nick and his team from the COF and went straight to his offices to meet the team and learn more about his amazing work in rescuing and raising over 65 kids in the 2 centres that he runs, as well as the great work with the Family Support Program hat helps 18 families in the surrounding communities.                      .
 
From there we went to their Vocational training centre and were united with our Brother sewing machines and over-lockers. It was so exciting to see the training centre all set up and ready to work. The COF team have done an incredible job building the room and setting everything up ready for our first training session tomorrow. We hung up the amazing quilt that Gale made us (thanks Gale – it looks fantastic and we are all going to sign it with the kids and the students tomorrow!) and everyone is ready to get those machines sewing and making the foundation some much needed income.
 
After setting up the room we went with Nick to visit with the kids in both the Lana Centre and Osborne House - these are the 2 orphanages that COF runs. We were so overwhelmed by the greeting and welcome that we received from the most beautiful kids you have ever met. They are sweet and very well mannered and made us feel so at home with them. The orphans are very proud of Osborne House, taking time to show us their classrooms, sleeping quarters and recreation room. We played games and sat down with them – but the hit of the day was the balloon app on Dahlia’s iPhone, all the kids thought it was the best thing ever!
 
We are really excited to start the training tomorrow morning with the women from the Family Support program which assist women and families in the surrounding communities to the COF locations. Our aim with these sessions is to teach as many people as we possibly can, maximising the opportunity for the participants and the community while we are here. It is amazing and humbling to see just how much these machines are able to do to help these amazing kids and their community and we are all very honored to be here supporting the Stitch in Time program.

Tags:  stitch in time

Stitch in Time - Cambodia 2010

Posted on

13 May 2010

On Monday 17th of May 2010 a very excited delegation of Spotlight team members will be leaving Melbourne for Cambodia as part of the Stitch in Time program. The Stitch In Time program helps to transform communities, by empowering women and young people with the skills and equipment to earn their own incomes through sewing, become self sufficient and ultimately improve their lives and the lives of their families. This will be the third trip funded by the program which has previously travelled to Uganda and Zambia.
 
The team, comprising of Jono, Steve, Meghan and Dahlia will be visiting Siem Reap in Northern Cambodia where the program will work towards supporting the community in collaboration with the Cambodia Orphan Fund.  
 
The Spotlight team are taking 10 sewing machines, 2 overlockers, fabrics and patterns to the Siem Reap community where they will train participants at the Sinclair Centre (the local community centre) in dress making, tailoring and the basics of sewing.
 
The participants in the program will also be taught to create enviro shopping bags that Spotlight will then buy back from them to sell in Spotlight stores around the country.
 
The team will be updating with their thoughts, pics and video daily so check in to this blog for more of this exciting adventure.

Tags:  sewing machine stitch in time

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