Autumn 25
Dear Friends and Family,
It’s a new year! New month. New season. I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share what we’ve been up to in the Aroha Project and the dreams I’m working towards in Cambodia for 2025.
As we step into a new season, we are reminded of the power of community and generosity. Your ongoing support for the Aroha Project has made a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in Cambodia. Here’s an update on what we’ve been working on and what’s ahead.
Over the past few years, we’ve been focused on multiple projects, from running our small clothing and shoe business here to supporting education initiatives through scholarships and backpack giveaways to provincial children.
As you know I’m always looking for ways to be involved in initiatives to support education for underprivileged children here so they can access learning opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. With your help, we can provide essential school supplies, learning materials, and a nurturing environment where these students can thrive.
Our 3 initiatives remain the same
Education Centre, Scholarships and Community Support.
Education Centre
Our biggest achievement has been the launch of our Education Centre providing nearly 90 students daily opportunities for study and mentoring.
My main goal over the next few months is to raise the remaining USD$3,000 to help the centre become more established, resourced and to be sure of the provision of teachers salaries so they can continue this vital work for the urban poor.
We desperately need these school books for our kids and the total cost will be $360. Would you like to help with some supplies?
Scholarships
In addition to the 5 scholarships currently happening and supported by you, we are excited to be launching scholarships in honour of two incredible men, Craig James Willson (my late husband) and Colin Fleay… my friend of more than 30 years who sadly passed away last year. Colin and his wife Rosie have supported our project here monthly since day one!
Their legacies of courage, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and generosity continue to inspire many. We will look for students that embody these qualities and once identified offer a full scholarship in their honor.
Scholarships give students a chance to build brighter futures - one they may not otherwise have had.
If you are in a position to contribute — no matter the amount — your support would make a direct and meaningful impact. Every dollar brings us closer to keeping these programs alive and giving these children a chance at a future right now they can only dream of.
Would you consider making a contribution to help us reach our goal? If you are unable to donate at this time, sharing this initiative with your network would also be incredibly helpful.
Community Support
Our tote bag sales continue to help fund backpacks full of school supplies for underprivileged children. Last year alone we gifted more than 300. In April we would like to be able to gift 50 backpacks. Could you, your family, company or school sponsor a backpack or two? ($30 per backpack).
Looking ahead, we want to expand these efforts and create lasting change in the communities we are supporting. If you’d like to be part of this journey — whether through ideas, connections, or financial support — I’d love to hear from you or if you know someone who might be interested in supporting this cause please let me know.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity!
As always we have a few urgent needs in our community. Firstly one of our teachers from the education Centre had a motorcycle accident yesterday. She is currently in hospital with a broken collar bone (awaiting surgery) and head injuries that they are monitoring. As you know healthcare here is not free or supported so as a project we would love to help her? Jennie is an amazing young woman who volunteers a lot of her time at the centre every evening to help the children so if you feel you would like to help her that would be amazing.
The second difficult situation is one of our past students passed away suddenly this week leaving two young children behind. The father of the children is unable to look after them as he has limited money and works out of the country. As she was an orphan she has no grandparents or family that the children can go to. It looks like they may need to go to an orphanage here if we can’t find a way to help support the father. Again if this is something you could give to please let me know. We have as a project been able to cover most of the funeral costs.
Always a lot for you to read and mull over but hoping one of these initiatives is something that you could help with.
I’m always so thankful for any help.
Take care.
With gratitude,
Arohanui
Annie
"The passion you feel for what you do becomes that unique and essential element that makes the difference between success and mere effort. It is the driving force behind your actions, turning challenges into opportunities for growth."
Billie Eilish