Eggshell Cambodia, has been established to provide protection and bring hope to children living in squalor and at risk in one of the most wonderful counties of the world.
Cambodia, is infamous for its traumatic history of the Khmer Rouge, the Killing Fields in the 1970s and its Civil War – over the years, recovery and healing have taken place and growth in recent years has been very noticeable. However, there is a residue from those terrible days. A beautiful country with beautiful people – but living with the pain, hurt and for many PTSD, their path is often not an easy one.
One of our greatest areas of concern is the trafficking and exploitation of children.
Mark and Liz Fetherstonhaugh – first developed an interest in and concern for Cambodia in 2008 and have been visiting and taking volunteer teams every year for the past 7 years. Much of our recent work has centred around areas of extreme poverty, some families live on the streets, in derelict buildings, stilted wooden or tin shacks – the poorest families live in cardboard homes, built in the cesspits under other homes. It is almost impossible to describe the conditions where these people live, where parents are trying to raise their children, in poverty, deprivation and vulnerability.
Children in these areas and circumstances are highly vulnerable to neglect and exploitation. For many there is no running water, sanitation or electricity and during rainy season these communities can be swamped by drain-water and rubbish. Children as young as one or two may be left on their own as their parents attempt to earn a living; small children may be left in the care of siblings, neighbours, or simply left to fend for themselves while their parents are away. Many teenagers and young adults are addicted to alcohol, drugs and gambling, they in turn may prey upon and exploit the smaller children to fund their habits.
Mark and Liz founded Eggshell Cambodia to help address these points of exploitation at source, to assist the wonderful Khmer people to heal, recover, grow and prepare for life in the brave new Kingdom of Cambodia. Eggshell Cambodia seeks to provide protection, address health issues and tackle their pre-school educational and spiritual needs in loving Christian ways.