Cambodia: Orphanage Home visit

Talking about islam knows no boundaries, be it: colour, nationalities and race, I was reminded of this very special girl I met during the Cambodia Relief Mission. A medical student too, who helped us in our first few days in Phnom Penh, especially when we were visiting the Orpahanage Home and were in need of a translator! And she, yes, she saved the day!! So I present to you, this very beautiful, cheerful and friendly girl, Afadelyya Adam!!!!

We were all set up to visit the Orpahanage Home in Phnom Penh, and to our delight we were accompanied by a few Cambodian Medic Students from Islamic Medical Association of Cambodia (IMAC). So, it was a great opportunity definitely to meet up with them, share and exchange experiences, stories and so much more!

Pic: In Islam, we are all sisters, no matter where we are, we are one, united by the same faith of Islam.

Afa is a 3rd year medic student (if I'm not mistaken!) of one of the Medical University in Phnom Penh. And guys, do you know, in Cambodia, they study Medicine for 8 years!! And it is in French! Along the 1 hour journey to the Orphanage Home, Afa shared a lot of stories of her families, of what was it like for her parents and grandparents during the Pol Pot regime and etc. Her family was actually one of the few important and professional Muslim in Cambodia, therefore this is a further threat to the family during that time. But Alhamdulillah, her family survived this dreadful era.

Pic: Cute kids

Upon reaching the Orphanage Home, we were so TOUCHED to be greeted by those lovely smiling kids, and their carers. There were about 150 of them, many of which, smiled shyly towards us. They're soooooo cute.. And it happened that they didn't carry out their classes for the morning because of our presence. *terharu*. The orphanage was a newly built place, and the kids have only arrived there about a week ago. They came from many various villages and provinces, even out of Phnom Penh, to be given proper education, love and care. The Home was sponsored mainly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And the kids, were aged around 7 to 15.

Here, they're given basic education, on Arabic Language, and Islamic studies and other knowledge as well. We made our way to their hostels, and visited them, and ask basic questions to them. (Since the only Cambodian Language we knew was: 'What is your name?', and 'How old are you'!). And next, some outdoor activites for the kids!!

Pic: With more kids..

(to be continued..)