PROGRAMS : CAMBODIA
Free To Fly
independence to go further
As the youth matured, reaching age eighteen and completing grade 12, we felt the need to encourage them to become more independent. We believe that part of human dignity is to be free to make your own decisions and go your own way.
In 2012, a Law and Childhood Judge from Brazil visited our programs. She introduced the idea of “independent living”, where the youth who are of age can spread their wings and begin moving out of our homes. The Free to Fly program was started because of this.
In this program, AOGE helps by furnishing small apartments. The young people pay their rent and food costs as well as for any personal items. We do not stop monitoring and assisting them if they are in difficulty. However, they are responsible for making their own decisions.
When a small child starts walking, it ceases to be in our lap, but does not stop receiving our care. Just as birth parents may face difficulties with their children as they grow, so it is with AOGE. Young people do not always make good choices, but we are always there to offer our encouragement and support.
Many of our young adults have already “flown”. Some have remained working with us, and some are working in businesses. Some married and others have moved throughout Cambodia. We can say that most are flying well and higher!
Young people do not always make good choices, but we are always there to offer our encouragement and support!
MOVING LIFE STORIES
I came to The Apple of GOD’s Eyes in 2010, my family was so poor and my sisters stopped to study because we had no money to deal even with the basic things of school, as uniform, notebooks…My parents and my sister decided to go to Thailand seeking a better life and they let me here in Cambodia with my grandmother when I was 6 years old, but my grandmother had another children to support also and she was in difficult.
I was so disobedient before, I had never received love from my parents, but in AOGE I found a family and a love that I never had before, the leaders take care of me and always protect us.
Now I am so happy to live my own life, I have my place and an amazing job that I have the opportunity to help other girls that never received love and came from bad situations, now I have my salary and I can help my family also. All my sister stopped on elementary school.
I am studying Chinese and I could finish high school; I thanks so much The Apple of GOD’s Eyes that always encouraged and support me.
I came to The Apple of GOD’s Eyes on 2011 And this place changed my life. My Mom died when I was 4 years old. I started to live with my stepmother that hit me every day, most of time without reason, one day she hit my head until hurts me. My father stayed far away from home many days, coming only one time by week. My life was not good.
I came to The Apple of GOD’s Eyes and here I found a family, I understood the meaning of family, I found here a father and a mother, I found here sisters, and happiness. In The Apple of GOD’s Eyes, I come back to study, I stopped in grade 6 because my stepmother put me to work on the farm, she usually to tell that “girls don’t need to study”. I started to study again in a good school, it was amazing for me. I usually to had the book as my friend, I was very closed to the others because my emotional wounds, I saw all the people as someone who could hurt me. This place healed me and showed me the people in another way, the way of love.
When I finished high school and started to work, I wanted to leave the home, have my own life and The Apple of GOD’s Eyes supported me. Now I am studying in the university, I have my place to live, my responsibilities and I feel worthy. I have my salary, pay my room, deal with the things of life, it’s a feeling that now I am big, I can do the things and I have dignity . The Apple of GOD’s Eyes made a lot of difference in my life and still do.
CONTRIBUTE
Make a difference in someone's life
Did you know that in Nepal alone, more than 12,000 girls are trafficked into the sex trade each year? Traffickers, eager for exorbitant profits, take advantage of the poverty, innocence and lack of information of many families to take their daughters to neighboring countries, where they will live the worst experiences a girl can suffer.
The Apple of God’s Eyes was created to combat this evil, helping victims and finding ways to prevent more precious lives from following this dark path. Contribute to this project now!
Want to know more about how this money helps us maintain our projects, get in touch with us!
