I made 14 visits to 9 different projects and met with several prospective projects for future consideration, cycled in two weekend training sessions before and after the Bike Race, took part in the Bike Race (and survived), took volunteering medic students on a tour of the less than modern Provincial Hospital, gave blood (at the slightly more impressive Angkor Childrens Hospital), cheered on a football team which is partly sponsored by HOPE playing in this year’s league final at the Provincial Stadium, a grand occasion but sadly decided by penalties (and Angkor Empire FC did not come out winners on this occasion),  met all the young adults in the three programmes HOPE now supports and finally got to visit My Grandfather House rural school project which has gone from being a dream for one local Cambodian when I left in April 2009, to more than a reality with some 300 local children receiving supplemental education.

While I loved every minute of my time back in Cambodia, there were three enormous highlights for me.

Taking part in the fifth Angkor Wat Bike Race was particularly special.  There is no other bike ride in the world quite like this one – where else would you see sunrise, paddy fields, monks, cows, water buffalo, elephants, cyclos, tandems, Japanese tourists and of course the wonderful temples of the Angkor Wat complex.   With some 400 entrants in total, HOPE entered a team 40 local Cambodian young adults and their educators from all three HOPE supported Young Adult Programmes.

The 30km race starts at 6am, just as it is beginning to get light, so we have to get there in the dark (another 8kms) and try to get organised in the dark –this is much easier for the Cambodians who are more used to early starts and lack of light, than it is for Jo and Tanya!  The backdrop for the start and finish is surely one of the most amazing temples, Angkor Wat, there is nothing more inspirational. We highly recommend a visit, with or without bicycle.   As the ride progresses you are cheered on by many of the small local children, all with the compulsory Cambodian smile.

You didn’t have to win the race to be a winner, anyone who got up at 4.30 cycled in the dark to get to the start line and then cycle for 30km around the temples has to be a winner.  Our photos speak for themselves.

Training sessions on Sunday are continuing, a great way for the young adults from different projects to mix, see more of their countryside and get some exercise (and a break from studying).  We will be back next year, I seem to remember Jo saying she would also enter the running races on the following day – I know I declined but maybe I said I would do the 100km cycle ride!

The day after the Race we were rewarded with dinner cooked by the 13 Young Adults from Sangkheum who all live together in a transition house.  Not only was dinner great (they have recently been taught how to make proper burgers by staff from a local training hotel) and I am so proud to see how well they are transforming into independent, motivated and curious young adults.  On this lovely evening they made a presentation to us, a framed acknowledgement for the $25,000 HOPE has, so far, provided to support their programme.

Finally, with my love of football I always squeeze in a visit to Sangkheum Centre to go along to the daily training session.  I usually end up playing around with some of the younger kids all too small to even kick a normal sized football.  But this time I was treated to a wonderful 10 minutes having a proper one on one kick about with Tour.  When I first met Tour, 5 years ago, he had only recently come to the Centre and could barely walk and definitely couldn’t talk.  Now he goes to school, chats away in Khmer, can ”high-five” and is starting to play football, This was probably the most priceless moment of the whole trip.  I saw a lot of positive progress during my trip but this brought the biggest smile to my face.

Mads training in his boiler suit offshore Australia

As you can see from earlier blogs and updates, training has officially started for HOPE’s annual bike challenge. This year Tanya will be joining Jo, Thomas, Samnieng, Dayvy, Jay, Vanarith, Ida, Karla, Marli, Natasha and many of the Young Adults and educators from Sangkheum Center for Children, Anjali House and Salariian Kampuchea in the annual Angkor Bike Rally.  HOPE entered the Sangkheum young adults into this last year and they got so much out of it we have agreed to do it again – and this time with even more recruits. At the time of writing, we have over 50 participants in Siem Reap and a growing number elsewhere too!

This is the kids own way of helping us to help themselves, and if you would like to encourage them further please visit the Just Giving page – Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedalling and Exhaustion.

The regular training sessions from outside Soria Moria Boutique Hotel are going well with various routes trough some beautiful Cambodian countryside. Should you happen to be in Siem Reap and would like to support the young adults in their preparations, please contact the reception at Soria Moria for the latest training schedules as we will have extra cycle guides allowing a number of guests to join the training sessions – absolutely free of charge…!!

Whilst obviously missing out on the great atmosphere and beautiful backdrop of the Angkor temples, some keen supporters have committed to do 30kms on exercise bikes on the day of the event or embrace the great outdoors wherever they may be. Mads will be pedalling on an exercise bike on board FPSO Ningaloo Vision offshore just outside of Australia, another group organised by Jess Connor will be on the Great Ocean Road and, encouraged by a recent visit to Siem Reap, another group of supporters from komplett.no lead by Jan will be pedalling in their training room in Sandefjord, Norway.

We have also received wonderful support from the Adidas shop in Siem Reap who will be providing water bottles, wrist bands, head bands and socks for prizes!

The big day is Saturday, 4th of December and starts at sunrise!

Despite many good friends and loyal supporters in the UK, we have no organised events scheduled on the day there (…yet), so, should you want to put some extra muscle behind your fundraising efforts, join our growing team of global challengers by contacting us !!

Mads in full training

Last Sunday's training group

Sangkheum's Young Adults

One of Salariian Kampuchea's smiling young adults

Cambodian countryside and bright orange dust roads (HOPE's colours)

Painting at Anjali House - Adidas are a main supporter

On Sunday the 31st of October, I went to the bicycle training with my friends from Anjali and people from other organizations in Siem Reap. We started the training at 8.00 o’clock in the morning and met each other at Soria Moria Hotel. From there, we went straight on Wat Bo Road and we turned to the road near the Siem Reap River. When we went along this road, I could see my house and the houses of some of my friends. On this road, I also saw a lot of people I know, rice fields and cows.

The training was very nice for me. I had a very good time, because I never raced with my bike as far as we did during the training. I was tired, but that was ok.
Before I went to the training, I felt a little bit sick, but when I was riding my bike I felt better because I could see the beautiful views along the road and get fresh air. It is like a medicine. Therefore, I think that bike racing is a very good sport and it is a good exercise for people, because it can make you better when you’re feeling sick. So, I hope all people like bike racing.

I went bicycle training last Sunday to practice for the bike race next month. I also met some students from other organizations in Siem Reap. We rode very far, about 20 kilometers. I rode very fast and I saw many people along the road who were working on the farms. And some people drove cars or motos passed me and they looked at me. Some people were fixing the road and other people were constructing something.
I felt very happy because it is the first time. I was very tired afterwards, but I really enjoyed it. I think it is very good, I even got a new t-shirt! I also like that I get experience from the bicycle training.

My name is Roun and on Sunday last week I went to train for the bike race with my friends at Anjali and some other kids. Along the way I saw very nice places such as rice fields, trees, schools, buildings, small houses, and many kids fishing in the river. I know I can ride my bike very fast, but that day I was a little sick so I couldn’t go that fast. I hope I get better soon. I am very happy because this was the first time for me. I am happy over the moon!
Thank you!

I did bicycle training on Sunday last week. It was great, but now I’m very tired. I have never experienced riding bicycle for such a long distance. On the road, I saw rice fields, houses, landscapes and a lot of people. Last Sunday, we rode for 23 kilometers. While I was riding the bike I could feel the cool air in my face. Also, I saw a golf field. This was the first time ever that I saw one!

Hello, my name is Sopheak and I’m 16 years old. I am a student at Anjali House. On Sunday, I practiced for the bike race. First we met at Soria Moria Hotel and we got a t-shirt. After that, they told us the route that we needed to practice. Then, they took a photo of all the people together. 5 minutes later we left from the hotel and started the training. We rode a long time and we went through the country side. We saw rice fields, cattle, birds, a lot of green, and especially a lot of cool air.
I felt very exciting because this was the first time for me. I hope I will join again. It was a little hard for us to ride, because there was a lot of wind, so we couldn’t ride very fast. But it is fine!

On Sunday morning I went to practice for the bike race with my friends and my teachers. First, we meet at Anjali and then we went to Soria Moria Hotel. When we were there, we got a new t-shirt and they told us about the road that we would practice. Then they took a photo of all of us together. After that, we leave from the hotel and started the practice. We rode a long time and I saw a lot of rice fields.
I am very happy because before I never practice with this many people. Now I could practice together with all my friends and we will all join in the bike race in December. I hope I can also join the training again. It’s difficult for us, but it also gives us a good health. And I hope that I win the race!

These texts have been written by the young adults from Anjali House who participated in the bike training on Sunday morning. The stories are their own but their impeccable English has been corrected by Richard the YAP C0-ordinator who has set up the Young Adult Programme at Anjali House! Thank you Richard for your hard work and for getting the kids along to the first training session! For more information about our support to Anjali House click here!

Hope sponsored young adults

Training for the Angkor Wat bike ride officially started this morning and 20 enthusiastic cyclists turned up before 8am this morning at Soria Moria hotel in the fresh (dare I even say cold) air! It does happen in Siem Reap sometimes and it’s a welcome relief to the constant hot, and the downpours during the rainy season. A light wind made this morning’s cycle almost pleasant as we trundled past the Siem Reap river, open lush green rice fields and ending up on airport road back to the town centre.

Thomas led the training group, hotly followed by the Sangkheum Center and Anjali young adults. It wasn’t a bad start as we clocked up 23 km in just about one hour and 15 minutes, only another 7 and we would’ve completed the target! We should be flying round the course after 4 more training sessions…

On the day Tanya, Thomas and I will be joined by some fellow Siem Reapers who enthusiastically turned up for training today – Natasha, Karla and her daughter Marli and Richard from Anjali House. Thanks for coming and thanks to the young adults too.

I am excited to say we have already reached 7% of our fundraising target and thank our loyal supporters for supporting us some more… as always, Mum and Dad, Lesley, Stu and a few others. If you would like to build momentum and encourage us all on our cycling challenge by donating please visit our just giving page!

Sangkheum Young Adults before the 23KM training ride

Sambath at the starting line

Training is soon to start for HOPE’s annual bike challenge. This year Tanya will be joining Jo and some of the Young Adults from the programmes they support in the annual Angkor Bike Rally.  HOPE entered the young adults into this last year and they got so much out of it we have agreed to do it again – and this time we might have a few more recruits too.

This is their way of trying to help themselves and if you would like to encourage them further please visit the Just giving page – Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedaling and Exhaustion.

If you are unable to visit Cambodia in December why not challenge yourself to 30km in your home town, even if you don’t fancy bracing the cold in Europe why not set the challenge in your local gym? Whilst obviously missing out on the great atmosphere and beautiful backdrop of the Angkor temples, some keen supporters have committed to do 30kms on exercise bikes on the day of the event. One of them will be offshore just outside of Australia, another group on the Great Ocean Road and another will be pedaling in the training room of his company in Sandefjord, Norway.

The big date is Saturday 4th December and starts at sunrise!

Join our growing team of global challengers by contacting us !!

Fi running Sydney's City to Surf

HOPE supporters come from far and wide, and one very active supporter from the onset at HOPE signed up enthusiastically for Sydney’s Cityto Surf to raise funds for HOPE!  A surprise during the training didn’t even deter her enthusiasm… read Fi Reeves’s story here!

Signing up for the City to Surf seemed like a good idea. It’s something every Sydneysider should do at some point in their life…apparently. It’s a beautiful 14kms run from Sydney’s city centre through the notorious Kings Cross and along the waterfront to Sydney’s infamous Bondi Beach. It’s been running for 40 years and is the world’s largest fun run. So I duly signed up, partner in toe and promptly forgot about it. After all August was a long way away! I’ve always enjoyed running and liked the challenge of competition and the chance to raise a few funds for my favourite charities so the match seemed good. What of course we conveniently forgot was that August in Australia is cold and windy. It’s not warm and summery like in the UK. But surely being surrounded by 80,000 runners would warm us up? 

So the training runs started in the beautiful Australian bush land and all seemed to be going along nicely despite the onslaught of winter. That is until, bang – I discovered I was pregnant. Now this wasn’t so much a shock but a nice surprise and certainly news that we didn’t expect so soon. Despite the tiredness, morning sickness and pure rabbit in the headlights reaction to it all I started getting messages from my mum and both families politely wondering if running in the City to Surf was quite the thing to do now…I mean surely no-one could run 14kms with a baby on board? The closer August 8th loomed the more the calls and text messages became less polite and more insistent that I would be stupid to run it – at least surely I would be walking it? I think I mentioned at the beginning that I loved the challenge of competition – some call it stubbornness…Either way I was determined to run it the best I possibly could. The doctor rolled her eyes at me and just said – don’t get that belly of yours hot! It’s August – middle of winter – hot does not enter the equation.

Excited, a little nervous and with much trepidation we trained it down to the city centre on a beautifully sunny day (still freezing!) and joined the throng of the whole of Sydney it seemed in the lead up to the start of the race. Some were jumping around clad in next to nothing trying to keep warm, others clung to their layers only to throw them off last minute for the Smith Family charity to collect for homeless and disadvantaged families and then there were the Star Troopers, men in full diving gear, Phantom, Superman and other such super heroes, mums with pushchairs, dads with trolleys of beer. All in all quite a spectacle and a fun way to start a race that this year had a little more meaning as I was running for two – made a change from eating for two… The run itself flew by and was such fun. All along the course there are water and Gatorade stops, residents outside their houses cheering you on and random bands blurting out rock or jazz music as encouragement – they even had a pseudo Guns and roses band on the roof of one of the pubs. With the exception of a loo break atheartbreak hill – aptly named as it never ends – we managed to jog the whole 14kms and crossed the finish line in just under two hours about half way through the 80,000 – not a bad first attempt for the three of us – next year I’ll be one of those mums pushing the pram! City to Surf – a must for all Sydneysiders and at the end of the day a huge amount of fun.

Thank you so much Fi for your stubbornness and enthusiasm to support HOPE every step of the way, it’s very much appreciated. Congratulations and very best wishes to you and Ian. We look forward to sponsoring you again next year!!

If you are inspired then please contact us should you wish to do a fun fundraiser. Or sponsor Fi now at Just Giving ! Go on… she’s only 15% away from reaching her target…

Dayvy outside the Elephant Terrace

Bleep bleep bleep the alarm goes at 4am on Saturday the 5th December 2009!!

Noting the darkness I grumble at the bleeping that has awakened me. Slowly I remembered why I had set the alarm clock soooo early I was getting up to see Angkor Wat at dawn, a task done by many visitors to Siem Reap every day however, this morning was different! The first weekend of December hails the popular marathon and bike ride which brings many tourists to experience the temples in a different way. And this year I, along with Sangkheum Center’s Young Adults and Educators were participating.

The day before I had checked my bike, washed it down and entered all participants ready and raring to go on behalf of all HOPE supporters. We had twenty in total from Sangkheum Center, plus Thomas (London to Brighton HOPE fundraiser in July), Dayvy (my cycling partner and motivator throughout the course), Samnieng (last year participant who came 14th in the overall men’s race – London 2012 here we come!!)  Natasha (fellow expat) and Mr. Kunn (Jasmine Lodge guesthouse owner and Project Manager for My Grandfather’s House).

Having proudly sewed the HOPE logo on my basket the night before (which I may add did receive many a comment ‘nice basket!!’), I pinned the number 99 to my Sangkheum T-shirt which as I mentioned before signifies that “I give hope to young generation” aptly missed ‘A’. Slightly ironic as the initial hope I gave to Sangkheum was indeed teaching them the English language!! All set Dayvy picked us up by car, dumping the bikes in a tuk tuk! (Motorised transport ) summonsing up the energy to cycle 30km I was lacking the motivation to do a further 8km just to get to the starting point. On the way we passed hundreds on bikes making their way to the temples, we arrived relatively fresh and ready to go!! However, after the race refueled by a chocolate brownie from Blue Pumpkin I quite happily raced back to town afterwards.

On arrival to the temples we met the Sangkheum team who were pinning their lucky numbers to their new race t-shirts. They were all very excited and full of energy. The boys were all teasing who was the best and who would win from their team. Bota (see his training blog here) was determined he would be first having trained closely alongside Samnieng and Thomas for the last few months. His training also saw him running from town to Sangkheum Center which is 12kms from town.

As we lined up at the starting point the sun was beginning to rise over the wonderous Angkor Wat and the reality and emotions hit that we were actually here. We raised over 1,000GBP and had given a goal for the young adults to work towards. It had been months since they all chorused they wanted to do a sponsored cycle and today their wish had come true. They had trained every Sunday as group cycling around the temples, Tonle Sap Lake and back to the center for several months and were now all lined up at the starting point for the big annual bike ride….

On the off everyone pushed off as hard as they could, but Dayvy and I took it slow taking everything in. From Angkor Wat to the gates leading to Angkor Thom up to Bayon, past the Elephant Terrace and across the big circuit to Sras Song. Passing Sras Song I knew the hard part was over and stopped for some refreshments. Being one of the last ones (I admit it) there were no bananas left!! At this stage I was in need of energy, but no matter we still carried on.

We passed green padding fields as the mist rose clearing to be a beautiful day. The weather and temperature had been perfect and we were relieved when the sun stayed cool. We passed the finish line 2 hours later to the cheers of the others. They had been patiently waiting for us for an hour!! They had raced very hard and some had done very good times within the hour. Motivated by their efforts they are already talking about where they will come in next year’s race and if they continue training every Sunday from now they will definitely be in the top twenty. So, I say good luck to them and well done for working so hard for their achievements. They truly were cycling for their own futures and like with everything they do they accomplished it as a team, with determination and with a great big smile.

Not long to go till Thomas, Bota and I with 18 other educators and young adults from Sangkheum Center for Children will be on our bikes cycling through the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We have been heavily fundraising on behalf of the kids to raise money for their own future and so far we have raised $1,393.00 online!! Which is just fantastic!!

HOPE have entered 19 Sangkheum staff and young adults to participant in the cycle ride. Costing just below $500 the money goes towards some more projects in Siem Reap supported by Village Focus.

When Village Focus began their community hygiene and clean water program, the community worked hand in hand to create a program to build and use 70 latrines and 5 wells. Access to safe water results in families spending less time and money caring for family members who fall sick. It is now expected that the children from Kansaeng Leu Village studying at secondary school in the coming years will rise significantly.

Even though Village Focus has provided 1,164 latrines, 46 wells, and 2 ponds in Siem Reap province, it is clear that many more families are in a dire need of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Village Focus operates Slum Schools, Community Leadership Programs, and Health and Clean Water Projects that touch lives and are making a difference.  Please support them and us further in supporting many projects in and around Siem Reap by sponsoring the young adults. CLICK HERE FOR HOPE’S JUST GIVING PAGE!

Here are our last minute prep notes…

1. The road is in good shape, but do be on the lookout for potholes and buckling road (smooth but abrupt changes in the asphalt). The course should be fine for those on road bikes, but there is a stretch of about 5 meters that is rocky… and rough (a volunteer will be standing in front of this to tell you to slow down and be careful; road bikers may even opt to walk it). Be careful when you ride and with everything you do while in Cambodia, since our medical facilities are still very basic.
2. There will be 3 water and snack (bananas and bread) stations along the route; 1 at approximately each 10K interval. The 30K route is 1 lap, 55K is 2 laps, and 80K is 3 laps (laps are 25K each, plus a 5K stretch to reach the start of the 1st lap).

Bota

Every Sunday the Sangkheum Young Adults are training for the 30KM bike ride around Angkor Wat. Each week a different route is planned to see many parts of the beautiful countryside in Siem Reap. If you would like to join us we leave at 8am every Sunday from Soria Moria Hotel. If you would like to help the Young Adults help themselves please visit their sponsor page here.

Dear all………….!

Hello, how are you? For me it’s fine. I am Bota, and I am 18 years old and I have fourth brothers. They’re live in Sangkheun Center for children. I have been live SCC for six years ago. So, now I leave the Sangkheum Center already, but I still in the Sangkheum project we called “Young Adults Integration”.

Now, I want to tell you about bicycling practice. Every Sunday in the morning I have been practice bicycling with my friends, Teacher, Samnang, Thomas, and Jo. I am filling great. You know why? Because this the first time that I have a bicycle racing and learn how to race, too. The first I am filling a bit tired, but it fun for me. Although, I am getting tired but it’s good exercise. I love to exercise. I usually work out everyday. I get up early in the morning and run for about 00:30min. Then I often go to play football. Sometimes I go for a walk in the evening, about once a week.

Bota’s story about bicycle.

When I was small I tried to ride a bicycle, but my father didn’t want me to ride a bicycle, so when my father went away I tried how to ride again and it was exciting and fun. Unfortunately I felldown on the ground and blood came out a lot from my foot, so my older brother helped me to stop the blood. You know? I had tried with my older brother, but he didn’t falldown like me, becaues he was bigger than me. I really wanted to try to ride a bicycle because in that time the bicycle was modren and it to expensive and I had to try and learn. When I learnt how to ride a bicycle I was 6 years old. But, I still have the scar!!

That my story ….

Thank you,

Bota

Amy says….

I went to Cambodia in 2007, just for one week as part of a four month trip with a friend, but it had more of an impact on me than any of the other countries I went to.  I knew I wanted to do something to help or raise money but it wasn’t until I entered a marathon this year that I started looking.  That was when I found HOPE, and the trustees seemed to have had similar experiences to me.

They obviously put in a lot of time and effort to make sure that support is given to the people who need it most and where it will help the most.  The projects they are part of will help the young people of Cambodia and enable them to become independent, improving their lives for the future while respecting local customs and businesses.  It will allow them to break out of poverty and then help others to do the same through learning and playing.

There is so much we take for granted in our lives, so visiting the orphanage in Cambodia was really emotional for me.  I was amazed by everyone’s generosity with sponsorship and I know the money raised will go a long way.  The months of training I put in really paid off too as the marathon went really well.  The weather was perfect, the marshals were very friendly and encouraging and we kept a good pace.  We ended up finishing over ten minutes faster than we intended, despite the last mile being pretty much all uphill!  I thought I might cross the finish line thinking “never again” but I actually can’t wait for the next challenge now!