Hi again everyone,
 
Thanks for your wonderful emails and messages of support – we are so thrilled to read them all and pass on all of your good wishes to the people here in Cambodia. It’s been 2 days since we last updated and boy, so much has happened!
 
We got back to the centre early yesterday morning to find 12 very excited ladies waiting ready to learn to use the machines. They were all a little nervous – and so were we! We had a few of the team from the Cambodian Orphans Fund (COF) on hand to help with translations and just generally getting everyone acquainted. After we all said hi to each other, the ladies took their seats and Megan began to teach.
 
Well, within 1 hour every single one of the ladies could wind their bobbin, thread the machine, mark and cut their fabrics and they were all starting to sew up a storm. It was amazing how quickly and how proficient they all were with the machines. These ladies are from the family support program that the COF helps out and their daily life and living environments are very very tough, well below the poverty line. To see them so happy and engaged in the learning and sewing was unbelievable.
 
You could see that with each passing minute their confidence grew, the atmosphere got happier and less serious, you could hear laughter and chatter and by the end of it everyone was feeling proud and energized by the program. In fact, after only 2 hours our first Stitch in Time bag was officially made – and it looked brilliant! You will be able to buy these bags, made by these women, in our stores in a few weeks and all of the proceeds will help to keep this program running, and develop more like it.
 
The COF have 18 families (some with up to 12 family members living together) that they are currently supporting – that is in addition to the 65 kids and 4 English schools that they run, manage, maintain and develop. With more income, of which the sewing will greatly contribute, they will be able to grow these numbers and help many more Cambodians, who desperately need their help.
 
After a few hours it was lunch time so we all headed up to Lana House (the newer of the 2 COF orphanages) just in time to see the kids come home from school. They were so excited to see us and we all sat down together (the kids, the ladies who were learning to sew, the workers from COF and the 4 of us) to a fantastic lunch of vegetables, rice, beef, fish and fruit. It was a very special time for us all to spend it all together. After lunch it was back to the sewing room for more learning, teaching, laughing and togetherness.
 
After such an incredible day we were all buzzing with excitement and could really actually understand what these machines can do, and see the potential that this centre now has to generate some real income that will help to support the orphans, the assisted families and grow the amazing work that Nick and the team at COF continue to do each and every day. If you would like to know more about the COF and see how you can help then please visit their website at www.cofcambodia.org [cofcambodia.org]
 
Tonight we are having a party with the kids – all of them from both houses are coming to Lana House for some dinner and fun with us all together. Better go and get ready, see you soon!

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