Preparation Pays Off

Most Cambodians, with a daily income between $6-10 USD per day, are frightened about their future since they cannot work. Many are already going hungry, or at the very least, going to bed without a full stomach. The government is trying to deliver supplies via food delivery trucks but is struggling with resources, as the economy has been hard hit. The biggest domestic earning industry in Cambodia is tourism, but since the pandemic started in 2020, no tourists have been allowed to enter the country. The number two industry, garment manufacturing, is now shut down. Agriculture, which is essential for survival, is troubled by farmers unable to obtain money and supplies for planting.

Thanks to a grant from Children's Hunger Fund, over the past two years all of our FCOP refuge centers focused on developing gardens and raising protein sources such as chickens, fish, frogs, ducks, pigs and even cattle as a part of the goal to achieve self-sustainability. This has proven to be an essential part of how we’ve been able to survive through this time of lockdown. Each day, we receive pictures from our pastors of them harvesting vegetables from their gardens. We thank God for His provision and blessing over our crops and livestock. Due to a donation of pasta, various types of beans and rice oil from Gleanings for the Hungry we’ve been experimenting with food items that our kids aren’t used to eating. This includes the introduction of pasta, yellow beans, and lentils. We’ve been able to create healthy meals that the kids enjoy by taking these new items and giving them traditional Khmer flavors. One of the kids’ favorite new meals is fried pasta and fresh vegetables from our garden with chicken. 

[nggallery id=1891]