Marty cares for children

WHEN Marty Thomas visited Vietnam and Cambodia two years ago, he returned to Meeniyan with a dream.

Mr Thomas was in Cambodia when his friend Shirley Kawe suggested visiting the Opportunity for Development thru Art orphanage in Siem Reap where she works as a head volunteer.

ODA houses more than 30 underprivileged children, providing them with food and education in the care of Leng Touch and his wife Sry On.

Upon witnessing the hardship experienced by the disadvantaged children living in refuge at ODA Family Home, Mr Thomas took it upon himself to raise funds and collect items for the children.

Owner of Moo’s at Meeniyan cafe and restaurant, Mr Thomas has set up a donation tree by the front door for patrons to donate money equal to items required at the ODA orphanage. Clothes, toys, clothes, sewing machines and a goat are among the items hanging on the tree, all of which will be bought in Cambodia and taken to the orphanage on the trip.

“The tree contains all of the things we take for granted, just every day stuff the kids don’t have,” Mr Thomas said, who will visit the orphanage for three and a half weeks next month, volunteering his time to teach English classes at the school.

The children are taught life skills and literacy in the orphanage, though ODA specialises in teaching the kids how to find joy and opportunity through producing artworks of their own. Mr Thomas has a number of ODA paintings up for sale in Moo’s, with all proceeds going to the children.

Mr Thomas is grateful for the community’s generosity, having raised about $2000 in funds for the project so far.

“People from outside of the community have contributed too, which is fantastic. It’s a good cause and it will help ODA to afford things they need,” he said.

With further fundraising events prior to his departure, there’s still time to donate and make a huge difference to the children in Cambodia.

Granting wishes: Marty Thomas stands by the wishing tree where people can donate money to the value of objects desired by children living in ODA Cambodia.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jul 21 2015. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry