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:: MICROBUSINESSES
Tania's Aunt Carole said back in Gecko's early days... "you can't help the kids unless you help the parents". No truer word has been spoken. When a family is hungry, homeless and desperate... the last thing on their minds is a long-term plan for their children's education. There were many hurdles, but the end result was sponsorship for Micro Business for the families. It has been an amazing and difficult journey and for most part we are pleased with the results. Contracts were drawn up with the parents who in return for the Micro Business of their choice allowed their children the right to education and stop all physical abuse towards them.
:: NUTRITION PACKS
As an added incentive/ bonus/compensation for their children not working/begging, the families of the green gecko kids receive a Nutrition Pack every Saturday. This weekly pack consists of 5kgs of uncooked rice, fresh vegetable, meat, noodles and fruit. The parents are encouraged to come and pick the packs up from the Gecko Centre so they can see their children's progress and feel part of it. Their visit also provides us with an opportunity to counsel them subtly about domestic violence, alcoholism and other social issues.
:: THE GREEN GECKO GIFT SHOP
GREEN GECKO FUNDRAISING is a small Australian registered business run by Green Gecko Volunteers who not only manage and develop the Green Gecko Online Gift Store; but aim to provide administrative assistance for Cambodian charities AND donate 100% of what's left over directly to the Green Gecko Project through ROTARY RAWCS International programme.
Yvette, Hollie, Bob and Doug have a connection to Cambodia that they just can't shake, after volunteering with the Green Gecko kids and repeated visits, these business savvy Aussies saw what was needed behind the scenes and instigated the birth of the GREEN GECKO FUNDRAISING business as a way to support the projects and volunteers who devote their lives supporting others.
"At Green Gecko, Tania and Rem have always been proud to say that every dollar donated to the project is spent directly on the kids and we respect that, however as business people and after being on the ground in Cambodia, we know the reality is to make any project sustainable, it needs administrative assistance and funding". Hollie said. "We saw a gap that needed to be filled and a way of filling it". The proceeds of GREEN GECKO FUNDRAISING free up donations by covering expenses like product development, airfares, financial assistance for full time volunteers, fundraising and administrative expenses. From a delicious and vibrant Green Gecko cookbook to a groovy gecko cap, when you are buying from the Green Gecko Gift Shop, you are giving in more ways than one.
:: CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PROTECTION
The sad and awful reality of working with street children is the prevalence of child abuse issues. The Green Gecko Project is working closely with local police and child protection authorities to do what we can to raise awareness and provide protection. We have had some heartening experiences of late, showing us that our efforts are rubbing off. Recently we were invited to attend the seminar ''Capacity building for Cambodian National Police, NGOs and the Judiciary in Child Protection Strategies and Victim Interviewing'' generouslyorganised by the UK embassy at the World Vision Building in Phnom Penh. Tania, Rem and Kim San attended and found it to be immensely informative and resourceful. More training related to social work and child protection is scheduled this year.
:: WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH TRAINING
This training addresses all aspects of reproductive health, conception, pregnancy and childbirth. For many of our mothers, this would be the first time they have received any education in this field, the first time they would have openly learnt and talked about their bodies and expressed concerns and asked questions. Green Gecko supports the Gecko mothers and adult sisters to attend this 8 week course. The Women's Resource Centre in Siem Reap is facilitating the training. www.wrccambodia.org
:: OUTREACH - PSYCHOSOCIAL FAMILY SUPPORT
Green Geckos Family Outreach program is based on offering Psychosocial support to the Green Gecko Families who have themselves been victims of violence, trauma and abuse. Our program looks at the interrelation of social factors and individual thoughts and behaviours of the 31 families. It aims to ease them into a healthier more sustainable life by helping them reduce the harms associated with the way they currently cope with these past and present issues; alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling issues, debt and domestic violence.
Programs currently in place:
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Monthly rental assistance with the aim of replacing this with income generation wherever possible
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Weekly nutrition packs including rice and meat and vegetables
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Medical expenses covered at approved clinic for parents and siblings of Green Gecko kids - Drug and Alcohol counselling
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Health education sessions
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Vocational Training opportunities
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Parent Employment - Green Gecko also hires parents as employees of Green Gecko as much as possible. Our newest employee is a recent widow and mother of 10, who has 2 children in the Green Gecko program. She was unable to find work elsewhere and employing her at Green Gecko has meant she is no longer forced to beg for money with her younger children.
:: SIBLING SPONSORSHIP FOR EDUCATION
Green Gecko now supports the education of 10 Green Gecko siblings. These are the younger brothers and sisters of existing Green Gecko kids, who parents are physically unable to care for them. Subject to funding this will be extended to the further 100+ siblings of these families that are not currently attending school or will be unable to continue onto high school after finishing their primary education.
:: ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION
The purpose of this training is to give boys and girls who are entering adolescence the opportunity 1) to live through the physiological and psychological changes of puberty with serenity, 2) to nurture positive relationships with their parents and friends, and 3) to adopt safe behaviours for themselves and for others. Karol & Setha Organisation is facilitating this training http://k-s-i.org/index.php
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