2003 — Siem Riep, Cambodia
The Seungkum (meaning “hope” in Khmer) Center is run by a man who himself grew up in a refugee camp across the Thai border. I had met Sunsoley the year before when he had wonderful ideas, a small piece of land, and three orphans. Sunsoley’s idea was to establish a larger orphanage on the property and also to make an organic farm which would act as a training center for neighboring, very poor, villages. As of July 2005, the orphanage has 43 children and a most impressive organic farm. HIHF supported him, initially, by financing the conversion of a tool shed into a classroom.