Open Arms

Great night last night. Went to a graduation doo at the Open Arms training centre just up the road. Have been getting to know the couple who set it up - Grahame and Sandra Wade - in the past few weeks and they're just amazing.

Both in their 60s now, they came to Cambodia in '92 and have been caring for young Cambodians from abusive and trafficked backgrounds ever since. Their passion is for them to be healed and empowered, body, soul and spirit and equipped with the skills and character to live and work in freedom and integrity.....

From Skills to Freedom
There are many organizations here in Cambodia caring for the young women and men that are rescued from poverty, trafficking and prostitution. There are many ways of assisting these young people like after care homes, counselling centers and vocational training centers.

Open Arms meets the need by offering vocational training for them. At the moment there are 42 young people being trained in Open Arms centers. They are trained three ways: beauty school where they learn all aspects of beauty care, housekeeping and cooking and tailoring. All the young people that do the training are rescued from all different situations and have been trained by Open Arms and they are a fabulous team.
http://www.openarmscambodia.org/about-us/

And they are a fabulous team. Last night blew me away. The centre was decorated beautifully, the girls graduating were done up beautifully and carried themselves beautifully too, they were all honoured beautifully by Sandra who presented the certificates, those who danced danced beautifully and the food was pretty good too. And I know I'm going to keep gushing but I don't care. It really was a night of all that's good and pure and lovely and noble and dignified and righteous about a Cambodia rising from the ashes and beginning to fly.

Big Respect to all involved.