December 2021: A Long and Challenging Year

A LONG AND CHALLENGING YEAR

It’s almost the end of what has been a very long and challenging year. To put it mildly.  Still,  among our many blessings, we are also counting what, with your help, Heartprint was able to achieve in 2021.  (In spite of you-know-what.)  

Count with us:

The virus did slow us down at times, but rarely did it actually stop us.  It pushed us to expand in certain areas such as food distribution, but it didn’t dampen our commitment or the spirit of our team.  

Speaking of team spirit, even though Cambodia is primarily a Buddhist country, the whole Heartprint community really did revel in the Christmas holiday this year. They do every year, but somehow, after all the travails and worries and general Covid terribleness of 2021, it felt extra joyful to plan and shop and sing and wrap packages to share with 389 children who received the generous gifts you helped provide.

Each child received a backpack filled with essential school supplies, a lunch kit with thermos, a hygiene pack and an age-appropriate, very cool toy. For many, it will be the only gift they receive all year. You can watch our video to share in the pure joy. For an extra smile, take note of the not-quite-Olympic-ready (but still ambitious) staff acrobatics!

Leading up to the holiday party on the 19th, we also engaged our HoPE group members in a new hands-on project: making their own Christmas cupcakes with the help of our Cafe Besdoung staff. They loved the Christmas tree cupcakes and, as with all kids young and old, seemed to especially love the icing.

In the days following the party, our HOpE group members brought their new lunch kits with them.  The Heartprint team filled the pink and blue boxes with yummy, healthy snacks so everyone could enjoy the gifts and the goodies together.  This is all a part of the Get Healthy and Active initiative that we run every Friday.  

As always, we were able to provide more bikes for students.  And, our food distribution program continues.  We are happy we are able to continue our in-house programs, which are a huge part of our holistic approach to helping our little community grow and become more self-sustaining. 

We can’t say the last two years have not been challenging.  And we have no idea what 2022 holds in store for us.  We do know we remain eternally grateful for the love and support we receive from you, all of our donors, our Heartprint team, and our entire community.  

Cheers to the good times and to overcoming the not-so good.  See you in the New Year!  Stay safe out there!