April 2022: HOLISTIC: A Heartprint Story

HOLISTIC: A HEARTPRINT STORY

The dictionary says holistic philosophy is characterized by recognizing that the parts of something are interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. Holistic medicine is characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.

At Heartprint, we know the disease we are helping eradicate is, simplistically, the cycle of extreme poverty.  The symptoms include lack of education; inadequate nutrition; unsanitary and unsafe living conditions; minimal skills, leading to even fewer opportunities; hopelessness; fear; addiction; exhaustion.

We started Heartprint with a profound desire to address the entire disease by alleviating as many of the symptoms as possible. We knew we could not change the whole world, but we would change our small Cambodian corner of it. We would work to understand the physical, societal, and mental factors that created the debilitating symptoms of extreme poverty. We wanted to connect the symptomatic dots and then bend that line into a full circle of healing, hope, and opportunity.

This month our hearts are full as we see one of our extended families working through multiple Heartprint opportunities to connect its own dots, create its own circle.  

There is one hard thing about circles when you want to tell a story.  Where do you start?   

We’ll start with Lyna.  You’ve probably “met” her before.  She’s eleven, the eldest of three daughters, and currently one of the five participants selected for our swimming program.  She also comes to Heartprint for English lessons and Creative Arts.  Plus, she was given a bike to help her get to school on a regular basis. 

Lyna was living with her parents, her two sisters, her Yay (Grandma), her disabled aunt and her male cousin, currently putting himself through a University degree. Two related families living under the same, dilapidated roof.

Their living conditions were quite poor and qualified them to receive new homes built by Heartprint. At first we were going to build two separate structures on the available piece of land, but decided, instead, we’d be able to make the living spaces larger if we built a duplex. (In Khmer, it’s called a phteah pi knong. It literally means “two houses back together”.)

This month we finished their phteah pi knong. They are still two related families living under a common roof, but the roof is new and there is a sturdy wall creating separate, private homes.

Now, Lyna’s two sisters are also coming to Heartprint programs and are starting their first Education Support classes. Ly Da just received a donated bike so she can also get to school. She used to go with Lyna, but their school schedules are now different, so she needed her own means of transport.

Yay, the family matriarch, makes lovely woven mats and is now selling them in the Heartprint shop.

They’ve all stepped up to create their own circle of hope and opportunity, making full use of Heartprint programs. 

That is the real, human definition of a holistic approach to healing and growth.  Our hearts are full. 

If you’d like to help us with our ongoing work to bend dots into circles:  IT’S “MATCH IT MAY”!   We can’t do all of this without your help.  Please consider participating this month.

In a Heartprint first, this month we set up family interviews with the parents of the kids who take part in our programs. We had 100% participation! We even heard rumors that many of the kids were urging their parents to “be on time!”

And, Happy Khmer New Year!  This year it was April 14-16 and the first time we’ve been able to celebrate since 2019. The holiday is the traditional celebration of the solar new year in Cambodia and includes lots of water fights (don’t go out if you don’t want to get drenched!).  Joy was all around.  

Thanks for all of your support.  Again, please consider “Match it May”. We really need your support!