Celebrating NINE Years Together: A Journey of Growth, Community, and Heart

This year marks nearly a decade of dedication to improving lives and building a stronger community together. 
Nine years ago, we never could have imagined where we’d be today—with 116 homes built, a vibrant community centre, and countless numbers of you supporting us along the way.

A Quick Look Back: Nine Years of Growth and Resilience
When we started nine years ago, we set out to build up to 50 homes. That seemed like a huge and lofty goal to us. Today, we’ve exceeded those dreams with 116 homes (added another since our birthday so it’s now 117) and an established community centre at the heart of it! All day, we have people coming and going—from our Tiny Tots to our Mums and Grandmas and everyone in between.

We have seen our share of challenges.   COVID-19 tested us all, forcing us to pivot our primary mission to meet the immediate needs of the pandemic - mainly food, educational support, health, and generally helping families make it through the days. Through it all, the strength and commitment of our team and supporters shone through, standing by our community in ways that truly humble us. 

The sheer push-back force of extreme poverty, which sometimes allows people to look only as far as food for a family for one day, has sometimes made our task of education, training, building, and planning seem insurmountable. But it has not been, and we are so grateful for your support in helping our families and team push back against the relentless forces of that poverty. 

Growing Side by Side

Being here almost every day for nine years has taught us invaluable lessons about the community's needs. We’ve walked alongside them, gaining their trust and growing with them. This isn’t just a mission; it’s a partnership—seven days a week, living and working together to make lasting changes. Together, we’ve built houses, created jobs that bring dignity and opportunities to our team and their families, and opened doors for others to new opportunities outside our Heartprint bubble. 

Stories That Inspire Us

This journey has brought us close to so many remarkable people, from families we supported during the pandemic who now thrive independently to young people like Ley, who started with us as a curious child and is now on her way to university in Phnom Penh. Like so many others, her growth is a testament to the power of long-term commitment and community support.

We’ve also celebrated life’s milestones—births, growing families, and sadly, losses too. In every case, we’ve worked to ensure children remain with their families or other families in our village, providing support to prevent the need for orphanage care. It’s our mission to keep families united and help them thrive together.

Looking Ahead: Hearprint at TEN

As we look to the future, we aim to grow with our community’s evolving needs. With education now  - finally - a recognized priority for many families, our focus is expanding to include:

• University scholarships for our youth who choose that route.

• Technical and trade studies to equip others with essential skills.

• Empowerment programs for mums, helping them thrive.

• A concerted focus on programs for dads, ensuring the entire family moves forward together.

Celebrating a Decade: Your Ideas Needed!

As we approach the decade milestone next year, we want to hear from you—our supporters, donors, and community partners. How should we celebrate this achievement? What ideas do you have for marking this occasion? 

We’re considering a poll to gather your thoughts and make this celebration a collective effort, so please put your ideas hat on and let us benefit from your thoughts. 

Thank you for being part of this incredible, crazy, hot, rainy, muddy, exasperating,  exhilarating, and love-filled journey. 

Together, we’ve built more than homes— we have introduced hope, resilience, and a brighter future for hundreds of families. Let’s celebrate the past and look forward to the next chapter together!

(PS:  Don’t forget the Christmas package drive.  As you know, Cambodia is primarily a Buddhist country. Still, each year, we have what has become a glorious expression of joy and sharing when Santa drops by our Community Centre to hand out gift packages.  In addition to essentials for hygiene and school, each child also receives a toy; for many of them, it will be the only toy they receive all year.  Your support enables this joy.  Thank you from our Heart. Here is the link to contribute a gift package.

As always, thank you, 

Love, 

Your Heartprint Team