Life In A Cambodian Orphanage

History of orphanages in Cambodia -- Orphanage tourism and the anti-orphanage tourism campaign -- Methods -- The rhythms of daily life in the orphanage -- The orphanage remembered: milestones and experiences -- Reflecting back and looking ahead.

How could it be wrong to save the children by starting an orphanage? Oh, in so many ways . . . Tara Winkler first arrived in Cambodia to join a tour group in 2005 and was taken to visit a small orphanage in Battambang. The children were living in extreme poverty, and Tara was determined to raise money to help them. Two years later, after fundraising in Australia, Tara returned to Battambang only to discover that the same children were in deep trouble. Her spontaneous response was to find them a new, safe, home. With a team of committed locals and support from friends, she established the Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT). With an instant family of fourteen children and three dogs, Tara had to learn a lot, very fast. And, along the way, she realised that many of the actions she took with good intentions were not at all what the children needed - or indeed, what any child needs. CCT now helps vulnerable children to escape poverty and be cared for within their families. In this compelling, poignant and funny memoir, Tara shares the many joys and the terrible lows of her journey thus far with honesty and passion. Written with co-writer, Lynda Delacey, How (Not) to Start an Orphanage is a book that will keep you thinking long after you turn the final page.

Cambodia has never recovered from its Khmer Rouge past. The genocidal regime of 1975–1979 and the following two decades of civil war ripped the country apart. This work examines Cambodia in the aftermath, focusing on Khmer people of all walks of life and examining through their eyes key facets of Cambodian society, including the ancient Angkor legacy, relations with neighboring countries (particularly the strained ones with the Vietnamese), emerging democracy, psychology, violence, health, family, poverty, the environment, and the nation’s future. Along with print sources, research is drawn from hundreds of interviews with Cambodians, including farmers, royalty, beggars, teachers, monks, orphanage heads, politicians, and non-native experts on Cambodia. Dozens of exquisite photographs of Cambodian people and places illustrate the work, which concludes with a glossary of Cambodian words, people, places and names, and an appendix of organizations providing aid to Cambodia.

In 1975, Bonasakhana was only 12 years old when her whole world was turned upside down, and would be changed forever. Her home and her country, The Kingdom of Cambodia, was plunged into the darkest time in its history when a ruthless dictator by the name of Pol-Pot, took control of the country. Also known by his most feared name, "The Khmer Rouge," he enforced his extreme communist rule on the helpless citizens by means of starvation, overworking, and even execution. An estimated 2 million citizens lost their lives under his rule. Read how this 12 year old girl, Bonasakhana, not only clung to life, but survived those horrific years.

Australia's first female prime minister. The country's first female judge. The first woman to win the Archibald Prize for portraiture. Australia's first female chief diplomat. The nation's first female winemaker. These women were all trailblazers, but they have something else in common - every one of them was South Australian. And they are just a handful of the 100 remarkable women whose stories are told in this beautiful book, illustrated with hundreds of photographs. Written by historian Carolyn Collins and journalist Roy Eccleston, Trailblazers shines a light on the lives of these extraordinary women whose feats inspired their state, nation and, often enough, the world. Now they can inspire a whole new generation.

"An adopted teen describes her early life in Cambodia. She describes daily life in her village at the edge of the jungle and witnessing childbirth attended by a midwife. Her adventures include nights alone in the jungle, exotic foods, riding an elephant,and surviving several threats to her life. She experiences eerie occurrences that to this day remain unexplained. Upon moving to an orphanage, she finds a friend's mother working there. She describes her life there, being adopted, and her trip to her newhome in America."--Amazon.

While appealing to the desire of tourists and volunteers to 'do good' while travelling, underlining orphanage tourism is the fact that the vast majority of children (over 80%) in orphanages and allied care institutions are not orphans. Instead, children are often placed in institutions due to poverty and hardship, and as victims of human trafficking. The first of its kind, this book highlights exploratory research that examines the links between modern slavery practices and orphanage tourism.