Help the orphans in Cambodia

Darren and Kasey Smith with their daughter Madison Smith in May 2011. (Image Credit: By Kasey Smith, Gulf News Reader)

Madison at the orphanage in Cambodia in 2009.

The container of items to help the children at the Orphanage Kais Village Community will leave on September 12

August 2, 2011

Text and Pictures By Kasey Smith

Gulf News Reader (Dubai)

We began our Cambodian journey three years ago when we decided to adopt a child from Cambodia; luckily we were successful and have a beautiful daughter Madison who has been home since November 2010.

We knew we wanted to help the orphanage and give back in some way after Madi was settled. Now the time has come and we have started a Cambodian Donation Drive to send essential second-hand items such as babies and children's clothing, shoes, children's bikes, home appliances, linen and towels to the orphanage.

We put the word out to a number of freight companies and Relogulf came to the rescue immediately. After a few days they confirmed they can send a 20 feet container. Adoption Support Group Dubai, Expat Women, Charterhouse Partnership, Ranches Ladies, Jumeirah Island and The Springs Community Pages as well as other expat websites and nurseries have also been a great help.

The Orphanage Kais Village Community is run by KaisKids http://www.kaiskids.org who rely on volunteers to sponsor a child, make individual donations, or expatriates who volunteer at the orphanage.

Unfortunately adoptions in Cambodia have been put on hold for another year, which means no children will find families, therefore they need all the assistance they can get as each day more children arrive, and they home all children from premature babies and toddlers to teenagers.

We understand KaisKids are only one of many orphanages in Cambodia and all over the world, however we are hoping to do what we can for the orphanage; we also guarantee all items donated will go directly to them.

The container will leave on September 12, therefore as noted above we are collecting the following second-hand items such as babies and children's clothing, shoes, children's bikes, white goods, linen and towels etc to fill the container. If you can help please contact us darrenkasey@yahoo.com or Kasey's mobile: 050 724 1413 and we will be happy to collect items from you.

Thanks so much for your support!

— The reader is an associate director at Charterhouse Partnership in Dubai