Tara Winkler with some of her charges. It took her just two weeks to establish a new home for the AIDS orphans and victims of child trafficking.August 26, 2007
Caroline Marcus
The Sydney Morning Herald
TARA Winkler had an enviable life. She grew up in Bondi, enjoyed the beach lifestyle and was establishing a career in the film industry.
But after a holiday to Cambodia she gave it all up to devote herself to rescuing orphans from a life of abuse and neglect.
During that visit two years ago Winkler was deeply moved by the suffering of children she encountered at an orphanage at Battambang, in the country's west.
She established the Cambodian Children's Trust to support the orphanage, which she described as heartbreakingly run-down.
As the months passed, rumours intensified of underhand dealings by the orphanage's former director.
Early this year, Ms Winkler returned to Australia on a three-month fund-raising trip, and took measures to safeguard all donations to the orphanage.
She went back to Cambodia this month after learning the orphanage's director and staff had been removed by the former director and replaced with his relatives.
The former director allegedly has a history of embezzling donations from foreign sponsors, funnelling the money into his own property and livestock.
"It got a bit nasty and all of the children were being abused really badly - physically and verbally," Ms Winkler told The Sun-Herald from Battambang. "They have lost several kilograms each and look like little stick figures and really unhealthy."
Seven of the children have hepatitis B and one girl is HIV positive.
In a desperate bid to save the children, the young Australian set up her own orphanage - in just two weeks.
Battambang's Governor and government authorities gave her team full support to remove the children from the former orphanage and rehouse them, Ms Winkler said.
She now houses all 14 orphans, aged between 5 and 17, and has employed a full-time nurse, local director, social worker and cook.
"I wasn't prepared to be setting up my own centre so soon but I'm just relieved to have them out," she said.
"They're all from horrible backgrounds, with many the victims of child trafficking and others orphaned by HIV/AIDS."
In order to survive, the orphanage must raise $50,000 a year.
Ms Winkler intends to transform the orphanage into a sustainable "eco-village". She plans to spend five years and $2million introducing development projects that will enable the orphanage to support itself.
Her designs include buying a 40-hectare plot to establish a plantation as well as a fruit, vegetable and herb permaculture garden.
A medical facility, animal clinic, education program and English school are in the works.
To help, see http://www.cambodianchildrenstrust.org.
Click here to donate to Cambodian Children Trust.
But after a holiday to Cambodia she gave it all up to devote herself to rescuing orphans from a life of abuse and neglect.
During that visit two years ago Winkler was deeply moved by the suffering of children she encountered at an orphanage at Battambang, in the country's west.
She established the Cambodian Children's Trust to support the orphanage, which she described as heartbreakingly run-down.
As the months passed, rumours intensified of underhand dealings by the orphanage's former director.
Early this year, Ms Winkler returned to Australia on a three-month fund-raising trip, and took measures to safeguard all donations to the orphanage.
She went back to Cambodia this month after learning the orphanage's director and staff had been removed by the former director and replaced with his relatives.
The former director allegedly has a history of embezzling donations from foreign sponsors, funnelling the money into his own property and livestock.
"It got a bit nasty and all of the children were being abused really badly - physically and verbally," Ms Winkler told The Sun-Herald from Battambang. "They have lost several kilograms each and look like little stick figures and really unhealthy."
Seven of the children have hepatitis B and one girl is HIV positive.
In a desperate bid to save the children, the young Australian set up her own orphanage - in just two weeks.
Battambang's Governor and government authorities gave her team full support to remove the children from the former orphanage and rehouse them, Ms Winkler said.
She now houses all 14 orphans, aged between 5 and 17, and has employed a full-time nurse, local director, social worker and cook.
"I wasn't prepared to be setting up my own centre so soon but I'm just relieved to have them out," she said.
"They're all from horrible backgrounds, with many the victims of child trafficking and others orphaned by HIV/AIDS."
In order to survive, the orphanage must raise $50,000 a year.
Ms Winkler intends to transform the orphanage into a sustainable "eco-village". She plans to spend five years and $2million introducing development projects that will enable the orphanage to support itself.
Her designs include buying a 40-hectare plot to establish a plantation as well as a fruit, vegetable and herb permaculture garden.
A medical facility, animal clinic, education program and English school are in the works.
To help, see http://www.cambodianchildrenstrust.org.
Click here to donate to Cambodian Children Trust.
9 comments:
congratulation to Miss Winkler for your great work in humanitarian and compassion for orphans of Cambodia. Bless you with all happiness.
Bless your heart TARA. You are my hero.You will be classify among mother Teressa in the heart of those children.
Wow what a woman with great big heart.
God bless you Miss.Tara Winkler, what is the beautiful heart !
With all my respect,
khmer pheas khloun
Cambodian no longer have family value and this is worst than animal....I really hate to see children raising another children but then again this is Cambodia!
For Miss Tara Winkler at the age of 21 is a teenager of yesterday and for her to play such role really took my breath away!
I don't know what become of Cambodia with the way things go right now.
When Ms. Winkler left, those Khmer barbarians (former director) made me ashamed to be Khmer. They abused the children, while she was oversea to raise funds. The sickness in Cambodia is the strong taking advantage of the weak. It happens in every level of society. This is what war, death, and famine will do to a country.
I am greatful to Mi Winkler, and will donate whatever I can to her charity organization.
OUR DEAREST TARA,
THIS IS HOW YUONS(VIETCONG) COMMITTED THIS CRIME AGAINST CAMBODIAN PEOPLE. SOME KHMERS WERE ACTING LIKE ANIMAL, THEY LOST THEIR SOUL BECAUSE THE UNSEEN OPRESSION BY THESE YUON'S COMMUNIST CRIMINAL.
ANYWAY WE PRAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO PROTECT YOU TARA AND YOUR CHILDREN ALWAYS. MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ALSO BLESS YOU WITH EVERY THINGS YOU WANT YO CHIEVE WITH ALL YOUR KHMER CHILDREN.
Regards
Mr. & Mrs. CHAMRON
Ms. Winkler,on the behalf of the Khmer people, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our heart for your act of humanity. Being Khmer, I feel ashame for not able to do what you are doing. May Buddha bless you for your kindness.
Khmer
If many rich and powerful Cambodians have the heart like you!!
Buddha bless you with all happiness in your life.
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