from Takeo

Loy will need 2 operations for his eye, so I will leave this until next year as the family have quite enough to deal with at the moment.  Vanthon and I have bought them all home with their new baby.  Looking at their house I am astounded at the living conditions for a family of six.    The house is one room large enough for a sleeping platform and this is where everyone sleeps. During the day the 'living room' consists of a sitting platform under an awning at the front - this is quite usual for a rural house but the first time I've seen such lack of hygiene.   

These families have never had any education they live in squalor as they have never been shown how to keep themselves and their homes clean and healthy.  Vanthon, with his big heart, will spend a few days here each month  teaching them sanitation.  Many  children have sores on their bodies that can be cleared up with a good soapy wash.

The difference with Srey Huoy's family is very noticeable, the mother does a  very good job of keeping her house and her children as clean as is possible in their extremely poor living conditions.

Huoy is finding her new raybans helpful, they aid her to see a little during the day.  Unfortunately the doctor thinks she may have a more serious problem so we will take her to Phnom Penh for a mental assessment.  Her brother, Vouern, has glasses to straighten his eye - his problem will be easily fixed, and he's looking very cool in his blue glasses..