Hilary Ramsey (SHE Home Director) will be doing a hike called "El Camino de Santiago" during September!

This epic journey is an 800km pilgrimage over the Pyrenees mountains in France and through Spain.  

The goal of the fundraising is to raise enough money to cover the costs of care for one girl in our home for one year ($12, 000 per year)! To cover this cost it works out to be $15/km. 

We would love for you to sponsor her for one kilometre (or more if you choose).

If we can get 800 people to sponsor 1km each, we will have reached our goal!

Please go to http://www.everydayhero.com.au/hilary_ramsey  to sponsor Hilary and to follow her amazing journey!

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Click here to register for the ITS NOT OK SWIMATHON

http://inoswimathon2012-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1

A fantastic event for all the family, all swim abilities and all ages.

Saturday 25th February at the amazing Brisbane Grammar Indoor Pool facility.

PRIZES

CELEBRITY SWIMMERS

SPORTING PERSONALITIES

Supporting the SHE Rescue Home in Cambodia

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Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is a documentry behind the veil of the sex industry worldwide.  Filmed and produced by Exodus Cry, this is one of the first human trafficking films produced from a Christian perspective.

Saturday 5th November - doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start (Citipointe Auditorium, 322 Wecker Road, Mansfield).

Tickets are only $10 each and avaliable at:

http://srhnefarious.eventbrite.com/

Presented by Exodus Cry and SHE Rescue Home with all proceeds going to benefit the mercy projects for women and children affected by sex slavery. 

To view the trailer of the film go to: www.nefariousdocumentary.com

Film is rated 18 years and over.

Nefarious_flyer.pdf Download this file

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With picture perfect weather and even a couple of dolphins swimming in the bay, the ITS NOT OK Challenge was a huge success on Saturday the 30th July.

Saturday morning started early with teams arriving at 5:00am to set-up for the Challenge.  Balloons, marquees and banners were just the start and by 6:30am runners had begun to arrive and warm up for the 10km and 4km runs.  Registrations had exceeded our expectations with almost 300 putting on their running shoes and their fierce spirit of competition.  The large number of people attending on the day meant great awarness was raised for the SHE Rescue Home as well as letting people know that human trafficking is NOT OK!!!!

A big congratulations to the winners of each event who recieved place medals for thier efforts.  Congratulations also to our dress-up winners who obvioulsy had a great time putting together their fun costumes for the morning.  We also had a visit by 96.5 fm radio stations 'Romeo' the radio dog which was a big hit for all the kids.

Thank you to everyone who came along on the day and made it such a great success.  A special thank you to our sponsors:  Accolade Awards, Good Life gym, Kingston Park Raceway, Seaworld, Birch Carol and Coyle cinemas, Citipointe Fitness and Citipointe Church.  Book into your diaries now the ITS NOT OK Challenge date for 2012 - Saturday 21st July.

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Saturday 30th July

Register by going to the link below:

http://itsnotokchallenge.eventbrite.com

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you all there on the big day!

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How could I have prepared myself for the experience that is Cambodia?  

My wife and I flew into Phnom Penh during the final few days of February to begin a new chapter of our lives committed to young lives affected by the barbarity that is child sex trafficking.  We studied, researched, prayed and excitedly prepared ourselves to influence for good in a completely different culture to that of Australia.  Looking back at the month that has been, I have realised that it is only now that I have seen.  The life, culture, smiles and sadness of the Khmer people are profound to witness, so far removed from the casual glance of their photos in the weekend travel mag. 

The smells, noise and colours of Phnom Penh's busy streets have to be experienced - words cannot describe them!  The poverty, lack and immense need for God to move in their midst had to be felt rather than solely communicated.  I have seen the child workers and been inwardly frustrated at their lack of childhood and education.  I have seen the mother clutching her child and sleeping on the footpath.  I have seen the child scavengers, with open sores, rummaging through the rancid filth that has been thrown out on to the streets.  Some of them are as young as three or four years old.  And yes - I have seen the girls.  The older ones sit waiting for business at the entrance to karaoke bars. 

Younger girls can be found at the riverside begging and at immense risk from wayward men;  both foreign and Khmer.  Many are behind closed doors or underground, but now there are dozens (and increasinglly so!) of those in safe, loving and Godly environments.  Your giving - of your time, talent, treasure, prayers, the way you tell others about SHE - makes a difference that is hard to comprehend unless experienced. 

I have seen and I am thankful.

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Wet 'n Wild you've got nothing on eighteen excited and energetic girls armed with water balloons, sponges and buckets full of water!  That's right!  8th March 2011 not only marked International Women's Day, but also The Great Water Fight of 2011. 

Split up into two teams the girls took part in fierce competition against each other in a number of different games that saw the girls popping water balloons by sitting on them, filling up buckets by squeezing wet sponges against their heads and trying to dodge rapid fire without moving their feet.  While the water police armed with two loaded water pistols did well to maintain order for most of the morning, mayhem soon took hold and the police became target number one. 

Even the tuk tuk drivers, who thought they were safe, copped payback for the cheeky taunting they had been giving the girls all morning.  All in all a great morning was had by everyone and the only dry bottoms were those sitting at a safe distance in the sanctuary of the office.

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Volcanoes are not really something you associate with Cambodia.  In fact mainland Cambodia has only one volcano, Yak Loum.  This particular volcano is over four thousand years old and comes in the form of a beautiful water-filled crater, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest and boasts some of the cleanest and clearest water in the country.  Needless to say Cambodia doesn't have a reputation for fierce fire-spitting volcanoes that we so readily associate with the molten plains of Hawaii.  Well at least that was the case until March 2011. 

Over two days the girls of the She Home researched and carefully reconstructed those fierce molten-spitting volcanoes of Hawaii.  Using their newly learned paper mache skills and their fabulous painting skills, three menacing volcanoes were formed.  You could have sworn you were in the middle of Hawaii had the volcanoes only been a couple of hundred metres taller.  Once the glue had dried and the girls were happy with their designs if was time to go. 

A crowd of people gathered around and began the countdown of what was to be a series of ferocious explosions.  The volcanoes did not disappoint and thanks to some vinegar, baking soda and red food colouring the girls were able to give Phnom Penh a reputation to rival even that of Mt Vesuvius.

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The cupcakes are baked and the strawberry jam icing has been spread.  With arms and legs twisted in every possible direction, nine of us crammed into what now seemed like a very small tuk tuk and headed for the riverfront.  Yet another Buddhist national holiday was upon us and the girls had been baking.  Unlike our last batch of (slightly) burnt ANZAC biscuits, they were confident that the cupcakes would be a winner amongst the homeless and beggars for which they were destined.  Regulars to the riverfront, we undid the human knot tied on the trip, exited the tuk tuk and started walking.  All very aware of the close link between themselves and the mothers and children to whom they give aid, the girls revelled in finding people to help. 

With Buddhist festivities in full swing our cupcakes and bottles of water didn't last long as they were handed out to the beggars and women selling Buddhist good luck trinkets.  Always stopping for a chat with whomever they gave a cupcake, we wondered just what the girls were saying to these people.  When asked they replied, "we just say the Lord has blessed us so much in our own life, that we can't help but bless other people as well, so God bless you".   And a cupcake became a seed.

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Here are a few short stories and pictures to keep you updated and informed about the little things that go on inside the SHE home.  It is often these little things that make the biggest difference!!

Sewing machines:
This month we have been incredibly blessed with finances to purchase 3 sewing machines and 1 overlocker for the girls to learn how to sew.  This will also create great opportunities for teams to prepare activities for the girls as well.
 

 

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ONLINE STORE is now open to purchase our family initiative items such as our Its not Ok armbands and gift bags.  We also have avaliable the always popular genie pants in various colours.  Purchase today by clicking through to our online store.

ITS NOT OK Armbands

(Click on the below link to go to our online store)

http://store.citipointechurch.com/she-rescue-home

The ITS NOT OK bracelet is an initiative which has been designed to give employment opportunities to some of the girls in our after care facility and to some of their parents.  These families have been trapped in a cycle of desperate poverty, which is one of the largest contributing factors to human trafficking.

Being able to participate in training and employment is an amazing step for those families and our girls.  It is allowing them to break free from the poverty trap.  As the families involved become self sufficient it can be one of the steps towards their daughters being safely reintegrated into their care.  It is amazing to see the impact this initiation is having in the community we are working with.

Custom orders can also be made for your event, company or group name.  Please contact us for a price on having these individually custom made to order.

SHE HOME GIFT BAGS

 http://store.citipointechurch.com/she-rescue-home

This gift bag is an initiative which has been designed to give employment opportunities to some of the girls families in our after care facility.  These families have been trapped in a cycle of desperate poverty, which is one of the largest contributing factors to human trafficking.

Being able to participate in training and employment is an amazing step for those families and our girls.  It is allowing them to break free from the poverty trap.  As the families involved become self sufficient it can be one of the steps towards their daughters being safely reintegrated into their care.  It is amazing to see the impact this initiation is having in the community we are working with.

These bags come in a small and medium size but can be custom made for individual orders.  We also have fantastic brunch bags available for conferences and seminars.  A great way to present your brunch or information packs to your delegates.

GENIE PANTS

http://store.citipointechurch.com/she-rescue-home

These super comfortable pants come in a one size fits all lightweight cotton design.  Fantastic for summer they allow you to have the comfort ability of a skirt but the conservativeness of pants.  Available in a variety of colours.

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The older girls have been sewing so much; it seems to be the new fad in the house. The girls were even able to make the Thank You hearts, that were given out at the SHE Christmas Tree Appeal in December.

These hearts created quite a stir in the home as all the girls helped cut them out, the little girls helped stamp them (hence some stamps not being exactly centered) and the big girls sewed and stuffed them with material.  They were all excited to get involved, especially when we told them that these hearts were to be given to people that donated money to help run their home.

One of our older girls really wans to become a tailor to earn money for her mum.   Through vocational training, (over the school holidays) she learnt how to sew and is now making bags in her spare time. A few months ago she wanted to stop studying so she could get a job; however, she is now keen to finish school and become a lawyer.  She has just started Grade 7, which is a huge achievement. While she will use her sewing skills now, she knows that it is only to help her to get where she wants to go. On the weekends, she proudly shows off the bags that she has made.

Something as simple as sewing has shown this precious girl a pathway to her future.  Not only will she learn new skills along the way, but will be able to provide for her family and eventually provide a positive future for her nation.   We can’t wait for the day when we have a Christian female lawyer in Cambodia!

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During the week after the horrible bridge stamped in Cambodia, where hundreds lost their lives, there was a very sombre feel around the whole nation. During staff devotions one morning we shared about how the Bible reminds us to praise God in all circumstances.  While this tragedy had happened, God was still on the throne.

As a staff we went around with each person sharing what they were thankful for. As we were getting to the last person, one of our drivers shared how thankful he was that he came to work at the SHE home. He went onto say that his wife’s family were Christians but his wife wasn't because he wouldn’t allow her to be.  Once he came and worked at SHE, however, he accepted Christ as his Lord and now his wife and children are ‘allowed’ to be Christians. He said that his neighbour (who is also one of his relatives) doesn’t like that they are Christians and is always yelling over the fence at them, but it won’t stop them believing in Jesus.

While our driver's paid job is to be a tuk tuk driver, he is also like a house father for these girls, helping them to see that there are safe men out there who won’t abuse them. The stampede on the bridge was a terrible tragedy with so many young lives lost.  Moments like these remind us of the urgency of why we are in Cambodia and why we need to remember that what we are doing is transforming lives through each of us being a light to the world.

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Happy New Year!! Although, we’re a country apart, and the Khmer New Year isn’t celebrated until April each year – these words bounced off our lips as we thought ‘same same’ here at the SHE Home, in Cambodia, while taking the time to celebrate all that was achieved in 2010. An incredible year of triumphs, victories, smiles and beauty…just as God had always intended.

As we run (purposefully and intentionally!) into the New Year, our SHE Rescue Home has welcomed five new girls in the last few months, all of which have both dynamic and varied personal histories and family situations.  We again continue to work closely with the girls families, moving them towards the possible reintegration of their girls.

The families of the girls have been given opportunities to be trained in gift bag and armband making, as a source of income for their families. Currently, we have eight families trained in making the ‘Its Not Ok’ and custom order armbands, and three families trained in making the gift bags, in an assortment of sizes. These families were living under the poverty line; however with their newly learned skills, have an opportunity to earn an above award weekly income, to support their family.

Last month we invited five of our families, located in Phnom Penh, and four of our older girls, to participate in a training session (organized externally through a local NGO) that specialized in Khmer budgeting skills. Following this training our counselors and social workers worked with the families on specific parent skills training in which, on completion, one of the mothers commented on how she had noticed how she responds to her children and husband in a negative way.  However, because of this training she is now aware and has the skills to change this habit in her life.

During the holidays the girls attended Summer School in the mornings, and 3 of our older girls took the afternoons as an opportunity to be trained in sewing with a local NGO. They were able to start making curtains for their bedrooms in the new home. Four of the older girls, were able to ride their bicycles to school and vocational training each day in preparation for reintegration, which they were very excited about!

Overall, the last few months have been an exciting and busy time in the home.  We have seen the girls and their families grow and develop through the various training programs.  We are looking forward to the rest of the year with much expectation and know that God will continue to change the lives of so many girls and their families in Cambodia.

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In Australia, signs of Christmas appear in shops in September; in Cambodia, it is rare to hear a Christmas carol. While Christmas is not celebrated in Cambodia, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the true reason for Christmas – the gift of a Saviour.

This was the first Christmas that we have attemped something this big – the girls, the staff, and thier families… over 150 people in attendance. This meant weeks of planning – calling families, booking transport, booking accommodation, packing gifts, cooking food… but it was all worth it for the girls to spend time with their families in a safe environment.

Thanks to some generous donations, we were able to have an amazing 36 hour Christmas celebration for the SHE Rescue Home girls. The celebration started on Christmas Eve with the cooking of a pavlova  and ginger bread stars,  Australian christmas treats that the girls had never eaten before. The staff even stood in amazement as the pavlova mixture came together. The girls enjoyed the pavlova so much that we didn’t have time to get a knife for cutting the cake, as the girls had already devoured it with their fingers.

Christmas morning started with the opening of gifts for the girls and staff.   The girls were excited about receiving gifts of clothes and shoes. The next few hours disappeared very quickly as we packed up the tuk tuks and van and headed to the Christmas party location to set up. Balloons were blown up, mats were laid out, clothes were folded and shoes were set up.  Before we knew it, the families had started to arrive. Not only were there families of the girls living in the SHE Rescue home, now every girl that has lived in the home and her family – so there were lots of hugs and laughter as people arrived.

The staff played some great Khmer games with everyone and then it was time for lunch.  The housemums cooked a delicious lunch of fried chicken and rice, and everyone got a can of soft drink – which, for these families, was a real treat. The staff sang some Christmas carols and the girls performed some dances for their families. Each girl, brought a proud smile to their parents' faces.

The gospel message was shared and then it was time for gifts. Each girl came over to the Christmas tree to receive the gifts for her family.   She was then able to present each of her family members with a gift. Each family was given some practical things, such as soaps and toothbrushes, and then also a Praise and Worship CD. Each child was given a gift bag filled with treats – a lollypop, balloon, stickers, bouncy ball and a toy. Each family was also able to select some clothes and shoes from donations sent to Cambodia – for some, this would be their only pair of shoes and, for others, it would mean that they now had a change of clothes.

This year we impacted many girls' lives and, through this Christmas party and your generosity, we were able to impact their families as well.

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TRANSITION HOME

We are so excited to let you know that, through generous donations and support, we have been able to open a second home in Cambodia. 

Earlier this month, six girls from our main SHE home that we have identified as being ready for reintergration moved to our new Transition Home. The Transition Home will provide holistic care for girls who were formerly living in the main home.  It is a home that will allow the girls more freedom, not just within the home but also within the community and neighbourhood.  A security guard is no longer required at the front gate and the girls are able to ride bikes and play with the neighbours in surrounding streets, which is a normal part of everyday Khmer living.

The staff and girls were so excited to visit the new Transition Home on a trip over to the home one afternoon.  Once they saw the new home they didn't want to leave and even asked if they could sleep the night there.  Since this first visit a month ago, the girls have moved into the home and have settled into their new surroundings.  This new home will make a big difference for these girls and will be a positive step in their reintegration process!!

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The main focus of the SHE Rescue Home will always be the girls in our care, but we also want to be able to help the families of our girls as much as we can. Through a lack of education and skills not being passed from one generation to another, there is now a generation of parents in Cambodia that know very little, if anything, about parenting.

The more opportunities we have to educate these parents, the higher the chance is of their daughters moving back home and being safe.  Because of this, our staff organised a six-week parenting course for parents who live in Phnom Penh. This course covered things like the needs of children, children’s self esteem, the importance of listening, parenting styles, discipline and reinforcing consequences.

Eight families attended this course, and were greatly impacted. One mother shared with her daughter’s counsellor that, since the training, she knows the importance of not yelling at her husband and children, and her husband has stopped physically abusing her. Another father shared that he now knows how to put clear rules in place with his children, and what to do when they break the rules. Other parents have said that they are working on praising their children and they have seen the difference in their children’s self esteem.

It is so exciting to see that, through opening a Rescue Home, we are not only impacting the lives of the girls we care for, but we have the opportunity to impact the lives of their families as well, unmistakably influencing our world for good and for God!

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Nic & I cooked a pavlova for the house party this afternoon to share with them some of the food we have on Christmas day, we put cream and kiwi fruit on top. Took it outside and went inside to get a knife, came back outside and the girls had almost finished it... no forks, no spoons, no plates... just fingers!

We also got the girls the Disney DVD collection for Christmas and they just got that and all are laughing so hard at Snow White.

By Rachel Smith

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NEW online store is now open to purchase our family initiative items such as our Its not Ok wristbands and gift bags.  We also have avaliable the always popular genie pants in various colours.  Purchase today by clicking through to our online store.

ITS NOT OK Wristbands - $10 each

(Click on the below link to go to our online store)

http://www.citipointe.com.au/onlinestore/sherescuehome 

The ITS NOT OK bracelet is an initiative which has been designed to give employment opportunities to some of the girls in our after care facility and to some of their parents.  These families have been trapped in a cycle of desperate poverty, which is one of the largest contributing factors to human trafficking.

Being able to participate in training and employment is an amazing step for those families and our girls.  It is allowing them to break free from the poverty trap.  As the families involved become self sufficient it can be one of the steps towards their daughters being safely reintegrated into their care.  It is amazing to see the impact this initiation is having in the community we are working with.

Custom orders can also be made for your event, company or group name.  Please contact us for a price on having these individually custom made to order.

SHE HOME GIFT BAGS
 - $2 per bag

http://www.citipointe.com.au/onlinestore/sherescuehome

This gift bag is an initiative which has been designed to give employment opportunities to some of the girls families in our after care facility.  These families have been trapped in a cycle of desperate poverty, which is one of the largest contributing factors to human trafficking.

Being able to participate in training and employment is an amazing step for those families and our girls.  It is allowing them to break free from the poverty trap.  As the families involved become self sufficient it can be one of the steps towards their daughters being safely reintegrated into their care.  It is amazing to see the impact this initiation is having in the community we are working with.

These bags come in a small and medium size but can be custom made for individual orders.  We also have fantastic brunch bags available for conferences and seminars.  A great way to present your brunch or information packs to your delegates.

GENIE PANTS - $20 each

http://www.citipointe.com.au/onlinestore/sherescuehome

These super comfortable pants come in a one size fits all lightweight cotton design.  Fantastic for summer they allow you to have the comfort ability of a skirt but the conservativeness of pants.  Available in a variety of colours.

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The girls were kept very busy with a colourful and extensive list of physical fitness activities, games, dancing, crafts and excursions throughout their recent school holidays.  No wonder we’d find them sound asleep in the lounge room after lunch each afternoon! With air in their bike tyres, a breeze through their hair and a terrific bell that acted nothing short of the most amazing portable percussion instrument ever created…the girls…were unstoppable. But then, we already knew that!

The girls enjoyed a day visiting The Royal Palace, which on many occasions left the girls speechless for both the sheer size and beauty of all that was contained within its golden gates. Another activity was roller-skating where each girl was transformed into a prima ballerina on skates to then, hours later, participating in a traditional Khmer dance lesson in the comfort of their own lounge room! It was beautiful to watch each of them create their own style with a technique they could proudly call their own.

Perhaps the most memorable of all though was when the girls took time out of their special holiday program to share their gifts and love with children the same age as them and who are less fortunate.  These children who are beggars live along the Riverfront (Phnom Penh’s main tourist area). We had two volunteers help the girls bake delicious biscuits in which the girls then personally delivered to these children who were very excited to be given something by someone their own age. Something that became tangible and meant a lot more than any biscuit could. Their smiles.  A testimony. It’s more blessed to give…I believe it is.

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