Last night I had the most remarkable experience.  Just like we did in Siem Reap, the kids and I featured in a fundraiser for Anjali House.  But this one was different.  It was held in the garden of a beautiful, restored French colonial bank that now serves as one of Phnom Penh’s best restaurant’s, Van’s. The audience was full of supporters and various VIP’s, the most important one of which was Her Royal Highness Princess Bopha Devi.  I have pieced together a short film to show you all that happened.  Yes, you see me briefly speaking and having my picture taken with the Princess.  But more importantly, you see 4 of the kids I had worked with read their work in front of this rather special audience.  It amazes me how articulate, relaxed and poised these kids were.  Teenagers anywhere in the world would have been uncomfortable in such surroundings.  And these four kids, Sreyline, Srey, Saroun and Sopheak, were pretty nervous to start, especially about meeting royalty.  But they never wavered.  We were so proud of them.  But even more importantly, they were so proud of themselves.
   Mr. D flies in tonight and then after one more day, my Cambodian adventure is over….for now.  We head off to Laos for a few days holiday, and then I finish my month with several days in Singapore.  But I now know I will be back.  I am more committed than ever to maintaining this work I am doing here.  And Cambodia, for whatever reason, remains my own special place of inspiration.  Take a look and watch these kids.  Anjali House now provides educational and health support to over 100 street children.  They are all equally special.  And if you would like to learn more, get involved, or support their work in any way, please go here.

And thanks to Andy Brouwer, guest and Cambodian blogger extraordinaire, for these photos.  His blog is here.