We talk about our successful children all the time, three now graduated from University with one working on his Master in Nursing, the other two with Law degrees, one in his final year of Civil Engineering, three others in the second year of Art studies, another in school for Midwifery and yet another in an International school of design. We are proud of all of them.

There are others however who have not gone on to University. Some because it was too late to get started on school when their parents died from HIV related causes, others because they wanted to work, and others who had to leave because they had outgrown our program. Most have turned out quite well. Some have become Buddhist Monks; five have gotten married and now have families and some are now in trade schools or working in Phnom Penh.

Like any family, children return to their home when needs arise. Often it is just to be assured they have not been forgotten, sometimes it is for financial assistance for unexpected needs that their small paychecks don’t cover, and sometimes it is to have a place to stay while waiting for a child to be born.

This is the seventh grandchild of Wat Opot with two others on the way. Young people don’t always take our advice… having children before you can financially provide a good life for them is irresponsible, everyone knows that… and yet, I was born at a time when there wasn’t much money to be had either and some of my best memories are the times when we as a family had to work hard together just to put some food on the table. To see our children grow up to be proud-loving parents is just as rewarding as watching them graduate from University.

The Watopotians