My name is Iris Tseng, from Taiwan. I am glad to share my volunteering and fundraising experience for Green Umbrella. You may wonder what Green Umbrella does? And how you can get involved with the projects.

Green Umbrella (GU) is a Local Non – Governmental Organization and was established in 2012. It locates in Bati district, Takeo province, Cambodia. Green Umbrella through its educational programs will develop future leaders who use their skill knowledge, and values to positively impact our local community and our country Cambodia. GU’s mission is to provide a holistic approach and transformation education for Cambodia youth.

My relationship with Green Umbrella began when I volunteered at KKS primary school two years ago.

At that time, I had met a group of very enthusiastic and helpful people here in Taiwan, who were organizing a volunteering trip. We completed classes, training, and various drills together, and set out on a journey to Cambodia in the summer of August 2019. The scene in my mind when I first stepped into the KKS campus has become a little blurred, but the bright smiles of the children are still very clear in my memory.  

We were like friends who had not seen each other for a long time, and even though we did not speak the same language, we shared our joy by smiling and gesticulating.

I had no idea that KKS would soon be facing a huge challenge – this peaceful place that I visited would soon be shaking in a wild persisting storm. The emergence of Covid-19 at the end of 2019 has turned the world upside down, and even countries with very good health care are in trouble. Cambodia is no exception, and unfortunately KKS and all aspects Green Umbrella have been negatively impacted in a huge way.

With a passion for social service and a heart for KKS, I applied for the internship at Asanga for the summer of 2021. During my Internship, my colleagues and I worked on the Food Kit fundraiser, hoping to contribute to the local community. 

As I said in my summer internship report, “It was not easy to raise funds during the epidemic, but there were still many warm Taiwanese people who were willing to support our action. I would like to thank Asanga for allowing me to join this project to help KKS, and also those people who live in Taiwan, a place much safer, to be willing to help the children in Cambodia”. 

For me, KKS is like a wonderland, full of children’s laughter. However, for the kids living there, KKS turns to be a security blanket, a place that is safe from violence, hunger, and all kinds of unfair treatment.