lonelywombat
January 26th, 2013, 03:25
Mum to Cambodia's street kids honoured
Ron Corben
From article of Australia day honors lists todays paper
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaki ... 6562304851 (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/mum-to-cambodias-street-kids-honoured/story-e6frf7k6-1226562304851)
TANIA Palmer had a "life changing experience" while travelling in Cambodia almost a decade ago when she witnessed the struggles of the street children.
Today, the 46-year-old former interior designer from NSW supports 70 children in her "very, very large family" in the town of Siem Reap.
In 2004, amid swarms of young faces, Ms Palmer found her calling.
Then in 2005 she returned to Cambodia to help children she saw managing to survive by begging and who were vulnerable to abduction, abuse, the sex trade and the threat of disease.
Ms Palmer set up the "Green Gecko" school and community centre, which now supports 70 children who had lived on the streets of Siam Reap, 300km from Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh.
On Saturday she is being appointed the Order of Australia (AM) for her work.
Her school offers education and life skills that set the children on paths away from the threat of the sex trade and violence.
It was at the school she met her future husband, Rem Poun.
Ms Palmer, who grew up on a farm near Leppington, says rather than seeing it as work, she views her role as a "very busy mum" with a lot of wonderful help "bringing up a very, very large family".
"I mean we feel that these children are really our family," she told AAP.
"Of course you can't do it alone. There are so many people into helping us. We do just exactly what any other mum and dad do but on a grander scale."
The children's parents also come to the centre for education and training.
On news of the Australia Day honours, Ms Palmer said: "Naturally, it's an incredible honour to be recognised by our Queen and fellow Aussies for the work you do.
"But at the same time, it feels quite strange to be acknowledged for doing something that feels so instinctive to me."
And for a simple message for Australians?
"Never underestimate the difference you can make in someone's life," Ms Palmer says.
Ron Corben
From article of Australia day honors lists todays paper
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaki ... 6562304851 (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/mum-to-cambodias-street-kids-honoured/story-e6frf7k6-1226562304851)
TANIA Palmer had a "life changing experience" while travelling in Cambodia almost a decade ago when she witnessed the struggles of the street children.
Today, the 46-year-old former interior designer from NSW supports 70 children in her "very, very large family" in the town of Siem Reap.
In 2004, amid swarms of young faces, Ms Palmer found her calling.
Then in 2005 she returned to Cambodia to help children she saw managing to survive by begging and who were vulnerable to abduction, abuse, the sex trade and the threat of disease.
Ms Palmer set up the "Green Gecko" school and community centre, which now supports 70 children who had lived on the streets of Siam Reap, 300km from Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh.
On Saturday she is being appointed the Order of Australia (AM) for her work.
Her school offers education and life skills that set the children on paths away from the threat of the sex trade and violence.
It was at the school she met her future husband, Rem Poun.
Ms Palmer, who grew up on a farm near Leppington, says rather than seeing it as work, she views her role as a "very busy mum" with a lot of wonderful help "bringing up a very, very large family".
"I mean we feel that these children are really our family," she told AAP.
"Of course you can't do it alone. There are so many people into helping us. We do just exactly what any other mum and dad do but on a grander scale."
The children's parents also come to the centre for education and training.
On news of the Australia Day honours, Ms Palmer said: "Naturally, it's an incredible honour to be recognised by our Queen and fellow Aussies for the work you do.
"But at the same time, it feels quite strange to be acknowledged for doing something that feels so instinctive to me."
And for a simple message for Australians?
"Never underestimate the difference you can make in someone's life," Ms Palmer says.