I totally think this is doable

I’m going to tell you about some kids who have seen some very sad, very difficult things in their short lives. And then I’ll tell you how just ten dollars can make a difference for every one of these kids.

After the death of their mother, Mekera, 14, and Volet, 12 were brought to an orphanage in hopes they would have a brighter future there than at home with their five siblings. The orphanage, its income based on the money from international adoptions, ran out of funds.

Because of intense poverty, Chatreah’s family decided that she and her younger brother would be placed at a provincial orphanage. The two children were told to be strong and to not cry. When it came time for the family to leave, Chatreah’s brother couldn’t help but cry. The family relented and took him back home. What Chatreah remembers is that because she didn’t cry, she has never seen her family again.

Often Peroom’s photos show his red eyes because he suffers with chronic allergies. When she left him at the orphanage, his mother told Peroom she was leaving him there because he was a “bad boy.”

Samuel was blind. Unable to get the medical care and nurturing he needed, years of darkness and neglect took their toll. At five years old, Samuel shows all the signs of Institutional Autism.

Visoth is 10 years old. He is positive for Hepatitis B and suffers with very poor health. Because of his illness he has suffered much abuse and neglect.

Bee was sold by his birth family to a family who could not have children. His new mother never bonded with him and often abused the little boy. Bee acted out his abuse by biting, scratching and kicking other children.

17 year old Hosanna is disabled and uses a wheelchair. All too often in Cambodia a sick child is seen by her family as “Bad Luck”or even “Evil”. This is what happened to Hosanna. One day she got sick with a fever. When she woke several days later her legs no longer worked. Hosanna was sent away from her home.

When Peter’s mother passed away he was sent to Phnom Penh in search of a better life. After a few days on the streets he was taken to a shelter for teens. The staff at the center knew Peter was too young to be there among the street hardened teenagers. He needed a safe place to live.

Abandoned. Neglected. Abused. Alone. Common threads in each of these childrens’ stories. Thankfully, their stories don’t end there. Because today all of these children live at BYKOTA House.

Volet says, “BYKOTA House is the house of one family.” (The name for the home is an accronym of the Bible verse which admonishes us to Be Ye Kind One To Another.) This “house of one family” was founded by Mark and Rhonda Benz who moved to Cambodia five years ago, feeling led to do something for the children left behind after adoptions shut down. Staffed by two full-time caregivers, the vision of BYKOTA House is to provide the children with a safe place to live and the opportunity to be part of a family. In addition, BYKOTA house provides a strong education for every child, including english lessons and opportunities for the older ones to learn a trade.

BYKOTA house is the place where Mekera excells in her studies and dreams of owning a business one day.

Where her younger brother Volet sings and dances (his favorite dance style is hip hop).

It’s where Chatreah finally has the opportunity to attend school.

Where Peroom is told often he is precious and loved and is such a strong student he’s been invited to join a special accelerated class at school.

Because of BYKOTA house, Samual had the cornea surgery he needed and his sight has been restored.

Visoth has attentive loving care for his health issues and the chance to attend school with other kids.

Bee feels cherished and loved and has blossomed into a happy boy who no longer strikes out at those around him.

Hosanna? She studies English and Korean, takes Piano and Voice lessons, finds her inspiration in art, and believe it or not she even takes dance classes!

Peter has found his safe place.

Today there are seventeen children at BYKOTA house. Mark and Rhonda say, “We believe future growth will occur with additional house parents. There is a great need for safe homes for children to be raised in. These children deserve to live without the fear of molestation, abuse or being forced into servanthood. BYKOTA House exists to be their safe place.”

It’s an overwhelming task the Benz’s have taken on. The needs are many, and the funds are few. But we can help. By giving even just a few dollars, we enable them to continue in this work, to care for these children who had no one to care for them.

Never has there been a better day to give than today.

Because today BYKOTA House is participating in America’s Giving Challenge. Sponsored by Parade Magazine, the Case Foundation, and Facebook Causes, participants in the Challenge compete for daily and overall cash awards of up to $50,000 for the nonprofit organizations they care most about. Awards will be distributed based on the number of qualifying donations generated for a cause, not the total dollars raised.

BYKOTA House is a small organization. And so we have our eyes on the Daily competition prize. If we can generate the most “unique” donations in a 24 hour period, we will win $1,000. And while a thousand dollars might not seem like a lot in America today, in Cambodia that money can make a real difference. For that matter, so can just ten dollars.

Ten dollars is all it takes to join us in this Challenge. With that small of a donation, you will help us to reach our goal. Of course if you’d like to give more, you can. The needs are great. The potential to make a real difference is even greater.

The 24 hour period starts TODAY (TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH) at 3:00pm, Eastern Time and runs until tomorrow, Wednesday October 28th at 2:59pm, Eastern Time. Please consider making a donation to BYKOTA House during this time. And while you’re at it, share the link with your friends and family. We can do this. We can work together to make a real difference. Trust me, it will be the best ten dollars you’ve ever spent.