Whanganui couple, Abby and Caleb Kingi who own Lamp Studios, traveled to Cambodia to make two videos with Flame. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED
Whanganui couple, Abby and Caleb Kingi who own Lamp Studios, traveled to Cambodia to make two videos with Flame. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED
Stories from the slums of Cambodia will be shared by a New Zealand charity at a lunch in Whanganui on Thursday.
And the event will feature stories of Cambodian children filmed by Whanganui couple Abby and Caleb Kingi.
The Flame Cambodia charity was initially founded as The Bong Paoun Projectby a French missionary named Timothee Paton before rebranding in 2015 when New Zealander Sue Hanna became the new head of the organisation.
This month Flame is visiting seven towns in New Zealand to spread awareness of the work it does in the slums.
The Kingis, who own multi-media business Lamp Studios, recently travelled to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to make two short films promoting better living for children there, and their work will be screened at the lunch at the Whanganui Central Baptist Church.
Mrs Kingi said Flame was on the ground running in the slums of Cambodia.
"What they are achieving is not a day-to-day soup kitchen, they are investing in the daily needs of so many and supporting them right through to university and sometimes even further.
"They are investing in people to change lives, to see their futures thrive and dreams coming to fruition."
Flame communications manager Nicola Winthrop moved to Cambodia in 2015 with her husband Graeme, who is the charity's executive director, and three of their six children.
Nicola Winthrop - Mobile Medical and Communications Manager. PHOTO/ SOURCED
Mrs Winthrop said when she arrived she couldn't believe the severity of the living conditions for children there.
"Children live in shacks built on crap and rubbish on stools with open sewers directly below ... it is a truly awful environment for children to be brought up in.
"They are needed to support their families by begging on the streets."
In response Flame has created a development programme called Full Circle to provide slum children with education, employment and to create community leaders.
"One of our young leaders has trained to be a doctor and is now volunteering in his home slum - as part of the programme, our young leaders are expected to give back by completing volunteer work."
Another Whanganui man. former design student Sam Kemp, has worked with Flame in the charity's rebranding and website revamp.
"That guy has put in so much sweat and blood helping us and now he is training up one of our young leaders ... we are so grateful for all the support," Mrs Winthrop said.
Members of the public are invited to join the lunch with a koha entry - for more details or to register attendance contact Nigel Irwin on 06 3453557.
