12th August: Champion the Cause benefit gig

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on July 6, 2010 | No Comments

On 12th August 2010, ACT (Against Child Trafficking), in conjunction with World Vision, is hosting a benefit gig to raise awareness and funds to tackle the issue of global child trafficking.

It will be a fun-filled night with live music featuring four up and coming Australian bands, and showcase several organisations at the forefront of child trafficking, including Bloom.

Come along to hear live music, buy handmade crafts from children affected by child slavery, and get informed to find out out what’s going on across the globe.

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Book Review: SOLD by Patricia McCormick

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on June 29, 2010 | No Comments

This book review was written by Bloom supporter Sue Hamlet, who was moved by this account of child sex trafficking. Whilst the story takes place in Nepal, it is very true to life for Bloom students, many of whom were also sold at a very young age.

Sue writes:

If you are willing to invest an hour or so gaining a personal perspective on what it is to be a child victim of sex trafficking, then I would suggest “SOLD” by Patricia McCormick which I have just finished. It is a ‘first hand’ account of  a young Nepalese girl sold into a brothel. It is a work of fiction, but based on a composite of  real stories.

Beautifully written, this novella successfully  treads the line between mercifully selective and brutally graphic; it would suit readership from  mid-teens onwards.

At the end of the book, one can’t fail to be moved to action – it personalizes the statistics. There is also a good understanding gained of how the brothel owners gain compliance from the girls, how their spirits can become broken by the experience itself, and how the lies they are told can actually prevent them from being rescued.

This book does have a ‘hopeful’ outcome but the reader is left in no doubt of the immensity and scale of the tragedy of this industry.

Patricial McCormick, the author, said of the book in a previous interview:

I spent a month in India and Nepal tracing Lakshmi’s steps… and interviewed women in the red-light district, girls who had been rescued.

I felt inadequate to the task of doing justice to the stories the women had entrusted to me. But when I thought about the young girls… I felt urgency- urgency that their experiences be known and understood by the outside world. And I began to write.

Educate yourself then work to raise awareness among your friends and family members, your church or school. Invite a speaker, and raise or donate money. The cost of living in countries where trafficking takes place is very low; [your donation] could go a long way toward providing medicine, toys or books for the children of the red-light district, or could contribute to the work of organizations that stop trafficking and provide safety for victims.

As Eli Weisel said, “Let us remember: what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.”

Sold is available from the Book Depository (free shipping worldwide) for $9.27, or from any good book retailer.

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The Larwills are back in town!

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on June 17, 2010 | No Comments

Ruth and Murray Larwill, Directors of Bloom, are back in Australia for a short time only.

To hear them speak live, come and join us at Gateway Baptist Church this Sunday 20th June and get the inside story on Bloom.

When: 9am and 6pm

Where: Gateway Baptist Church, 1052 Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road
Mackenzie, Queensland, 4156

For more information, call the church office on (07) 3291 5900

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Head to Birkdale on June 12th to shop for Bloom!

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on June 8, 2010 | No Comments

If you’re anywhere near Birkdale QLD this Sunday June 12th, be sure to head over to Birkdale Baptist Church where you can grab a bargain and do some good!

Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010
Time: 2:00 – 4:00pm
Address: 1 Jones Road, Birkdale QLD

Admission is $15 donation which includes devonshire tea, 4 x tickets into door prize and unlimited shopping at stalls such as David Jones Handbags, Tupperware, The Body Shop at Home, Gekho Jewellery, ENJO, Chocoholics Anonymous, childrens clothing and much more!

****NEWS FLASH*****

Would you like the opportunity to have Gen Latham as seen on My Kitchen Rules come to your house and cook you and your friends afternoon tea? Well come and join the auction for this once in a lifetime opportunity only at Shop for Bloom! Her famous friands will go down a treat! All for a great cause!

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Jazz up your nest and support Bloom!

Posted in: Blog, Featured by Bloom on May 31, 2010 | No Comments

Come along to Jazz Up Your Nest

If you’re a fan of local design, you’ll be interested in heading to Jazz Up Your Nest, exclusively showcasing art, jewellery and wearables created by artists from the Southern Downs region between 17-24 July. 10% of all sales from the gallery will be contributed towards three different charities, of which Bloom is one. So come along and support local artists and Bloom!

Jazz Up Your Nest is situated at Fledge Design Studio, in the main street of Warwick. This exhibition takes place during chilly Warwick’s annual Jumpers & Jazz in July Festival, where the trees are covered in quirky textiles and jazz music fills the air. For more details of what is happening during the festival, see www.jumpersandjazz.com

Where: Fledge Design Studio, 92b Palmerin St Warwick QLD

When: 10am-5pm, 17-24 July 2010

Contact: 07 4661 9838

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Bloom update

Posted in: Blog, Training Centre by Bloom on May 25, 2010 | No Comments

So much has been happening at Bloom – apologies for neglecting to update the blog! Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s been going on the past few months:

MARCH

The Bloom Advocacy Program was launched simultaneously across Sydney and Brisbane. Our awesome group of advocates are now involved in spreading awareness about Bloom amongst their family and friends. To join the program, contact hello@bloomasia.org.

APRIL

Bloom Training Centre was honoured with a visit by the Australian Ambassador in Phnom Penh. The Ambassador was highly impressed with the work of the girls and commended the work of Bloom.

MAY

Our newest group of graduates joined the team at Bloom Cakes and Bloom Cafe as full time employees. Both businesses have been incredibly well received by locals and expats alike, and the Cafe has become a favourite haunt for many regulars. Also, Bloom Cafe held its first kids’ party which was a raging success among the dozen 6-year old girls dressed in the Princess Theme. Both the partygoers and our girls loved the experience.

There’s more to come so keep your eyes and ears tuned for the next quarterly newsletter in June, and get involved in the Change the World One Cupcake at a Time Week in August! More information to come…

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Cakes fit for a King

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on February 7, 2010 | No Comments

Last week, Bloom was invited to provide cakes for a tea party, where the guest of honour happened to be the Princess Norodom and… well, we’ll let Ruth tell the rest of the story:

I had morning tea with the Princess today!!  She was TOTALLY besotted with our cakes and couldn’t wait to take them home to the KING! Can you believe this???!! I am continually amazed at the favour that God bestows on Bloom & His girls… To have our cakes already in the hands of the Royal Family is just too amazing! We can’t wait to design a cake just for the King!

What an honour for our students and an incredible testimony of God’s favour on our little training centre.

Thanks to everyone for your support, and keep and eye out for our quarterly newsletter due to come out at the end of the month.

For those who have signed up to become Bloom Advocates, thank you for your patience. The program is on the cusp of being launched and you’ll be the first to hear about it. If you’d like to sign up to become an advocate, it’s not too late – just email us at hello@bloomasia.org today!

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We need your support…

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on January 4, 2010 | No Comments

Big thanks to our wonderful blog readers and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Today we have a request for support… as you may know, Bloom volunteers work from the goodness of their hearts and little else, because there’s certainly no financial incentive – every cent we receive goes straight to the training centre to assist our students. You may have heard of a wonderful member of staff in Phnom Penh, Teagan Carbins, whose help has been invaluable to Bloom. Please read this note from her and if you feel moved, contact hello@bloomasia.org to offer your support. We love you from the bottom of our hearts and sincerely hope to hear from you. Bloom xx

Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you well. As you may know, I am in Cambodia working with the Bloom Vocational Training School & Cafe in Phnom Penh. Our students are girls who have been rescued by International Justice Mission from a life of slavery in brothels. I originally came in August 2009 to help Ruth & Murray Larwill (Bloom Directors) by setting up the cafe and providing hands on cafe training (coffee making, waitressing and basic hospitality skills) for the girls.

It’s been hard work, but we have already seen so much encouraging process with these beautiful girls- our girls started their training with little belief in their own self worth but are beginning to transform into young women who know that their life IS of value, and that they were created for a purpose. It truly is an awesome opportunity to play a part in seeing the restoration of these girls’ lives, however, despite their amazing progress, it’s also clear that this process is longer that we first thought. These girls are incredible, and there is no question of their capabilities, but at lot of how well they will do on the job depends on the confidence and belief they have in themselves and their ability to carry out the skills they learn in during their training. Due to the extreme trauma these girls have been through, rebuilding self confidence and self worth doesn’t happen overnight!

Though I was meant to be returning home at the end of January, I’ve come to realise that I need to stay longer to continue working with these girls. Bloom is a non profit organisation, and all foreign ‘staff’ work on a volunteer basis so that funds raised for Bloom go directly to the training program. Until now I have been surviving on personal savings and a generous donation, but to continue this work in 2010, I do need others who would be willing to back me in this work. I honestly believe that I am called to be here, so therefore finance is just a detail that God has already worked out, but rather than expecting my bank balance to magically increase, I feel I must do my part. Though I struggle with the idea of asking people for support, God’s heart for these girls is, after all, more important than my ego, so here it is, simple and honest…I don’t have the means to be here past the end of January, so I am asking for you to support me, through even the smallest amount, either as a one time amount or regular monthly donation, so that I am able to extend my stay a further six months. Please don’t feel at all pressured, but if you would like to partner with me, I would be so grateful for your support. Even if you aren’t able to support me financially, I ask for your prayers- most importantly prayers for protection, both physical and spiritual. We are witnessing first hand these girls being set free by the power of God through healing and forgiveness. Satan is obviously not happy with that.

A word from Murray & Ruth Larwill – Directors of Bloom Training & Cafe
“Teagan is the most amazing young person we have ever come across. It is not an exaggeration to say that without her, we couldn’t survive! As our senior pastor noted on his visit, “You do realise that without Teagan, you guys would be stuffed!” We told him, yes we know!! Teagan has managed to train girls who not only can’t speak English, but can’t even read or write their own language. On her own initiative, Teagan devised an incredible pictorial flash card system to teach the girls all the different coffees and the various procedures involved in making coffee. Teagan is now working with our newly appointed Cafe Manager (who was sold to brothel that specialised in paedophiles and if you could see her now – it’s enough to inspire the toughest of hearts!!!). Teagan’s dedication will ensure we have some of the most professional, efficient and friendly cafe staff in Phnom Penh.

Teagan not only teaches magnificently, but also manages to get all those jobs done that we would never get to – menu plans, pricing, ordering, stock inventory, graduation ceremony invitations, organising table numbers, printing ‘student of the week’ certificates – you name it! Teagan also has that wonderful quality of being able to see what needs to be done and just does it. Not a night goes by where we don’t say – Thank you God for Teagan!!! So on behalf of Bloom and these very precious girls, we’d ask you to please take a moment and consider whether you might become a supporter for Teagan’s work with us here in Cambodia.”

Thanks for taking the time to read this. If providing support for me is something that you would like to do, or even if you’d just like to know more about what Bloom is doing, I would love to hear from you.

Teagan xx

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The first Bloom students graduate

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on December 30, 2009 | No Comments

Graduation

We had a brilliant graduation night. The evening started with a song by Brisbane volunteer Katherine, who sang truly beautifully and from the heart (she also later sang You raise me up in KHMER!!!). Murray and I gave a little speech about how well the girls had done, and how that the Hospitality Course had been based on rigorous Australian standards and that all of them had not only passed, but received nearly full marks on their exams! Then the girls came down the stairs one by one to receive their certificates, a photo album of all their work and a silver bracelet inscribed in Khmer: Prov 31 She smiles at the future – Her value is far above rubies or gold. Bloom 18 Dec 2009.

Our girls then sang The Lord’s Prayer in Khmer. I cannot even begin to tell you how beautiful that was. This was a really significant song/prayer is for them, as they each shared that when we sang it in morning devotions, it gave them such peace. One student, R, shared how she had always been so angry and wanted to throw things at people, but when she sang the line ‘Forgive my sins as I forgive those who sin against me’ and prayed the line in her heart, she felt the power of Jesus fill her body and she has never been the same.

An exam piece

After the official part of the night – everyone got to experience the exquisite desserts that the girls had made. They got rave reviews on how delicious the cakes were! In fact one of our student’s family couldn’t believe she had made the cakes and I was called over to verify that she had, indeed, made all the cakes she had pointed to in the display cabinet ALL BY HERSELF! The looks on her family’s faces changed completely to one of awe & respect.

Overall it was an amazing night with lots of laughter and tears. Murray & I stand in awe at the awesome glory of our just and loving God…

Lots of love,
Ruth & Murray J

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Meet Kate, Bloom’s own PR star

Posted in: Blog by Bloom on December 21, 2009 | No Comments

Meet Kate Kotzur, who joined the Communications team this year and will be posting a lot more frequently throughout 2010. Ruth likes to call Kate ‘our PR person – ‘PR’ standing for Professional Raver!’

Kate says:

This being my first official blog I should probably formally introduce myself.  I’m a normal (I like to think so anyway, many may beg to differ), mother of two girls living in Brisvegas!  I love to read, drink coffee, watch great movies, belly laugh, travel and embrace life.  If you’re reading this you have probably also got a passion to see justice bought to the lives of children and young girls all over the world, our focus being Phnom Penh.

As I sit and write this today, I can picture the Bloom Training Centre being filled with excited students who tonight are graduating from their first course!!!! WOO HOO!!!  The incredible talent that has already come from the training centre is amazing and I am awe struck at how beautiful the cakes are.  If I could be there, I would be, every single day….I LOVE IT!!!!

What I also love to do is tell everyone about the amazing hope that surrounds these girls with the training they’re going to receive to get an alternative source of income. You can’t help but smile when you see what difference is being made to these girls lives.

Just recently we had an amazing group of 20+ volunteers who came with us to the Lord Mayors Christmas Carols to sell the lights that everybody waves around while singing. As I looked over the sea of people and their lights were held high, it struck me that many didn’t really understand the difference they had just made to girls lives.  I pictured every light that was held up as representing a life that was going to have hope bought to it, because people generously donate and pray and support. Even when we don’t realise, we can make a difference. So, I guess this Christmas, as we sit comfortably at home, we’re surrounded by injustice even in our own neighbourhoods and perhaps our own family. Maybe injustice is surrounding you this very moment.  It’s become increasingly clear to me, that just as God saw the tears and heard the cries of the girls who’ve been rescued over in Phnom Penh and he bought hope.  He sees your tears, he hears your cry and he has a rescue plan for you.  I hope this Christmas you feel and see a little hope shine into your situation. See you in 2010…Stay safe.

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