Back in 2006, David and Linda Purcell visited Cambodia for the first time while on a trip to the region and encountered some young children selling souvenirs near the Angkor Wat temple complex.
It would be the beginning of a long association with the country and, in turn, Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF).
“We would encounter these kids usually trying to sell us something, but if you started talking to them, the one thing they all wanted was to go to school. They really had a passion to learn. We were impressed by that,” says David.
While researching potential organisations, they came across a magazine article which mentioned CCF and the remarkable work the charity was doing with children and families in one of the most deprived parts of Cambodia.
This led to David and Linda sponsoring two CCF children.
The Purcells met and spent a day with their two sponsored children, and a few of their friends. They spent time with Scott, visiting the impoverished communities where children and families lived, and the CCF facilities, which back then consisted of just one small school and some residential buildings.
“I remember the mud, the flies, the trash piled up on the ground and these ramshackle houses people were living in. It was unimaginable,” recalls Linda, 75, of the communities they visited.
It was clear to us immediately that this was a wonderful organisation, totally on the up and up
Her husband, 76, adds: “I don’t think either of us had ever been that up close and personal with that degree of poverty.”
“One of the things that was so impressive was the juxtaposition between walking through this area and then going into this beautiful clean space [CCF facilities] where these kids are safe.”
“It was clear to us immediately that this was a wonderful organisation, totally on the up and up. We had no concerns or qualms about whether our money was going to a good cause or would be misused.”
We thought any money that we contribute to an education cause of any kind is going to go so much further in Cambodia than it would here [America] or in a lot of other countries.
While there, the couple sponsored another CCF child, a girl, aged around 12, their third.
Their commitment has extended beyond sponsoring. They have been generous donors over the years, including financially assisting the university education of five CCF students, a life-changing gift for children who once could never dream of even going to school.
“We are firm believers in the value of education,” says David. “And we thought any money that we contribute to an education cause of any kind is going to go so much further in Cambodia than it would here [America] or in a lot of other countries.”
Making a gift in your will is simple. I hope other CCF supporters will consider this too
The couple, who are both now retired, also decided to include a gift in their will to CCF. David and Linda have faith that CCF will put their gift to good use wherever that need might be.
Both David and Linda say that their gift will enable children helped by CCF to leave their own legacies behind, ensuring that future generations will never know the poverty and hardship they and their families have endured.
“We feel grateful that Scott and all the CCF team are lifting children out of poverty, and that we are a part of this. We trust CCF will do the best thing with this money,” says David.
“Making a gift in your will is simple. I hope other CCF supporters will consider this too” Linda concludes.
