In Cambodia, the need to eradicate poverty and illness likely will go beyond current generations. But the Maryknoll Society has modeled a way to witness Christ’s love despite the complex, and at times heartless, reality of life.
The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is a foreign mission society of the U.S. Catholic Church. Established during 1911, Maryknoll currently serves the poor and others in need in 28 countries that include the U.S. Maryknoll missioners combat poverty, provide healthcare, build communities and promote human rights.
Maryknoll’s AIDS mission in Cambodia began during 1996 with a multi-faceted program, Seedling of Hope, under the direction of Father Jim Noonan. The program focuses on the medical needs of adults and provides social services such as HIV/AIDS education and home-based care.
During those early years, many people came to Seedling of Hope seeking hope—and afraid to die. Their most frequent question was “What will happen to my children?”
Maryknoll's Little Folks, Little Sprouts
Father Noonan and others quickly realized that more needed to be done to help these people. Without hesitating, Maryknoll promised each parent that care would be found for their children. With the support of many, Maryknoll created two other programs: Little Folks to provide educational support, nutrition and hygiene for AIDS orphans, and Little Sprouts to help children who are HIV+ and may not have a well parent to care for them.
About 700 children have participated in these programs. Expenses continue to rise, but current news is good. Fewer children have been born in Cambodia with AIDS. The program to prevent viral transmission from mother to child has witnessed many successes, and fewer children now need Little Sprouts or Little Folks. It now is rare for a child to lose both parents to AIDS.
Today's HIV/AIDS Programs
With Maryknoll’s limited resources, a moratorium has been placed on the intake of new children for the program. The Society’s commitment is to the youngsters presently in the program—and the promise made to their parents the day they died.
The original two children’s programs now are known as the Seedling of Hope Youth. The original Seedling of Hope for adults now includes Bridges of Hope, a program offering start-up grants, skills training and job placement for those HIV+ adults returning to work.
“The average life span in Cambodia is 55,” said Father John Barth, who spent many years administering to the Maryknoll programs in this country and now is in mission in South Sudan. “Many struggle just to get by sometimes in the worst ways. But education is the key. It’s the long-term answer to poverty and human degradation.”
Visit the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers to learn more about this program.
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