Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

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atst
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by atst »

$2248 twin share for 7 nights that's a great profit margin already for the non profit organization, oh that's right admin, salaries, don't come cheap. When I had first come to Cambodia I thought about doing it with one of these organizations and was shocked with the cost comparison of just coming on my own, that's when I started wondering who was getting the biggest slice of my money.
I'm standing up, so I must be straight.
What's a poor man do when the blues keep following him around.(Smoking Dynamite)
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Clutch Cargo
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Clutch Cargo »

they may not want to appear in a buddhist country.....that they are proselytizing.
Image

And one could think of a few reasons for this lack of disclosure if they are indeed proselytizing.

People would see them in a very different light when they realise that the cafe/classes et al are in fact a 'front' or means to an end rather than the end goal. When I say 'people' I mean that in a broad sense ie khmer authorities, the khmer locals, the disadvantaged girls and the potential customers for their 'cake decorating tour package'.

And I wonder what the authorities vetting processes are for foreigners setting up companies like this and granting associated employment visas. Are there any restrictions on religious based companies operating here? I imagine doing charity work is one thing however teaching another religion in a predominately buddhist society is another.. Hence why they might be dialing up the charity work and dialing down the religious education..
The Bloom Asia Cake Decorating Tour offers a rare glimpse inside Bloom Training Centre – a world class, not-for-profit, cake decorating school that operates to bring healing, hope and purpose to young women in Cambodia. Not only will your trip provide you with a memorable trip to Cambodia, you’ll also make a real difference as your course fee will pay the cost for a young survivor of trauma to enter the training program and start a new life.
That all sounds like a win win situation doesn't it. You have a nice holiday and at the same time you help disadvantaged young women. However, if you knew that it was run by the Baptist Church, would you feel the same?
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Clutch Cargo
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Clutch Cargo »

do bloom proselytize?
This is the critical question. There are some factors which may suggest the answer to this:

1. the lack of disclosure as to the who runs the organisation on their website and in the news item from the onset implies deception. Not a good look to begin with imo.

2. When the founders of Bloom Asia say on their Gateway Beyond Baptist Church website:
Our 30+ Gateway Beyond workers are following Jesus into more than 15 countries around the world. They teach, disciple, heal and rescue people who then influence and impact families, communities, nations and the world. We’re speaking the name of Jesus in places it has never been heard.

The mountains and valleys of this particular part of South East Asia are a place of natural beauty, but pain and suffering lurk in the darkness and shadows. This region’s major industries are agriculture, plus a black market trade that includes human trafficking, drugs and civil conflict. Despite its vast resource wealth and recent political change, this region is shackled by the world’s longest running civil conflict. Two Gateway Beyond workers have MADE IT THEIR MISSION to GO and share the light of Jesus among the unreached. “Many people here have never even heard the gospel. You can go into valleys and say Jesus’ name and it’s the first time it’s ever been spoken there,” they say. Their team minister to over 1,600 people each year. They are developing the first self-study Bible study material in the local language, and are teaching, discipling and equipping more than 200 believers through 50+ churches to share the life changing message of Jesus with their family, friends and communities.
that suggests their key mission in life. post492113.html#p492113

3. if not proselytizing then why the need to specify Christianity as a requirement on a job selection criteria?
Bloom hiring! Bloom Cakes & Café Phnom Penh looking welcome new MARKETING ASSISTANT to our team. We’re looking a mature Christian faith, creative energetic person loves things social media, photography and marketing!
https://www.bongthom.com/job_detail/mar ... _8424.html

Interestingly, for this purpose at least, they don't hide the fact that they are a Christian organisation
Bloom Asia a Christian international non-profit organisation that empowers young women through vocational training employment programs Cambodia. Our model includes Café Cake businesses, which real-world environments students employees. In other words, our talented students employees make awesome cakes, cupcakes coffee awesome people!
I guess they had no choice if they want a like minded Christian to work for them.

As an aside, I noticed in earlier research that their Bloom Asia operation in Cebu, Philippines has since closed down. In searching for information on that, I found this: Image
Unfortunately, the associated FB links appear to go to a closed group so couldn't find more info on that.
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Freeboots »

Hardly needs repeating, but a site:https://bloomasia.org search turns up zero instances of 'jesus', 'christ', 'god', 'lord', or 'church', except for one mention of 'churches' in the context of groups.

They do use the "like-minded" code word/dog whistle a few times though.
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by jaynewcastle »

I think if they had been a pair of drug-taking alcoholics, they would have got a far friendlier welcome on here :)
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Username Taken »

jaynewcastle wrote: Wed May 19, 2021 12:09 pm I think if they had been a pair of drug-taking alcoholics, they would have got a far friendlier welcome on here :)
Rubbish!! We're just upholding the law.
February 28, 2003
The Ministry of Cults and Re­ligion has issued a wide-ranging directive prohibiting proselytizing and the dissemination of re­li­gious propaganda in public.

“All public proselytizing activities are prohibited. Christians are not allowed to proselytize citizens’ houses by knocking on doors or waiting for them, saying, ‘the Lord is coming,’ which is an interruption of daily life or may intrude on privacy in the community,” a translation of the di­rective states.

“Some Christian groups, who cycle bicycles…go door to door and disturb people by banging on their door and suggesting to people to join their sect,” said Chea Sa­voeun.
https://english.cambodiadaily.com/news/ ... ing-23777/
https://www.religionnewsblog.com/2512/c ... selytizing
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Artisan »

Two quotes from previous posts

"The Bloom Asia Cake Decorating Tour offers a rare glimpse inside Bloom Training Centre – a world class, not-for-profit, cake decorating school."
and
"Bloom Asia a Christian international non-profit organisation"

NPO or NFPO?

There are many differences between, I am just going to highlight two.
Correct me if I am wrong.

NGO's work with volunteers with no salary but can get compensated for rendered services.
NGO's have to account for every money spent.

NFPO's have full-time employees. All the money generated are to make sure salaries are paid first, leaving the remaining revenues for their "missions".
NFPO's can put in whatever they want in their financial recordings/statements.

I think, that out there (a few) humble people are doing fantastic work helping the lesser fortunate.
It is not unlikely that this charitable environment is infested with greedy, money-grabbing individuals who actually do effing all for the lesser ones.
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Ryan754326 »

Someone once told me many of these charity organizations who train disadvantaged women to work in clothing factories are often funded by big western corporations like Nike and Levi’s (not making any accusations against these companies specifically, just an example). Is there any truth to this, or is it conspiracy?
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by Alex »

The competent authorities should erect crosses on Riverside and nail those Jesus lovers to said crosses in a proper crucifixion ceremony.

One cross each, of course.
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Re: Young Kiwi Couple Coming to Cambodia to Help Disadvantaged Women

Post by wolfcreek »

Do the Mormons still give free rice and cooking oil to Cambodians who attend their services here?
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