Ms. Abbassi is an alumni of Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Her story was featured on their website! Leng Abbassi ’81 feels as if she is living in a dream. With the opening of Tidachan (daughters on high) Sewing School in Cambodia her dream has become a reality. For years she prayed for direction on how she could help people in her native Cambodia. Many young women in Cambodia work 7 days a week for less than $30 a month which is not a living wage. If they could learn a trade their earning potential would go up and they could better support their families and move beyond the poverty of their existence. By teaching young women sewing skills they can earn between $200 and $1,000 a month depending on their skill level and their place of employment. Leng believes that participating in social service while at Duchesne taught her the importance of helping others less fortunate. “Duchesne developed and strengthened my relationship with God, to trust that God will show me where he needs me to help.” Duchesne continues to be a part of her journey today, years after her graduation. She credits Sr. Sharon Karam with encouraging her and believing that her dream could be a reality. Sr. Karam embraced the idea and has rallied the support of current students, including Leng’s daughter Ashley ’12, to help in the fundraising for the project. “I am so happy that my daughter is also learning to have strong faith and to help others. This is one of the main reasons we chose for her to go to Duchesne.” Leng says often that this sewing project is not about her. “It is about bringing hope to the young girls in deep despair; and be the light to them in time of darkness.” On her last trip to Cambodia she was shocked by the number of orphans and the level of poverty she saw. She witnessed young girls, ages 3 and four, singing at the ancient temple and their smiling faces when they handed out clothes to them from the trunk of their car. “The children are so happy with any small things. I think it is a blessing that the little ones may not know that they live in poverty when they continue to be happy with whatever little they have. Once they realize they are hungry or poor, that is when despair sets in, and life begins to be heavy and un-manageable.” The goal of the school goes beyond just teaching the students a living wage earning skill, “Even though we are providing sewing skills, our mission is to provide hope, encouragement and inspiration to the poor and those in despair. We hope they will know God, His love and they will be no longer living in darkness and despair, but they will live with hope, and in the light.” Opening the school and helping these young girls has provided Leng with a peace and happiness like none she has ever felt. Even though she does not know where the funding will come from to continue the school and provide housing for the students, she is not worried. “God will continue to guide me and help me. I pray and trust that God will show me how to do all of this.” By truly living Goal 1: A personal and active faith in God, and Goal 3: A social awareness which impels to action, Leng is carrying St. Madeleine Sophie’s vision forward from Duchesne. Her desire to serve beyond herself has led her to plant and “sew” seeds of hope in Cambodia. Read the full story here: duchesne.org/page.cfm?p=367
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:45:00 +0000
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