Quick list update!

• We are gearing up for the first graduation of our Get Ready girls on 15 November. Parents are invited, certificates printed and best of all, we have already found a job for one girl, a business plan for three more, two back at high school and the rest being sorted out!
  
  
• The Hosea consultation has been gruelling and eye-opening. We are doing great operationally, but because we've grown so fast and organically, we don't have systematic structures for decision making and planning. Basically, we need to record down what we're doing so someone else can step in and takeover if needed, and we need to clearly link projects back to child trafficking and put in more monitoring/status reports. Doing it now will save us a lot of time later, and it is pretty simple. I have learnt what a logframe is!
  
  
• All our finances are now going to an external accountant, and we will get January-September's records first, then quarterly detailed statements. Huge relief as it was the most painful part to do because I had to triple-check everything. Now I can concentrate on checking Cambodia accounts to reality and have all the spreadsheety parts done much faster.
  
  
• I am really happy with our spending in Cambodia so far. We need to bite the bullet and hire more social workers, someone to do paperwork only, but all our new expenses - like the weekly boarding house - have been covered by specific donations. We're keeping at our costs.
  
  
• We were very lucky to negotiate rent with the landlord of our current Family House for the house adjoining that they also owned. This is going to be where the weekly boarding and Get Ready classes take place because there's way more room and privacy. The teenage girls boarding will have their own room to share! Also it's got a really nice big kitchen for us to prepare meals and add cooking lessons on. The RJC students going up are going to do up the boarding rooms so the kids feel comfortable and welcome, and help us add boards and posters for visitors to explain what's happening.
  
  
• We have met with several different NGO groups over the past two months, and in every case, people have been WONDERFUL. There are 'turf' problems when your work overlaps or you disagree on methods, but overall, in the past seven years in Cambodia, I've found the vast majority of people working in aid to be open about sharing ideas, resources and advice. We could not have gone this far without so much help. I hope we can be as helpful for other groups. Part of this might be that we usually work only with ground-level staff and small groups *g* like us!
  
  
• The two most likely new sites have been identified and this trip, we'll be firming up plans and a timetable for opening.
  
  
• Volunteers! Karen's interviews will form the basis of our microfinance, starting with three girls and about four adults. Then we have a sewing workshop group in December, more tentatively planned after, football and field trips, volunteers locally for the Riverkids shop and more. A Swedish lawyer is coming for three months to help train and put in a better child and family case management system. I met with a couple who volunteered recently and the best part was hearing their ideas for further work and suggestions.
  
  
• In Singapore, we've been selling Riverkids Shop at local fairs with a good response. We've sold close to US$5000 at them, and we're looking forward to a busy holiday season. DHL have given us great rates for express shipping, so this year, please shop with us!
  
  
• That's all I can remember right now. I leave on Wednesday for the graduation and some big meetings, and maybe this time I'll be awake enough at the end of the day to post!