[Canada's] West Kelowna family to document human trafficking situation in Cambodia

(From back left clockwise) Tim and Elaine, along with their children Levi and Tristan, will be going to Cambodia at the end of January. They will spend four months working with Samaritan's Purse Canada and attempting to document the organization's fight against the country's human trafficking problem.

By Wade Paterson
Kelowna Capital News
Published: January 12, 2012

The MacLeods aren't oblivious to the fact that life has treated them fairly well.

So, instead of sitting back and basking in their good fortunes, they want to do what they can to help others who haven't had as many advantages.

Tim, Elaine and their two children will be in Cambodia at the end of the month on a four month trip to work on volunteer projects with Samaritan's Purse Canada.

"We're going over as a family and we're going to be doing volunteer work in the area of child rescue. Tim and I will are going to be doing some photojournalism," said Elaine.

Elaine—a published travel writer for Hong Kong's Culture magazine—and Tim—a photographer—will use their communication skills to document the story of people who work with children that have been rescued from human trafficking situations.

Their children—seven-year-old Tristan and 12-year-old Levi—will be joining them and helping out by "hanging out with the kids who have been rescued, playing with them and reading to them."

According to Elaine, children as young as five-years-old get sucked into the human trafficking problem that has affected much of southeast Asia.

"They have incredible problems with child trafficking and Cambodia is one of the locations where it's particularly bad.

“It's a poor country and I think they're still suffering in a lot of ways after the (Khmer) Rouge had their genocide from 1975-1979. That was only 33 years ago, so the country is still rebuilding."

The family is looking forward to their first stint volunteering with Samaritan's Purse to help make a difference.

"The initiative is to do some good in the world and share our blessings with people in areas who don't have such fortunate lives. That's why Tim and I are doing this.”

Elaine is no stranger to travelling. She grew up in an Air Force family and has lived in Asia, Europe and Canada over the past 20 years.

Two years ago, Tim and Elaine visited Cambodia. Even after returning home, their thoughts hadn't left the country.

"We felt really compelled to go back; we weren't done with Cambodia," said Elaine.

The couple's feelings were confirmed after they contacted Samaritan's Purse and were informed that of all the places in the world, Cambodia is one of the locations that needs special attention: Specifically in the area of human trafficking.

"We're anticipating that it's going to be difficult and heart wrenching. Our living conditions are going to be a lot different that what they are now. We are open to that; we think that's all part of doing what we're going to do."

Tim feels positive about the trip and is encouraged by the work that various organizations have done to reduce the human trafficking problem in Cambodia.

"There are some really positive things happening; they're making headway like they never had before. There are 50 organizations working towards it, all in collaboration with each other. Starting right from education in villages to lawyers working with the local governments, trying to educate them how to stop it," said Tim.

“Our goal is to document what everybody is doing."

wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com