Last week, on November 18, we had the pleasure of welcoming two very special visitors: Christophe and Annelies. It was their first time in Cambodia, and they spent three wonderful days with us here at Little Hearts before heading off to Siem Reap.
Christophe Pieters is the nephew of the late Charles Pieters, one of the co-founders of VZW Stortkinderen, a Belgian non-profit that has been supporting vulnerable children in Cambodia since 2004. The mission of VZW Stortkinderen is simple but profound: to help some of the poorest children in Cambodia, especially those living or working near rubbish dumps. Over the years, the organization has provided children with a safe place to stay, education, and guidance toward a better future.
Charles and Tony shared a warm friendship. Charles visited Little Hearts many times and always had deep admiration for our mission, our operations, and our kids. He was especially impressed by our commitment to giving them a high-quality education and supporting them all the way into adulthood, until they can stand independently and build meaningful lives.
Before Charles passed away, Christophe made him a promise—that he would visit Little Hearts one day. This is what inspired Christophe and his partner Annelies to travel all the way to Cambodia and spend time with us.
Day 1: Getting to Know Little Hearts
On their first day, Christophe and Annelies got a tour of Little Hearts. We introduced them to our facility, our daily routines, and the principles behind everything we do. Before dinner, they joined our English class, where the day’s lesson was all about dreams, ambitions, the future, and reality. The kids shared their hopes—who they want to become, what they want to achieve, and how they see their future.
In return, Christophe and Annelies shared their own stories. Both are professional landscape architects, so they talked about their careers and their ongoing projects, and offered advice to the children about growing up and the many responsibilities and joys that come with adulthood.
They joined us for dinner afterwards, ending the first day with warm conversations and smiles.
Day 2: Creating Something Beautiful Together
Because Christophe and Annelies wanted to do something meaningful and hands-on with the kids, we organized an activity inspired by their profession. Since they are landscape architects, it was easy to come up with a project: improving our front garden.
In the morning, they visited several plant shops with some of the children to choose flowers and plants. The kids were excited and picked many colorful additions for the garden. In the afternoon, once everyone had returned from school, we all worked together. Christophe, together with most of the boys and our gardener Martini, worked on digging, arranging the soil, planting new flowers, and cleaning the bushes to refresh the whole area. Meanwhile Annelies, together with many of the girls, focused on decoration. They painted stones and created lovely hanging ornaments to add charm and personality to the outdoor space.
Day 3: Final Touches and a Heartfelt Farewell
On the third day, we added the final touches to the front garden and admired how beautiful it had become thanks to the combined effort of the children, staff, Christophe, and Annelies. In the evening, we shared one last dinner. During the meal, we presented them with a small token of appreciation: a framed collage of photos from our three days together.
A New Addition to the Little Hearts Family
We are truly grateful for the time Christophe and Annelies spent with us. Their kindness, energy, and willingness to connect with the children left a lasting impression on us all. We are happy to welcome them as new members of the Little Hearts family.
Christophe had this to say: “Our visit exceeded our expectations in every way. Not only the warm welcome and the honest hospitality shown by all the children, but also the sincere dedication that we felt from the entire staff, has been an eye-opener for us both!”
We sincerely hope to see them again in the future. And who knows, perhaps, as our bond grows stronger, we may find ways to work together, with their support and involvement helping to uplift Little Hearts. Until then, we wish them love, joy, and safe travels.
Thank you, Christophe and Annelies, for filling our home with warmth and inspiration.
