In 2003, Marie Ens founded Place of Rescue as a place for families living with AIDS, orphaned children and grandmothers and young, pregnant women.
The retired Canadian missionary founded the Cambodian non-governmental organization, which was originally made up of 15 houses for families affected by AIDS.
Ten years later, Place of Rescue AIDS Centre and Orphanage now has three campuses: home to 426 children, 23 destitute grannies and 27 AIDS families. They also have three university dorms housing 40 of their now young adults.
On Jan. 26, 10 young dancers from Place of Rescue, ages eight to 10, will be in Vernon to perform “Celebrate” at Grace Bible Church as part of a national tour where they will share their stories and perform a program of traditional Cambodian dances.
“Of the children coming to Canada, two are from the AIDS Centre where they live with their HIV positive mothers, one is an abandoned child and seven are orphans,” said Blaine Sylvester, with the Place of Rescue Foundation. “Some have been at Place of Rescue since they were babies; all have come from tragic circumstances.
“At Place of Rescue they have a new kind and loving ‘house mom’ and new siblings (nine other children living together in a house). Their lives have changed dramatically and they now have every opportunity for a good future.”
Place of Rescue has been invited to perform their program of traditional dances at Missions Fest 2014 in both Vancouver and Winnipeg. They will be touring and sharing their story while in Canada and would love to “Celebrate” with you.
Celebrate takes place Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at Grace Bible Church, 5661 Silver Star Rd., Vernon. Everyone is welcome, and admission is free, although donations would be most welcome.
For more information, see www.rescuedancetour.com
