ABIGAIL Glezos and her mother Alison may have travelled to Cambodia to change the lives of impoverished young girls — but it was their lives changed forever.
Abigail, who is in year 11 at Loreto Normanhurst, was one of seven students selected to travel alongside their mothers to Cambodia, to cycle more than 400km in support of Project Futures.
Abigail’s mother Alison said it as an amazing experience.
“Our Cambodian experience was indescribable and something we will never forget,” Mrs Glezos said. “We were totally immersed in the culture of Cambodia throughout the trip.
“But the real beauty about it was the fact that every dollar raised and spent throughout our project supported a girl or woman who has been sex trafficked or grew up on the street.”
Students visited two organisations supported by the funds raised by Project Futures.
“The first was the Cambodian Children’s Trust which was set up to help children living in orphanages find their families.
“80 per cent of children living in orphanages have parents .’’
However Ms Glezos said the greatest day of her life was visiting the women and young girls at AFESIP Cambodia.
“The organisation supports 56 girls who have been sex trafficked across Cambodia,” she said.
“When we finally had the opportunity to meet these girls, who were so excited to meet us and gone through so much, it was an amazing feeling. ‘’
Abigail said the girls she met were “the happiest on earth, and determined to make the most of their new life”.
“It was heartbreaking and emotional to hear their story — we were all in tears, we couldn’t believe what they have experienced.”
The mother and daughter duo have raised more than $7000 for Project Futures.
Photo: Alison and Abbey Glezos in Cambodia.
Photo: Alison and Abbey Glezos in Cambodia.