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February 24, 2012
Fred Garmon, PhD is the International Director and President of People for Care and Learning.
He was born and raised in Charlotte / Kannapolis, North Carolina. Following a very difficult upbringing Fred became the first of his family to graduate from high school and go on to receive University education.
He now holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. A University level lecturer and instructor— Fred integrates over 26 years of practical ministry experience with years of academic preparation in the field of Leadership Studies.
Dr. Garmon also serves on the Board of Directors of Children of the World, is an adjunct professor at several universities, and is the founder of Leader Labs Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 providing consulting and leadership development solutions for marketplace leaders and non-profit alike.
Fred is a marathon runner and was honored as an Olympic Torch Bearer in 2002. He has been married to his wife, Shirley, since 1982. They have two daughters, and two granddaughters.
Jake Stum @jakestum serves as the director of programming and development for People for Care and Learning (PCL), an NGO focused on the people of SE Asia. He serves as a consultant for Leader Labs, Inc, and a missional strategist for First Baptist Church, Cleveland, Tennessee. In 2010 Jake founded the Young Entrepreneur Society (Y.E.S.) to provide education and strengths-based career planning for older children timing out of international orphanages. Y.E.S. also provides leadership training, mentoring, and grants for young adults in the U.S.
In addition to being in the dissertation phase of a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Jake teaches as a part-time faculty member at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Plywood People: When looking at the problem of poverty in Cambodia, what made you decide that building a city was the solution?
Dr. Fred Garmon and Jake Stum: People for Care and Learning has been working with the poor in Cambodia for over a decade. During this time we have lamented failures and celebrated successes, essentially learning what not to do when caring for those in extreme poverty. Our goal is to take some of the successes–children’s homes, feeding centers, integrated farms, micro-business development, learning centers, and leadership training–and combine them all in a concentrated area to attack the poverty cycle from every angle. We believe that addressing root issues of poverty in this one village can give us a chance to empower the poor, inspire hope, and empower potential.
Plywood People: What all does your project involve?
Dr. Garmon and Jake: The “Build A City” project is a three-year process designed to literally build out the entire village of Andong. In addition to housing, the project includes all of the city infrastructure, underground sewer system, paved roads, community center, market place, police station, four-story training center, health clinic, playgrounds, and green space. This will provide a new city for over 8,000 people. The total estimated cost is $2,225,000. We have a matching grant of $1,000,000 from the Lazarus foundation to build housing, so every time someone donates $1,000 for one house in Andong, they are actually providing two.
Plywood People: What issues have you seen plague the people of Cambodia because of their displacement?
Dr. Garmon and Jake: In the 10 years People for Care and Learning (PCL) has been working in Cambodia, we have made tremendous relationships with both the poor and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Specifically In the last seven years PCL has worked in several relocation camps in the capital city of Phnom Penh. These relocation camps house families that have been displaced from property along the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers–property the government authorities believe to be valuable and key to the city’s expansion. The government, in hopes of helping these people, adopted a United Nations initiative called “The Poverty Reduction Plan.” This plan outlines fundamental ways third world countries can help the poor such as building Habitat for Humanity designed homes. Of course, someone needs to provide the financial capital ($1000 USD per home) in order for this plan to work.
When these families are displaced, it creates problems of vast proportions. They are without proper housing, clean water, opportunity to earn a sustainable income, or any sense of hope for the future. They live only for the day and never dream or plan for the future. We have helped provide homes for many of these families in the past, but we feel that a house is a fraction of the solution to a complex problem while rest of the poverty cycle remains. We hope that the Build A City model will provide a multi-faceted approach that is more likely to truly inspire hope and empower potential.
Plywood People: Which part of the process gets you most motivated to stay involved?
Dr. Garmon and Jake: We have fallen in love with the people of Cambodia and especially the families in Andong. We have two tag lines that keep us motived. We “give the poor a working chance” and we want every project, idea, trip, and conversation to “inspire hope and empower potential.” We operate from a John 1:14 model: “The Word became flesh moved into the neighborhood (MSG).” We have moved into the neighborhood in Andong, and we love it.
Plywood People: Who’s been your greatest inspiration in the work you’re doing?
Dr. Garmon and Jake: Without hesitation the major inspiration for this project is the children and young adults in Andong. Because of the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 70s and many years of war, over 55% of the population of Cambodia is under the age of 24.This demographic keeps us awake at night. It is our mission to give them opportunities they never knew were possible and help them dream of the future for the first time.
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