To say that our Marie's visit to Cambodia is well covered would be an understatement!
I'll start out with an unusually strong interview and add a general summary of the trip later.
Translation of an interview in Billed Bladet #42, 2012.
Det var stærkt og chokerende - It was strong and shocking.
Interviewer: Trine Larsen.
The tears streamed down the cheeks of the Princess, who was so moved by the many shocking impressions with little sick children in the unimaginable plight and misery of poor people.
On the trip with DanChurchAid (*) Princess Marie was in front and as such saw human faiths and misery that only a few will see. Ane even though the Princess had prepared herself thoroughly before the visit, she was personally deeply moved. So much that she several times during the interview began to cry again.
- "It was very strong and shocking experiences. I had never imagined it would be so hard", said Princess Marie and added:
"Like so many others I have of course seen lots of TV and read a lot. There is after all hunger, want and misery in many places but I could never imagine how strong an impression it makes on you before you stand there. It really puts things into perspective", said the Princess quietly.
"What I experienced was really what you can call poverty. Utterly extreme poverty and injustice. These people really need help", said Princess Marie, who had been on her first trip as patron for DanChurchAid to Cambodia for with her own eyes to see the work of the organisation and the many projects.
And during those four days the Princess was in that country she was from early in the morning to late in the evening bombarded with impressions, that will for ever leave a deep mark within her.
Q: Had the Princess expected to be that moved by the experiences, before you came out here?
M: "No! No, I hadn't. Honestly, you cannot imagine how it is or how it affects you, before you have experienced it. Want and poverty in TV and papers is one thing, but it's not like that in real life. It's impossible to imagine how bad it is. In particular several of the children we have met, have moved me a lot. Their looks, when we looked at each other it went straight to my heart. Sometimes it was a sweet look, other times such a sad look", (**) said Princess Marie again with tears in the eyes.
Q: Is there something you reflect on from this trip, which you would like to continue working with when you return home?
M: "There is no doubt that I would like to help. There is no doubt that I must help. After this... but, surely I cannot just return home and sit down and pretend nothing happened. No! I cannot... Right now, I don't know how, because it's still so close, but there is such a good co-operation with DanChurchAid that we will find some way... to make the help even stronger", said the Princess enthusiastically and added:
"But I think it's impressive the work DanChurchAid is already doing. I'm very impressed and proud".
Q: What will you take home and share with your husband and family from this trip?
M: "Oh, there is so much. But I think I get a feeling of loving my family even more after having experienced all this. It's impossible to forget.
And you really want to tell (***) - not just the Danes - but the whole world that we must and have to do something for these people. This cannot be. Something must be done", said the Princess and was delighted that she through her position can help getting the message across.
"Yes, that's fantastic. And I will try and do my best - it's just so hard to believe that I... that I can really make a difference. But I would so much like to. So much", said the Princess with teary eyes, that left no doubt that she will never forget the days in Cambodia - and that she is ready to fight to give these and other people who suffer a better and more dignified life.
(*) DanChurchAid = Folkekirkens Nødhjælp. The aide organisation under the state church.
(**) Old eyes. Or worse, eyes where the spark has completely gone. No children should have old eyes.
(***) The Danish wording is actually stronger. She didn't just mean inform, it's more like yelling the message across.