Rotary Club member Merv Williams together with 15 volunteer team members consisting of Rotary Club members and non-Rotary members from Victoria, NSW and QLD recently travelled to Cambodia and assisted in two humanitarian programs which are projects registered with Rotary Australia World Community Service. The programs -
• LRDE (Phonh Penh) – Supporting the Les Restaurants Des Enfants (L.R.D.E.) school. Breaking the poverty cycle by providing food, education and medical supplies to the street children of Phnom Phen.
• Supporting Vision Cambodia (Siem Reap) – education, health services and clean water to regional villages.
What we achieved over the 14 days.
LRDE program – children living in a slum area in Phonh Penh attend one of the schools set up by LRDE and the RAWCS project funds provide support to the children with education and one healthy meal each day. School uniform provided to child. Packed 2 tonne of rice into 10 kg bags - which is provided to each family once a month on condition that their children are attending the school. Good way of ensuring the children attend school. Provided additional food supplies and medical needs. Donated funds by the Rotary club were used for additional medical supplies for the centre. The donated clothing from the club members/families and the Balcombe Grammar School Interact Club were distributed to the children.
Project with Vision Cambodia in Siem Reap. This project works in remote regional areas consisting of small villages. It provides support to establishing new school buildings, educational supplies, supporting regional health centres and clean water projects. Packed 650 school packs (consisting of 8 exercise books, 3 biros, pencil, ruler, eraser, sharpener) which was provided to students at 4 remote schools - sufficient for full year of school learning. The Rotary club donation was also used to purchase medical supplies and additional school packs. Donated baby clothes were put into baby packs which were handed to each new mum and baby. 6 babies born in one day at one of the health centres. Clean water projects - funding to provide water bore and pump for clean water to village and schools. Over 150 water bores have been funded by Rotary Clubs from Australia. Over 1000 water bores have been established through external donations.
LRDE program – children living in a slum area in Phonh Penh attend one of the schools set up by LRDE and the RAWCS project funds provide support to the children with education and one healthy meal each day. School uniform provided to child. Packed 2 tonne of rice into 10 kg bags - which is provided to each family once a month on condition that their children are attending the school. Good way of ensuring the children attend school. Provided additional food supplies and medical needs. Donated funds by the Rotary club were used for additional medical supplies for the centre. The donated clothing from the club members/families and the Balcombe Grammar School Interact Club were distributed to the children.
Project with Vision Cambodia in Siem Reap. This project works in remote regional areas consisting of small villages. It provides support to establishing new school buildings, educational supplies, supporting regional health centres and clean water projects. Packed 650 school packs (consisting of 8 exercise books, 3 biros, pencil, ruler, eraser, sharpener) which was provided to students at 4 remote schools - sufficient for full year of school learning. The Rotary club donation was also used to purchase medical supplies and additional school packs. Donated baby clothes were put into baby packs which were handed to each new mum and baby. 6 babies born in one day at one of the health centres. Clean water projects - funding to provide water bore and pump for clean water to village and schools. Over 150 water bores have been funded by Rotary Clubs from Australia. Over 1000 water bores have been established through external donations.